Academic Writing

Bachelor 2023/2024

Type: Compulsory course (HSE University and Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia)

Area of studies: Foreign Regional Studies

Delivered by: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

Where: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

When: 1 year, 1-4 module

Mode of studies: distance learning

Online hours: 20

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Lubov' Nikolaevna Maslova, Irina Yakusheva

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 110

Full 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

Мastering the key theoretical concepts of the given subject;
understanding the genre conventions;
gaining experience reading critically;
locating and evaluating primary and secondary research materials;
writing different types of academic essays
developing the effective use of language;
preparing students for writing for other disciplines.

Expected Learning Outcomes

demonstrate proficiency in written academic English
understand features of various written texts and be able to incorporate them in their own writing
be aware of formal writing conventions
use strategies of effective written communication
enrich academic vocabulary and extend grammar range to write coherent paragraphs
produce clear text using appropriate logical connectors
be able to manage their own writing process through different strategies of prewriting (brainstorming, drafting…)
be able to critically evaluate sources of information
develop effective arguments using a variety of rhetorical techniques (examples, statistics, authoritative quotations…)
master academic citation standards

Course Contents

Sentence structure: independent and dependent clauses, simple, compound and complex sentences; punctuation rules
Using outside sources, quotations: direct and indirect, reporting verbs and phrase, punctuation rules
Paragraph: unity and coherence
Supporting details: facts, quotations and statistics. Fact vs opinion
Paragraph structure: topic sentence, supporting sentences and concluding sentence
Paragraph writing: types of paragraphs and structure
Writing process: main stages Brainstorming techniques
Rhetorical situation and academic convention
Overview of the course
Review of the course material, exam preparation
Peer review and self-editing strategies
Argumentative essay: organisation, signal words Rules of writing a thesis statement
Comparison/contrast essay: organisation (point-by-point, block), signal words
Logical fallacies in argumentation
Cause and effect essay: block and chain organisation, transitions
Process essay
Classification essay
Concluding paragraph
Body paragraph: logical division of ideas, structure, transitions
Introductory paragraph: types, thesis statement
From paragraph to essay: three parts of an essay
Punctuation rules: commas, semicolons, colons…

Assessment Elements

Quiz
Quiz 2

Interim Assessment

2023/2024 3rd module
Students will write a mid-term test at the end of Semester 1. The test will include a writing assignment completed in class. Students will take an exam at the end of Module 3. The exam includes oral and written tasks. At the end of Module 3 the grade will be calculated based on the following: Exam - 40% (20% oral, 20%written) Class Participation (oral and written) - 20% Attendance - 20% Tests (Module 1, 2) - 20%
2023/2024 4th module
This exam at the end of Module 4 will be organized as an in-class 500-word argumentative essay. At the end of Module 4 the grade will be calculated based on the following: Exam - 50% Class Participation - 25% Attendance - 25%

Course Syllabus