MASTER THESIS GUIDE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW LL.M. PROGRAMME 2015/2016

Transcription

1 MASTER THESIS GUIDE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW LL.M. PROGRAMME 2015/2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Definition.p Timeline...p Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)...p Thesis Committee Responsibilities p Master Thesis Proposal Requirements.p Master Thesis Requirements.p Master Thesis Presentation Seminar p Assessment Criteria and Grading.p Forms...p. 18 1

2 1. Definition This Master Thesis Guide aims to inform International Business Law ( IBL ) master students with respect to research, writing and presenting the IBL master thesis. Writing a master thesis is compulsory within the IBL programme. The thesis counts for 12 ECTS, i.e., approximately 340 hours of research and writing. The master thesis topic should reflect one or more of the subjects studied during the IBL programme. The master thesis process could be roughly divided in four phases: 1. Submission of the master thesis proposal to a chosen supervisor (a signed form submitted to the IBL programme board ( programme board ) by the deadline, see appendix 2 below) 2. The process of research and writing of the thesis 3. Assessment and grading of the master thesis by the supervisor and the (second) reader (the Thesis Committee ) 4. Oral presentation of the master thesis before a Presentation Panel (Important! The Master Thesis Presentation Seminar takes place once per year. If you cannot present your thesis at the seminar in 2016, the next opportunity will be available in June 2017!) The aim of writing a master thesis is to complete an independent research project on a substantial topic in the field of international business law and within the curriculum of the IBL programme. This is the most significant research paper a master student writes while at VU University Amsterdam. The master thesis is intended to draw upon the master student s unique curriculum and intellectual experiences encountered while at VU University Amsterdam. The research and writing is overseen by a supervisor of VU University Amsterdam, and the thesis is completed during the specified timeframe. Specific requirements and guidelines regarding (i) writing the master thesis, and (ii) presenting the results of the master thesis orally, are provided in this Master Thesis Guide. 2

3 2. Timeline Activity Deadline Submit Master Thesis Proposal (signed by student and supervisor) (Calendar) Week 10 Discuss with supervisor: draft introduction (min. 2 pages), Table of Contents, bibliography Discuss with supervisor: draft texts of chapters Discuss with supervisor: full draft Week 13 Last revision Week 22 Weeks preceding week 21 - students must insist on at least 2 meetings with supervisor in case of problems with the supervisor students must inform the Programme Board Week 21 (or earlier) Hand in final version Friday 3 June 2016) Master Thesis Presentation Seminar Week 25 Degree Ceremony Week 28 (tbd) PRECISE DATES - MASTER THESIS PLANNING 2015/2016 Submit Master Thesis Proposal to IBL programme coordinator (signed by student and supervisor) At the latest on Friday 26 February 2016, deadline 4 pm (week 9) Place it in an envelope and deposit it in the postal box of Private Law Department (next to SSD 2 nd floor), addressed to IBL programme coordinator Ioana Ciobanasu Discuss with supervisor: draft introduction (min. 2 pages), Table of Contents, list of literature Week 13 (28 March-1 April 2016) Discuss with supervisor: draft texts of chapters Weeks preceding week 21 you must insist on at least 2 meetings with the supervisor in case of problems with the supervisor you must contact the programme board 3

4 Discuss with supervisor: full draft Week 21 (latest Friday 27 May 2016) Last revision Week 22 (30 May 2 June 2016) Submit final version The DEADLINE for submitting your master thesis MUST be observed and is subject to NO exception. Your supervisor is NOT authorized to provide you with an extension. Friday 3 June 2016, deadline 4 pm 2 printed versions delivered in the postal box of the Private Law Department (next to SSD, 2 nd floor. The printed versions will be distributed to supervisors/readers and the Presentation Panel members) Upload.pdf (not image) or.docx or.doc version on Blackboard AND VU Scriptie online! Master Thesis Presentation Seminar Wednesday 15 June, Thursday 16 June, Friday 17 June 2016 (Presentation Panels to be announced later) Degree Ceremony Week 28 (Tbd) 4

