Students select a research topic that is related to their (provisional) main subject. They collect published articles addressing this theme, and write a critical review based on their reading in order to identify (new) open questions in the research field. This review (size indication: approximately 15-20 pages) summarizes the state of affairs in the selected field. The paper must include a number of open research questions and a discussion of proposed/possible ways to address these questions. If the answers to these questions may have implications for non-academic applications (language technology, teaching, etc.) that are touched upon in the articles, these should also be included in the paper.

The term paper is supervised by a member of staff from Radboud University or Tilburg University, whose own field of expertise is related to the theme addressed in the term paper. Individual supervision consists of at least three meetings, though additional meetings can be scheduled if desired. During the first meeting a theme and a preliminary list of readings are defined. When a first version has been written, the supervisor and student discuss it and revisions are agreed upon. The final version is discussed and evaluated. 

In addition to the individual supervision, there are up to five group meetings, in which all students of a cohort come together. These meetings are led by one of the course coordinators and have two goals. The first is to guard progress on the Term Paper; the other is to give the students the opportunity to practice explaining scientific topics to others. In round table meetings, students present their topic, explain what is interesting about them, what findings are reported in the articles they read, how the researchers have come by these findings, and what they mean in the broader context of linguistics and communication studies.

Students identify a research topic and gather relevant literature. Based on the literature, they write a critical review. Individual supervision will in principle consist of a minimum of 3 meetings. In addition there will be group meetings (round table meetings with other students).