Академическое письмо на английском языке

Бакалавриат 2020/2021

Лучший по критерию «Полезность курса для расширения кругозора и разностороннего развития»

Лучший по критерию «Новизна полученных знаний»

Статус: Факультатив (Культурология)

Направление: 51.03.01. Культурология

Кто читает: Школа философии и культурологии

Где читается: Факультет гуманитарных наук

Когда читается: 4-й курс, 2, 3 модуль

Формат изучения: без онлайн-курса

Охват аудитории: для своего кампуса

Преподаватели: Афанасьева Анна Эдгардовна

Язык: русский

Кредиты: 2

Контактные часы: 54

Полная версия программы учебной дисциплины

Аннотация

The course is aimed to introduce students to the conventions of academic English. It addresses different genres of academic writing and is focused on developing writing and presentation skills that would enable students to communicate effectively in the academic environment. These skills are evaluated on the basis of an examination at the end of the course. During the examination the students are expected to present their research proposals, based on their BA theses, first in the written form (2000 - 2500 words) and then orally, in front of the examination committee. The course guides students through all stages of preparing their research proposals: designing its structure, defining methodology, critically assessing sources as well as scholarly texts, and developing their own arguments. The students also learn the principles of an effective academic presentation: they are taught to speak in front of an audience, keep within time limits and handle questions. The course involves an intensive practice of grammar and academic vocabulary to ensure the accurate use of language. In addition to writing academic texts, the students are taught to write curricula vitae and cover letters; these skills are seen as equally important in helping students to pursue their academic careers. The students will also learn the rules of academic communication, both direct and mediated, and have an extensive practice in academic socializing.

Цель освоения дисциплины

To introduce students to the conventions of academic writing;
To build up the students’ vocabulary of academic English;
To develop their writing and presentation skills;
To enable students to communicate effectively in the academic environment.

Планируемые результаты обучения

to be able to write research proposals;
to be able to explain the significance of the study and place it in relation to the works of other scholars;
to be able to write curricula vitae and cover letters;
to be able to communicate effectively with academic colleagues;
to be able to write summaries of the research.
to be able to critically assess literature in one's field of study;
to be able to organise their arguments both in writing and speaking;
to be able to present their findings in front of an academic audience;
to be able to handle questions regarding their research;

Содержание учебной дисциплины

Introduction to the course
What is academic English? Overview of the course. Grading system. Requirements for the course: class work and written assignments. Organisation of the final examination: research project proposal and project presentation. Speaking: discussion of students’ professional interests and prospective projects.
Writing curricula vitae
The purpose of a curriculum vitae. Layout and the typical order of information. Using templates: Europass. Readability. Accuracy and attention to details. Choosing relevant skills and qualifications. Personal details. Writing objectives /personal statements. Education and further qualifications. Grade point average (GPA) and academic honours. Work experience. Publications, conferences and research seminars. Fellowships, grants and awards. Academic and social outreach. Skills and personal interests. Providing references.
Writing cover letters
Feedback on students’ home task: discussing CVs. What is a cover letter? Its purposes and typical structure. Grammar and sentence construction. Thinking of a reader’s point of view. Maintaining balance in describing one’s strong points. Explaining the relevance of the provided information. Ways to describe “soft skills”. Providing details to substantiate the information given in the letter. Useful phrases.
Academic correspondence
Feedback on students’ home task: discussing cover letters. Subject lines. Forms of initial salutation. Levels of formality in writing e-mails. Spelling and readability. Making requests and sending reminders. Contacting editors. The use of modal verbs. Final salutations.
Writing a research proposal: abstracts and titles
Feedback on students’ home task: discussing e-mails. The structure of a research proposal. Titles: basic rules. Articles and prepositions. Titles for conferences and journals: differences in style. The structure of an abstract. An abstract for a conference. An abstract of a published research paper. Personal vs impersonal style. Usage of tenses. Covering relevant points. Avoiding redundancy.
Review of the literature
Feedback on students’ home task: discussing abstracts (classes 10 – 11) and article reviews (classes 12 - 13). The structure of a literature review. Reviewing an academic text. Acknowledging a scholar’s contribution. Commenting the limitations of previous work in a constructive way. Suggesting alternatives. Expressing opinion. Avoiding plagiarism. Direct quotation. Summarising and paraphrasing. Structuring paragraphs. The use of tenses. Referencing styles: Chicago, Harvard, Turabian styles, APA and MLA.
Writing an introduction. Part 1
Feedback on students’ home task: discussing literature reviews (classes 14 – 15) and introductions (classes 16 – 17). The aims of an introduction. Differences between an introduction and an abstract. The structure of an introduction. The background of the study: presenting the context of the research. Explaining the significance of the study. The problem statement. Aims and objectives of the study. The scope of a research project: defining the chronological, geographical and subject limits of the study. Explaining the methodology and theoretical framework of the study. Definitions of key terms.
Writing an introduction. Part 2
Feedback on students’ home task: discussing introductions. Describing the methods of the study. Justifying the choice of methods. Passive and active voices. Methods of gathering data. Methods of analysis of the collected materials. A review of the sources used in the study. Groups and types of sources. Justifying the choice of sources. Outlining the structure of the study.
Writing a conclusion
Feedback on students’ home task: discussing methods and sources used in their studies. Conclusion: presenting the main findings of the study. Differences between an abstract and a conclusion. The structure of a conclusion. Avoiding ambiguity: word order, usage of pronouns and the use of synonyms. Relative clauses, uncountable nouns and articles. Removing redundancy: reducing the number of link words, cutting obvious information and general introductory phrases. Hedging: toning down strong claims.
Academic presentations. Part 1
Feedback on students’ home task: discussing conclusions. Presenting a research proposal. Good and bad presentations. Preparing a written script. Being concise: avoiding abstract nouns and unspecific adjectives. Word order. Cutting long sentences. Writing the text of the slides. The use of visuals in a presentation. Ways to begin a presentation. Opening phrases. Establishing contact with the audience. Introducing the topic. Pronunciation, speed and intonation. Selecting the key ideas and keeping the explanation short. Maintaining audience attention. Conclusions: focusing on the most important findings of the study. Closing phrases. Expressing gratitude and inviting questions. Questions and answers session: strategies of handling questions.
Academic presentations. Part 2
In-class presentations of students’ research projects followed by discussion. Individual consultations on written proposals and oral presentations.

Элементы контроля

In-class activity
Writing (home) assignments

Промежуточная аттестация

Промежуточная аттестация (3 модуль)
0.4 * In-class activity + 0.6 * Writing (home) assignments

Программа дисциплины