5 3. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1. The Master s graduate has thorough knowledge and understanding of the main areas of international business law. 2. The Master s graduate understands the relationships between the main areas of international business law and recognizes which legal issues are involved and how these influence each other. 3. The Master s graduate knows who the actors of the international business law environment are and how they interact with each other, while acknowledging legal and cultural differences. The Master s graduate understands the role of governments and the horizontal economic relationships between them, the vertical relationship between them and private business and, finally, the horizontal relationships between private companies. Consequently, the graduate discerns the legal position of various parties and understands how the conduct of these parties can influence legal positions. 4. The Master s graduate possesses analytical skills to apply acquired knowledge and insights to concrete problems in the area of IBL. 5. The Master s graduate translates practical problems into legally manageable problems. 6. The Master s graduate can analyze and assess scholarly literature, case law and legal and policy documents and critically reflect upon them. 7. The Master s graduate shows evidence of an independent, critical attitude with regard to existing theories and knowledge. 8. The Master s graduate possesses the necessary knowledge of research methodologies in international law and the necessary research skills to independently prepare and carry out a jurisprudential study of some size. The Master s graduate can critically assess the value of research findings, draw conclusions from them and relate research results to theoretical debates within the domain and adjust them when necessary. 9. The Master s graduate should be able to analyze complex issues in relation to international business and make useful legal recommendations. A Master s graduate can formulate an independent and well-substantiated opinion on complex legal issues and take a substantiated position within the existing debates on various international business law topics. 10. The Master s graduate should have the ability to present orally and/or in writing the setup, research methodology, theoretical foundations and findings of their research to both experts and non-experts. The Master s graduate has a good command of English legal terms which are used within international business law. 11. The Master s graduate has a self-critical attitude that enables her/him to independently acquire new knowledge and to improve her/his analytical, research and communicative skills. 5

6 4. Thesis Committee Responsibilities The student s Thesis Committee consists of the supervisor and the reader, who are charged with assessing the overall quality of the thesis and assigning a grade. The Thesis Committee may include only the lecturers from VU University Amsterdam Faculty of Law. It is the student s duty to select her/his supervisor. Students are advised to begin identifying possible supervisors as early as possible (see deadline for submission of thesis proposal), and no later than Monday 22 February A good rule of thumb is to consider a lecturer within the IBL programme and with whom the student had classes, as it ensures a minimum level of familiarity with what the supervisor deems as important conceptual or methodological approaches as well as personal compatibility with the style of editing, etc. If the student is unable to select a supervisor herself/himself on or before Friday 26 February 2016, the student may ask the programme board to select a supervisor. The programme board will then have the sole discretion to select a supervisor; if possible pursuant the preference of the relevant student. Supervisor The role of the supervisor is to guide the student through all processes, from inception of research question to final editing of the thesis. Specific responsibilities of the supervisor include: 1. Providing suggestions and critique of the research proposal 2. Providing guidance and suggestions in carrying out the research activities and analyses, such that the student is prepared to conduct the study 3. Providing written suggestions, critique, and editing of the thesis writing, structure, and format 4. Meeting with the student face-to-face at least twice (in case of problems with the supervisor, the student should contact the programme board). Where appropriate, the supervisor may provide feedback by . The student should be proactive in seeking contact with the supervisor. If the supervisor is, after reasonable request, not providing feedback to the student within three weeks after submitting a chapter or version of the thesis, the student may contact the programme board. The programme board will then contact the relevant supervisor, and, if necessary, try to find another supervisor. 5. The supervisor and the student mutually agree on the dates of the meeting(s) and on the dates on which the student submits a chapter or draft of the thesis to the supervisor. If the student does 6

7 not meet the deadlines as agreed on, and after reasonable request of the supervisor, the supervisor may terminate the supervision. In the latter case, the student may complete the thesis without any supervision, in which case only the final version of the thesis will be graded by the original supervisor and a reader (but only if the final version is submitted in accordance with the date of final submission as included in the Timeline of this Master Thesis Guide, paragraph 2). 6. Selecting the reader and consulting with the reader prior to grading the thesis. The supervisor will select the reader at the latest once the final thesis has been submitted, i.e., Friday 3 June Assessing and grading the final master thesis. She/he must sign the completed form and deliver it to the programme board by Tuesday 14 June The supervisor has the right to attend the presentation seminar of her/his student. Reader The reader will be selected by the supervisor, not the student. The reader need not be a specialist within the thesis topic, but care should be taken to identify a reader who is able and willing to evaluate the scholarly contents of the thesis (marginal approach). The reader evaluates the thesis according to the grading and assessment criteria as written in the form. The reader will consult with the supervisor on the quality of the thesis and will provide his/her assessment to the supervisor by Monday 13 June The reader may attend the presentation seminar of the student. 7

