Effective Communication Strategies for Historians

Master 2021/2022

Category 'Best Course for Career Development'

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'

Type: Bridging course (Global and Regional History)

Area of studies: History

Delivered by: Department of Foreign Languages

Where: School of Arts and Humanities

When: 1 year, 1 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Vladimir Pavlov

Master’s programme: Global and Regional History

Language: English

ECTS credits: 5

Contact hours: 40

Full Syllabus

Abstract

Clear and effective communication is currently an indispensable part of a skill set that a successful Master’s student needs to build. The main purpose of this course is to teach future historians how to express their ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, while communicating with other academics in their field (e.g., at international conferences, in discussions with foreign colleagues at other universities, or while taking a university course delivered in English). The students will learn how to structure English written texts properly, how to approach complex academic texts and read them critically, how to prepare an effective presentation and lead an effective discussion, how to participate in group projects, and how to be effective listeners. Since communication is cultural, the course will also look at how cultures affect communicative behaviour and will teach future historians to work effectively with people of various cultural backgrounds (e.g., international students and professors). The course is practical, and the students will be learning from examples of effective communication, followed by tasks, in which they will practice the skills and receive individual feedback from a qualified instructor.

Learning Objectives

to build skills necessary for successful participation in seminars and for writing papers in English
to develop effective listening/critical reading skills
to develop effective oral skills in academic and professional settings
to develop/improve presentation skills
to improve academic and professional writing skills
to improve intercultural communication skills

Expected Learning Outcomes

The students will develop effective listening/critical reading skills
The students will develop effective oral skills in academic and professional settings
The students will develop intercultural communication skills in academic and professional settings
The students will develop skills necessary for successful participation in seminars and for writing papers in English
The students will develop/improve academic and professional writing skills
The students will develop/improve presentation skills

Course Contents

Professional Communication: Introduction
Effective listening and reading strategies
Planning and structuring an effective oral presentation/reports for a seminar or an academic conference in history
Intercultural communication
Building effective academic oral skills
Planning and structuring an effective written paper in history
Evaluating a Master’s thesis in history

Assessment Elements

A course project (exam)
Completion of 1 more project of student’s choice (50%, may be a group project). The students may choose from the list proposed by the course instructor, or propose their own project within the scope of the course which suits their needs (to be approved by the course instructor). Possible projects: • Preparing an academic presentation (e.g., for a seminar) (may be a group project) • Preparing a poster presentation (e.g., for an academic conference) (may be a group project) • Writing a course paper/essay/proposal (students will receive support with writing a paper assigned by one of their professors) (written) • An intercultural report: students research academic traditions of a country of their choice (e.g., where they are planning to do a semester abroad) and synthesize this information in an oral or written report (oral or written) • A group or individual project proposed by the student(s) (e.g., writing a book or an article review; preparing a peer-review report) (written)
Writing a course paper/research proposal/a written intercultural report/ other written projects
An evaluation of a Master’s thesis/dissertation in history
An oral presentation /poster presentation/ an oral intercultural report /other oral projects
Tests, quizzes, homework

Interim Assessment

2021/2022 1st module
0.2 * Tests, quizzes, homework + 0.5 * A course project (exam) + 0.3 * An evaluation of a Master’s thesis/dissertation in history

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

50 steps to improving your academic writing. Study book, Sowton, Ch., 2012
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
Novinger, T. (2001). Intercultural Communication : A Practical Guide: Vol. 1st ed. University of Texas Press.
Randy Charles. (2018). Communication Skills. National Highlights Inc.
Terttu Orci. (1996). A Guide to Writing a Master’s Thesis.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Agarwal, O. P. (2010). Effective Communication: Vol. Rev. ed. Himalaya Publishing House.
Holliday, A., Hyde, M., & Kullman, J. (2017). Intercultural Communication : An Advanced Resource Book for Students (Vol. Third edition). Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1424446
Johnson, A. P. (2016). Academic Writing : Process and Product. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1222793

Course Syllabus