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Бакалавриат 2019/2020

Основы академического письма

Направление: 41.03.01. Зарубежное регионоведение
Кто читает: Кафедра иностранных языков
Когда читается: 1-й курс, 1-4 модуль
Формат изучения: с онлайн-курсом
Язык: английский
Кредиты: 4
Контактные часы: 114

Course Syllabus

Abstract

As an introduction to university writing, this course will take students through the necessary elements of writing for academic purposes: the process itself, its genres, features and conventions. This includes the writing process, factual and analytical writing, organizing various essay types, developing a thesis, evaluating information, providing supporting evidence, and citing and referencing outside sources. Starting from general culture-specific and stylistic features of academic writing in English, students will work their way through the writing process, including prewriting research, drafting and revising, editing and proofreading, towards larger academic essays. Alongside with the key theoretical concepts and major practical issues, the course will develop knowledge of linguistic structures, including grammar, punctuation, and spelling, through practice in composing and revising. Students will write something for or in every class. During the course, the students will be familiarized with theory of argumentation and develop basic research skills.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • mastering the key theoretical concepts of the given subject
  • understanding the genre conventions
  • gaining experience reading critically
  • practicing composing for different rhetorical purposes
  • locating and evaluating primary and secondary research materials
  • developing a writing project through multiple drafts
  • developing the effective use of language
  • preparing students for writing for other disciplines
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Students can understand the aims of the course and be aware of their language skills level
  • Students understand the key theoretical concepts of rhetorical situation; can analyze situations and various written texts rhetorically and are aware of formal writing conventions.
  • Students are able to manage their own writing process such as prewriting, planning, drafting, revising, editing; develop the effective use of language for unity and coherence in their writing.
  • Students are be able to write accurate sentences and coherent paragraphs, develop a writing project through multiple drafts
  • Students are be to understand features of various written texts (summaries, essays) and be able to incorporate them in their own writing
  • Students are able to choose proper sources for their writing, analyze them and to annotate them properly
  • Students are able to write a paragraph incorporating evidence as support, with in-text citations and references.
  • Students are able to define and follow a relevant style of writing for their chosen discipline; formulate their thesis according to the relevant logical structure.
  • Students are able to write for other disciplines; they are able to write longer arguments using a variety of rhetorical modes and techniques.
  • Students are able to define the most appropriate logical pattern for their chosen topic and formulated thesis, and support arguments by exemplification.
  • Students are able to recognize argument structures and structure their arguments in writing according to their purpose; they are able to recognize and avoid logical fallacies in their writing.
  • Students are able to formulate a research question, plan and carry out corresponding research; they are able to produce a clear and coherent research plan.
  • Students are able to use sources responsibly for argument support, avoid plagiarism of any nature, and format their text properly in the APA style.
  • Students are able to employ various strategies for the final (polishing) stage of their writing thus providing for better quality writing; they are able to be responsible proof readers for their classmates.
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Overview of the course and Diagnostic Writing Test
    Introducing the course syllabus, aims and requirements; gauging the students’ level of language proficiency
  • Writing process: pre-writing, drafting, revising
    The writing process: pre-writing, organizing one’s writing: outlining, proofreading & peer-editing; unity and coherence.
  • Academic Language, Style and Syntax. Paragraph structure.
    Paragraph structure: theory, group practice, peer review. 4-step/unification writing task introduction
  • Reading as part of writing Reading &summarizing
    Reading rhetorically, identifying text structure, logical order patterns
  • Evaluating print & online sources APA citation and referencing
    Evaluating print & online sources for currency, credibility and relevancy; registering sources in APA format
  • Using evidence from sources. Referenced paragraph
    Finding and evaluating from various sources; using evidence as supporting details in students’ writing
  • Writing in different disciplines. Essay types: factual vs argumentative
    Forms of college Writing and 3 curricular divisions: writing in the Humanities, the Social Sciences and the Natural Sciences; overview and characteristics of definition, classification, process, comparison/contrast, cause/effect, and problem/solution logical patterns
  • Essay structure
    Planning the essay: body paragraphs; paragraph sequence; transitions between paragraphs. Avoiding common errors in introductions and conclusions
  • Text Organization
    Overall coherence and cohesion; choosing a logical pattern for the text structure; developing by examples
  • Arguments and Argumentation Logical fallacies in Argumentation
    Strategies for argumentation and persuasion; understanding arguments: structuring arguments, engaging the opposition arguments; arguing through appeals; recognizing logical fallacies in argumentation
  • Research before Writing
    Getting started: from planning research to evaluating sources; the research process: getting focused, developing a research plan; exploring information sources, creating a working bibliography; developing a note- taking system
  • Referencing Standards and Avoiding Plagiarism
    Building credibility through sources use: recognizing plagiarism, understanding why plagiarism is serious, avoiding plagiarism and other source abuses; using APA style for in- text citations and references in longer texts
  • Self-Editing Strategies
    The importance of proofreading; proofreading strategies for editing and revising that can improve the final draft; the importance of peer review; common language and grammar mistakes
  • Rhetorical situation and Academic Conventions
    Rhetorical situation elements; basic features of academic writing; formality, efficiency, modesty, clarity; paragraph as a structural unit of academic texts; effective topic sentence
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Test 1
  • non-blocking Test 2
  • non-blocking Written paper 1
  • non-blocking Written paper 2
  • non-blocking Home work and class participation
  • non-blocking Argumentative referenced paper
    This is a written exam. The exam is held on the Zoom platform (https://zoom.us). Students need to join the exam ten minutes before the start. The student's computer must meet the requirements: a working camera and microphone. A short-term communication disruption during the exam is considered a communication disruption of less than a minute. Long-term communication disruption during the exam is considered a communication disruption for more than a minute. In the case of long-term communication disruption, the student cannot continue the exam. The makeup procedure is similar to the exam procedure. The student is obligade to write an essay including references to sources of information during 3 academic hours. At the indicated time they send the essay to e-mail of a teacher.
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • Interim assessment (4 module)
    0.4 * Argumentative referenced paper + 0.2 * Home work and class participation + 0.1 * Test 1 + 0.1 * Test 2 + 0.1 * Written paper 1 + 0.1 * Written paper 2
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Bailey, S. (2017). Academic Writing : A Handbook for International Students (Vol. Fifth edition). London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1650435

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Notes on investigating the native vs non-native distinction in written academic English. (2017). Italy, Europe: EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.4D2560A4
  • Sant, T. (2003). Chapter 13: Writing Research Proposals and Proposals for Grants. In Persuasive Business Proposals (pp. 174–186). American Management Association International. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=bsu&AN=32726071
  • Strongman, L. (2013). Academic Writing. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=816736
  • Tusting, K., McCulloch, S., Bhatt, I., Hamilton, M., & Barton, D. (2019). Academics Writing : The Dynamics of Knowledge Creation. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2138179