8 5. Master Thesis Proposal Requirements To be able to start writing your thesis, you must first submit the signed formal proposal to the programme board (see appendix 3 and timeline above for deadline). The proposal must be signed both by the student and the supervisor; the supervisor may also confirm by (attach a printed version of that to the form). The proposal represents the commitment to a particular research undertaking. Before submitting the formal proposal, you must discuss your prospective topic and ideas with the supervisor of your choice. (Note: a supervisor may supervise up to 3 students, so approach the supervisor as early as possible). The programme board may require revision of the proposal if it fails to address a subject within the curriculum of the IBL programme. The programme board formally approves the proposal and decides on the supervisor. You will be informed only if the proposal fails to meet the criteria for admission (no notice means your proposal has been approved). A proposal includes the following elements: Provisional title The formulation of the research questions and/or hypotheses that are examined in the research, as precise and concise as possible The name of your selected supervisor (lecturer from VU University Faculty of Law ) Your signature and supervisor s signature Exception: Any proposal to subsequently change the topic of your thesis must be submitted in writing to the supervisor and the programme board at the latest three weeks after the original proposal has been submitted. The student must provide a pertinent argument that explains the reasons for the change and how this would improve the research. For a different topic to be approved, the supervisor and the programme board must agree. 8

9 6. Master Thesis Requirements All students must comply with the thesis timeline in order to receive academic credit (see timeline). All students must write their master thesis during a period of (at the most) 10 months, which 10 months period runs from September until June in the relevant academic year. Students are thus urged to start writing a proposal and the master thesis as soon as possible; the relevant submission deadlines as described in paragraph 2 (Timeline) of this Master Thesis Guide are the final submission dates. If the student fails the master thesis, she/he may resit the master thesis only in the next academic year, i.e., the master thesis must be written during the period September until June of the next academic year. The student can only present, and thus finalize the IBL Master programme, hers/his oral presentation in June of the next academic year. An electronic version (.pdf or.docx) of the master thesis must be uploaded on Blackboard and VU Scriptie online under the relevant module (see timeline). All master theses must comply with standard guidelines for the following: title page and pre-pages; font size and type; pagination of pre-pages, text, and appendices; numbering of sections, subsections, figures, and tables (see guidelines and format below). All master theses must include a thorough review of the literature, research approach (methods / methodology), presentation of findings (e.g., tables, charts, maps, etc. where appropriate; Note: the relevancy of the figures must raise the overall understanding of the argument), and conclusions as appropriate to the topic. All master theses should include a literature review. The literature review should demonstrate the student s ability to articulate a clear problem statement and research question(s) through reviewing and synthesizing the appropriate published scholarly literature, including theoretical debates. Relevant case law and statutes must be included. Structure All master theses must include the following mandatory parts: 1. Title Page: (see form below, appendix 1) 9

10 2. Pre-page: Copyright Notice: if used 1 3. Pre-pages: Table of Contents 4. Pre-pages: Prefatory Material (Preface, Acknowledgements, Dedication etc.) Pages: The following mandatory sections written before the main body text: 5. Abstract It is a succinct (maximum of 500 words) narrative of the overall research study. 6. Rationale It is a (theoretical or practical) justification for the study (of a particular topic). Why does the study need to be done? 7. Problem statement What issues need to be addressed that require a solution? Demonstrate the problem. 8. Purpose of study A simple and clear statement for what the study intends to do. 9. Research question(s) It relates or derives from the problem statement. Must be a clear, focused, concise, complex and arguable question (Note: The question in itself has limited value if not linked to the analysis provided further that proves the value of the question). 10. Approach (methodology) and methods (and data where appropriate) What is the approach to the analysis, whether qualitative or quantitative? How were the arguments developed? What methods will be utilized for analysis and development of argument? (How were the data obtained? if appropriate) 11. Contribution to the field (the element of originality) This is related to the problem statement and explains how your study, for example, covers a gap in existing research, or brings in new solutions, ideas or theories, or offers an original approach, or can be used for further research as it may present open questions etc. 1 If so wished, a student may obtain a copyright and include a copyright notice on the second page of the research paper. The notice consists of three parts: the copyright symbol ' ' and/or the word copyright, the name of the copyright owner, and the year of publication. 10

