Bachelor
2020/2021
Academic English Writing
Type:
Optional course (HSE University and University of London Parallel Degree Programme in Management and Digital Innovation)
Area of studies:
Business Informatics
Delivered by:
HSE and University of London Parallel Degree Programme in Management and Digital Innovation
When:
2 year, 1-4 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Anna Viktorovna Zakharova
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
2
Course Syllabus
Abstract
This course is designed to introduce students to academic writing, its genres, features and conventions. Starting from general culture specific and stylistic features of academic writing in English, students work their way through the writing process towards larger academic projects. The course introduces students to strategies of dealing with timed written exams as well as writing literature reviews for research projects, upgrades academic vocabulary and grammar skills and improves the style of their writings. Moreover, students become familiarized with the logic of structuring academic texts and develop basic research skills. The course utilizes authentic, culturally enhancing and thought-provoking materials related to Business and Digital Innovation. The course implements interactive teaching and learning practices that facilitate the progress in overall communicative competence in the academic environment, critical thinking skills and specific skills for successful academic writing.
Learning Objectives
- The course aims to make students confident academic writers, who can produce written texts that meet the requirements of the academic style and its conventions.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- To know: the different uses of language in speaking and writing (the method of delivery and level of formality), the key characteristics of academic writing, the basic academic genres To be able to: transform spoken into written texts focusing on key characteristics of academic writing, substitute informal or general use words with formal academic words, use formal grammar structures in writing
- To know: the basics of academic ethics, strategies of paraphrasing, common reference systems, specific referencing conventions for quotations, paraphrases and summaries, hedging strategies To be able to: use hedging strategies in writing, paraphrase and summarize texts, use the Harvard Referencing Style for in-text citations and making references, work with online reference services (www.citeulike.com)
- To know: key principles of organization in English, the structure of a paragraph, linking devices To be able to: to write clear and meaningful paragraphs using linking devices
- To know: the procedures of written examinations, how written answers and texts are assessed To be able to: analyse the rubric to enhance task achievement; use academic skills (defining, categorizing, comparing/contrasting, cause and effect identifying) for written exams; use English-English dictionaries, thesauruses, BAWC, online writing assistant (Grammarly.com) for writing academic texts
- To know: the structure of a research project, how to write an introduction, how to formulate research questions and a research design, how to choose the conceptual framework, how to collect data, how to conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis, how to write a conclusion To be able to: plan and organize a research project, use English-English dictionaries, thesauruses, BAWC, online writing assistant (Grammarly.com) for writing academic texts
- To know: the two aims of writing a literature review, how to search the literature, types of the literature, organization of a literature review, how literature review is assessed, how not to plagiarise To be able to: to search a database (or library) and find relevant literature, recognize legitimate academic sources, avoid unintended plagiarism
- To know: the key characteristics of a typical academic presentation, how to format and structure the presentation, the university’s brand book To be able to: use a template for making an academic presentation
Course Contents
- Academic discourse: features, genresDifference between: Academic and General English, academic written and spoken discourse Features of academic written discourse Types of academic texts
- Academic conventions and cultureAcademic ethics, plagiarism, types of borrowing ideas and texts of other others, Harvard Referencing Style
- Structure of an academic textCoherence and cohesion, writing a paragraph, linking devices
- Academic genres (1): written examsWritten exams: policies and procedures, how to read a rubric, criteria of assessment, key academic writing skills
- Academic genres (2): Research ProjectResearch Project: types, structure, assessment
- Academic genres (3): Literature ReviewLiterature Review: aims, content, organization; key academic writing skills
- Academic presentation: making slidesDifference between Academic and Business presentations, Academic Presentation: format, style, University’s brand book
Assessment Elements
- Self studySelf study materials aim to check writing skills development and progress in the academic English use; tasks: gap filling, matching, answering questions; time: individual; the number of assignments: 3 assignments per self-study pack; period: 1-4 modules, submission - one week before the last class
- End-of-module testsTests aim to check overall understanding of the content + writing skills development; tasks: gap filling, matching, cloze-texts, answering questions; time: 1 h 20 min.; the number of assignments: 5-10; period: the end of each module (the total number of tests - 4)
- In-class activitiesIn-class activities aim to check understanding of the content; tasks: dictation, matching, gap-filling, doing crosswords, cloze-texts, etc.; time: 2- 10 min.; the number of assignments: 3-8 per module; period: 1-4 modules
- Annotated bibliographyWriting an annotated bibliography aims to test writing skills and the use of academic style; tasks: write 2 annotated bibliographies for 2 articles; time: 1 h 20 min.; the number of assignments: 2
