Delivered at:: School of Sociology

Course type:: Optional course

When:: 4 year, 1-3 module

Abstract

The course is designed to assist 4th year undergraduate students in writing a Project Proposal in English. The main elements of the course are: Homework assignments; a Literature review; and a Project Proposal (of which the Lit review is a part, although it gets marked separately). The course is taught in English. Expected level of English is B2 or upper-intermediate, as per the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for languages).

Learning Objectives

The aim of the course “Academic Writing in English” is three-fold: 1) to provide students with techniques that can help them organize and structure their ideas in a coherent way (e.g. to follow the rule of one main idea per paragraph; ensure paragraphs are logically linked); 2) to do practical exercises that help students work with texts in English (e.g. write short summaries of paragraphs or larger parts of texts using paraphrases for a literature review); 3) to teach students the vocabulary commonly used in academic writing and the basics of academic oral presentation.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Students will learn how to make notes and write summaries from multiple sources.
Students will learn how to organize ideas in a literature review, e.g. in accordance with a chronological or a thematic pattern.
Students will learn how to paraphrase other people’s ideas; understand how to use direct quotes from sources; and know when and how to reference sources in the text.
Students will learn how to provide context to own research or how to write the part of the Introduction referred to as the Background to a research problem.
Students will learn how to use the main databases of academic sources available through the HSE library.
Students will learn strategies for quickly skimming through academic sources to determine their relevance for their research
Students will learn techniques for making notes and writing summaries from one source.
Students will practice using strategies for reading academic sources efficiently and effectively
Students will practice working with academic texts (e.g. theoretical, empirical): skimming, reading for gist, critical reading.
Students will practice: 1) ways to present anticipated findings to support own argument; 2) and how to discuss own findings in relation to those outlined in existing literature.
Students will practices leanr how to present evidence in own writing.
Students will study and practice how to write a ‘problem statement’, i.e. what questions the researcher wishes to answer or what problem(s) s/he wishes to solve in her/his research.
Students will study: 1) best ways of organizing and presenting information on slides; 2) academic vocabulary for introducing information on slides to the audience (e.g. graphs).
The students will practice writing paragraphs on the topic of own project proposal.

Course Contents

Introduction to the course & Choosing a research topic
Searching for relevant literature
Selecting relevant literature
Reading for a literature review: the main strategies
Practicing academic reading (part 1)
Practicing academic reading (part 2)
Practicing academic reading (part 3)
Practicing academic reading (part 4)
Consultation: preparing Homework 1 for submission (due at the end of Module 1)
Writing coherent sentences
Constructing coherent paragraphs.
Paraphrasing and citing other people’s ideas.
Making notes and writing a summary from one source
Writing summaries from multiple sources.
Providing/presenting evidence.
Organizing ideas in a Lit review.
Consultation: preparing the Literature review for submission (due after the New Year's break)
Writing up the Introduction
Writing up the Introduction (cont.).
Writing up the Methods section
Writing up the Hypotheses/Anticipated findings sections
Writing up the Conclusion.
Writing up the Abstract.
Preparing slides and notes for an academic presentation in English.
Consultation: preparing the Project Proposal for submission (due at the start of March).

Assessment Elements

Homework 1: Finding sources & Summarising the most relevant ideas
If this assignment is submitted after the due date, the penalty is 0.5 per day. For instance, if you submitted your essay the day after the due date, and the mark that the assignment deserves accoridng to the marking criteria is 8, you will receive a penatly of -0.5, and the final mark will be 7.5 / 10.
Homework 2: Writing an Introduction & the Methodology and Hypotheses sections
If this assignment is submitted after the due date, the penalty is 0.5 per day. For instance, if you submitted your essay the day after the due date, and the mark that the assignment deserves accoridng to the marking criteria is 8, you will receive a penatly of -0.5, and the final mark will be 7.5 / 10.
Literature review
If this assignment is submitted after the due date, the penalty is 0.5 per day. For instance, if you submitted your essay the day after the due date, and the mark that the assignment deserves accoridng to the marking criteria is 8, you will receive a penatly of -0.5, and the final mark will be 7.5 / 10.
Project proposal
If this assignment is submitted after the due date, the penalty is 0.5 per day. For instance, if you submitted your essay the day after the due date, and the mark that the assignment deserves accoridng to the marking criteria is 8, you will receive a penatly of -0.5, and the final mark will be 7.5 / 10.
Individual Presentation of Project Proposal

Interim Assessment

2021/2022 3rd module
0.2 * Homework 2: Writing an Introduction & the Methodology and Hypotheses sections + 0.25 * Literature review + 0.15 * Individual Presentation of Project Proposal + 0.1 * Homework 1: Finding sources & Summarising the most relevant ideas + 0.3 * Project proposal

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Academic writing : a handbook for international students, Bailey, S., 2011
Academic writing for graduate students : essential tasks and skills, Swales, J. M., 2012
Steps to academic writing : with key, Barry, M., 2011

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Academic writing course : study skills in English, Jordan, R. R., 2004

Bachelor’s Programme 'Sociology'

International Accreditation

Rankings

Academic English Writing

Course Syllabus