11 Pages: The main body text 2 Introduction Introduce your topic (it may also contain the background). Also, the scope of the research topic is defined, and a case for the research is presented (rationale). The research purpose and objectives are clearly defined in a format that is readable to a non-specialist. Discussion / Analysis / Arguments divided in chapters / sections / sub-sections This is the main body of your study, divided into chapters, sections and sub-sections. You will develop your argument here by employing the various methods of our choice. You express your point of view and support it with evidence. Ask yourself: What is my point? and then support it with (scientific) evidence. One way to strengthen your argument and show that you have a deep understanding of the issue you are discussing is to anticipate and address counterarguments or objections. Read critically what others have written on the subject and develop your argument according to your own qualified point of view. A chapter providing a literature review (previous existing research) may be written separately, but it may also become evident throughout the argument. The problem statement is elucidated from a synthesis and critique of the pertinent existing literature, which supports the more general topic and rationale defined in the introduction. The research question(s) are related to the problem statement. Conclusion It is an overview of the important findings as supported by analysis and evidence (or data). The study should conclude by noting future research directions or questions that were elucidated through the research efforts. The conclusion should not bring in new information. However, the conclusion is not a mere summary of findings. A conclusion should be written as to synthesize, not summarize, it should restate the importance of the question and the assumptions made, it 2 Since most academic work follow the same format and have a number of parts in common, these parts are listed here for the student's convenience. 11

12 should make readers think further and it should provide a meaning (for example by showing how all your ideas work together). Bibliography or list of references (see requirements below) List of appendices / tables / figures (if appropriate) Fraud and plagiarism 3 Please note that you should always duly acknowledge the work of the authors you build on. If you in any way use or elaborate on somebody else s work you must make that clear through a reference. Literal quotations must be put in quotes ; use double quotes within single quotes. If quotes are longer than two lines they should be indented and single-spaced. Use quotations sparingly, and only where they seem essential, either to clarify or substantiate a point already made or to provide a starting point for an idea which you wish to discuss. Quotations should never be used to prove that you have read certain literature, or to simply reiterate what you have read, but rather to strengthen your line of argument or for purposes of illustration (see citation and referencing style recommendations below). Paraphrasing is a rather grey area, and it is sometimes difficult to know when you are verging on plagiarism. Fraud and plagiarism have serious consequences and therefore you should always be extremely careful in respecting the standard referencing and quoting. A good guideline is to always indicate in some way the source of an idea or argument, no matter to what extent you feel you have put it in your own words. Formatting Requirements Each thesis must abide by the following standard formatting requirements. 1. Use a good bond paper, A4 size 2. One-sided printing 3. Margins: 2.5 cm on top, bottom, and right margin, and 3.75 cm on left (to allow for binding); 3 Official definitions and the sanctions are to be found in the Examinations Regulations 12

13 4. Font and type: 12-point font size and a Times New Roman font type throughout the thesis; you may use different font size for titles, headings, quotations and footnotes 5. Spacing: 1.5 spacing throughout thesis, except for longer quotations, tables, or footnotes; 6. Citation and reference style: Follow the commonly accepted practice in legal writing. Use Oxford referencing style, i.e. Footnote/Bibliography style (Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities available at For assessment and grading purposes, good referencing does not only mean the proper use of the style, but also the high quality of the references, e.g. if the most prominent scholars have been identified and/or the latest research has been used. Footnotes are indicated by superscript numbers, inserted in the text, at the appropriate point. They appear at the bottom of each page. Bibliography (or list of references) appears at the end of your thesis as separate. 7. Pagination and numbering: use small Roman numerals (ii, iii, etc.) for all pre-pages after the Title Page (which is not numbered) and for bibliography. Use Arabic numerals for all pages (from Abstract to conclusion). Appendices are numbered according to A, B, C, etc. (ex: A1, A2, A3; B1, B2; C, etc.). Within the main text, chapters should be consecutively numbered (Arabic or Roman). Sections, subsections, figures, and tables should be consecutively numbered. 8. Main text: carefully consider the use of paragraphs in the main text. Paragraphs in legal texts are often separated by an empty line. Abbreviations are not printed in italics. 9. Word Count: The number of words for the main body text of the thesis (i.e. excluding title page and pre-pages, bibliography and appendices) is a minimum of 12,000 and a maximum of 16,000 (i.e. between pages). Some helpful tips to assist you during your research and writing process Think well in advance about your master thesis, do not postpone your research Try a preliminary study to help clarify your research Discuss your ideas with anyone interested Focus your research Be inclusive in your thinking Write down your ideas Do not be over influenced by others it is your research Try and set a realistic goal 13

14 Set appropriate timelines Find resources in the library and on the internet, but carefully process the materials you will be using Organize your argument around a set of questions Prepare a tentative list of literature, table of contents and draft introduction (remember the classes taught during the Research Seminar course) Begin writing with sections you know best Make your writing clear and unambiguous Use similar or parallel wording whenever possible Let your table of contents help you improve your manuscript Write conclusions and implications do not restate your findings Make meaningful suggestions for further research The draft introduction should be re-written in conjunction with the conclusion, so that the conclusion provides the answer to the research question(s) Follow the Format rules (see below) 14

15 7. Master Thesis Presentation Seminar It is mandatory to present your own thesis. Attendance of the entire session for which you are scheduled is mandatory. You may also be required to attend a session where other fellow students are supervised by the same supervisor. You are invited to attend any session of the week. Comments and questions are allowed only from the Presentation Panel members. The presentation will last approximately 15 minutes. It will be followed by a 10 minutes academic discussion with the Presentation Panel, where questions will be asked and/or clarifications may be required. The programme board will make available a detailed schedule of the oral presentations in June. The oral presentations with respect to the master theses are scheduled only once a year (i.e., in June). The Presentation Panel members will be: Chairperson: one of the members of the programme board Members: the supervisor and/or the reader and/or an external examiner (practicing lawyer specialist in the field) and/or another Law School lecturer, a specialist in the field Some tips to assist you Discuss your research and ideas with others Practice the entire presentation Prepare a PowerPoint (or Prezi) presentation that is visually attractive Limit the number of slides (approx. 1 per minute) and strictly observe the 6 by 6 rule Prepare for the academic discussion by making a list of questions you could expect from the Presentation Panel During the discussion, do not become defensive and remain respectful Do not read either from a paper nor the screen, and thus always keep eye-contact with the audience 15

16 8. Assessment Criteria and Grading Grade The grade will be determined in the following phases: The supervisor determines the grade for the written thesis, after consulting the reader or receiving a written assessment from the reader. A provisional grade for the written thesis is thus delivered to the programme board before the Presentation Seminar and it has a weighted value of 80% of the final grade. The written thesis grade is calculated by applying the specific criteria below and it is an argued assessment written by the supervisor on the official Master Thesis Assessment and Grading Form (see appendix 2). The oral presentation will be graded by the Presentation Panel. The chairperson may discuss the proposed grades with the members of the panel. Subsequently, the final grade will be calculated according to the formula below: 1. Written thesis 80% 2. Oral presentation 20% Grades will be announced individually to each student at the end of each Presentation Seminar. Registration of the Final Grade and Resit of the Master Thesis The final grade of the master thesis will be registered with VU University Amsterdam, Law School, by the programme board, also in case the final grade is a failure (i.e., the final grade is a 5 or lower). In case of a failure, the student may opt for writing a new master thesis (resit) in accordance with the rules of this Master Thesis Guide, which master thesis has to relate to a new topic and a new research question, and which will be supervised by another supervisor of VU University Amsterdam, Law School. In case a master thesis is graded with a 6 or higher, a resit is not possible. 16

17 Written Master Thesis Assessment Criteria (see Appendix 2) The master thesis grading criteria are based on the student s capacity for independent research and intellectual initiative, critical analysis, and academic writing. The thesis should represent an original and coherent treatment of the topic being investigated. The final thesis will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria, which, together with the oral presentation assessment criteria, constitute the Master Thesis Assessment and Grading Criteria (written form Appendix 2): 1. Research: Ability to identify and articulate a suitable research topic by a critical reading of the pertinent literature; 2. Content and structure: Clarity of structure; direct link between problem, research question, purpose of study, methods of analysis and conclusions; advanced knowledge of the discipline; knowledge of significant theoretical and/or methodological approaches as appropriate to the research topic; concepts are well defined and used correctly; sources are relevant, authoritative and their use is critical and selective. 3. Writing: Development of a consistent, well-organized, coherent discussion and argument; Capacity to formulate clear and grammatically correct sentences. 4. Presentation and layout: Ability to present a neat and professional layout; correct use of citation and referencing sources. Oral Presentation Assessment Criteria (see Appendix 2) 1. Content and substance (should accurately reflect your written master thesis argumentation supported by sources, clarity of rationale of the study, problem statement, purpose, research questions(s), method(s) and methodology, contribution to the field, ability to convey an opinion etc.) 2. Structure and Cohesion: Was the structure clearly outlined? Is the order logical and easy to follow? Is it signposted throughout? Is the balance of various elements effective? Is timing accurate? 17

18 3. Ability to manage a meaningful academic discussion 4. Pace: Is the pace of the speech, or flow of ideas, too fast or too slow? 5. Fluency: Is the speech pattern fluent, indicating familiarity with the material and rehearsal of delivery? 6. Tone and Energy: Is there sufficient variation in tone? Does the presenter seem enthusiastic? 7. Eye Contact: Is the presenter making eye contact across the audience and avoiding becoming note-bound? 8. Body Language and Gesture: Is the presenter s posture upright and confident? Does their movement and gesture enhance, not distract from, what they are saying? 9. Appropriateness to the Audience: Is the approach interesting and engaging? Does the presenter direct the attention of the audience? 10. Use of Visual Aid: Is there a suitable amount? Are they easy to read? Do they effectively support the oral delivery? Does the presenter use them competently? 11. English language proficiency 12. Time management 18

19 9. Forms (appendices) Appendix 1 Title Page (mandatory) Appendix 2 Assessment Criteria and Grading Form Appendix 3 Master Thesis Proposal Form 19

20 Title Master Thesis Your Full Name Master Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Laws in International Business Law 20

21 MASTER THESIS ASSESSMENT CRITERIA AND GRADING FORM International Business Law LL.M. Programme 2015/2016 STUDENT NAME: TITLE MASTER THESIS: Date: Supervisor name and signature: Reader name: CRITERION GRADE COMMENT Research: Ability to identify and articulate a suitable research topic by a critical reading of the pertinent literature; the study contributes to field of discipline Content and structure: Clarity of structure; direct link between problem, research question, purpose of study, methods of analysis and conclusions; advanced knowledge of the discipline; knowledge of significant theoretical and/or methodological approaches as appropriate to the research topic; concepts are well defined and used correctly; sources are relevant, authoritative and their use is critical and selective. Writing: Development of a consistent, wellorganized, coherent discussion and argument; Capacity to formulate clear and grammatically correct sentences. Presentation and layout: Ability to present a neat and professional layout; correct use of the citation and referencing style and high quality references Written Thesis Grade (80% of final grade) 21

22 ORAL PRESENTATION ASSESSMENT CRITERIA STUDENT NAME: TITLE MASTER THESIS: PANEL MEMBERS: CRITERION GRADE COMMENT Content and substance (should accurately reflect your written master thesis argumentation supported by sources, clarity of rationale of the study, problem statement, purpose, research questions(s), method(s) and methodology, contribution to the field, ability to convey an opinion etc.) Structure and Cohesion: Was the structure clearly outlined? Is the order logical and easy to follow? Is it signposted throughout? Is the balance of various elements effective? Is timing accurate? Pace: Is the pace of the speech, or flow of ideas, too fast or too slow? Fluency: Is the speech pattern fluent, indicating familiarity with the material and rehearsal of delivery? Tone and Energy: Is there sufficient variation in tone? Does the presenter seem enthusiastic? Eye Contact: Is the presenter making eye contact across the audience and avoiding becoming note-bound? Body Language and Gesture: Is the presenter s posture upright and confident? Does their movement and gesture enhance, not distract from, what they are saying? Appropriateness to the Audience: Is the approach interesting and engaging? Does the presenter direct the attention of the audience? Use of Visual Aid: Is there a suitable amount? Are they easy to read? Do they effectively support the oral delivery? Does the presenter use them competently? English language proficiency Time management Ability to manage a meaningful academic discussion Oral Presentation Grade (20% of final grade) MASTER THESIS FINAL GRADE CHAIRPERSON SIGNATURE 22

23 Master Thesis Provisional Title: Master Thesis Proposal International Business Law 2015/2016 Research question(s) and/or hypotheses that are examined in the research, as precise and concise as possible: Selected supervisor name (VU University Faculty of Law lecturer): Student Name and Number Signature and date Supervisor Signature and date (Attach if so confirmed) 23