Master 2020/2021

Academic Writing in English (C1)

Type: Bridging course (Global Business)

Area of studies: Management

Delivered by: Faculty of Management (Nizhny Novgorod)

Where: Faculty of Management (Nizhny Novgorod)

When: 1 year, 1 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Irina Malinina

Master’s programme: Global Business

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 32

Course Syllabus

Abstract

COURSE AIM, LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PREREQUISITES The aim of the course « Academic writing in English » is to introduce students to the basic forms and techniques of academic writing which would be necessary for their future written communication within international programmes of studies and onwards. The course also aims to help students improve their public speaking and presentation skills which will enable them to present their research to the scientific community effectively. Intended learning outcomes (ILOs). Upon the completion of the course the student should: know: - the significance of writing as a way of developing and sharing knowledge in an academic environment - the characteristic features of academic writing style - the basic principles and techniques for writing clear, coherent, logical academic texts - the basic principles and techniques for making an academic presentation be able to: - find, evaluate and refer to relevant literature - employ writing and language techniques to produce a clear, coherent, logical text - work with fellow students, to give and receive feedback on own and others texts have skills in: - producing clear, coherent, logical texts using the conventions of academic writing - presenting the results of their research Content and Structure of the Course. Topic 1. Features of academic writing. Topic 2.Writing a paragraph/essay. Topic 3.Describing a research paper. Topic 4.Using sources in a research paper. Topic 5.Writing the Methods section of a research paper. Topic 6.Reporting research findings. Topic 7.Making an effective presentation. The first assignment is a test which is designed to check students’ academic writing skills and mastery of academic language (20% of the course grade). The opinion paragraph requires students to demonstrate their knowledge of paragraph structure as well as the ability to express and support an opinion (20% of the course grade). The third assignment involves writing a paraphrase and a summary of an extract from an academic text (10% of the course grade). Students submit a review of several extracts from different sources on the topic suggested by the tutor (20% of the course grade). The final assignment is an academic presentation (30% of the course grade).

Learning Objectives

• The aim of the course « Academic writing in English » is to introduce students to the basic forms and techniques of academic writing which would be necessary for their future written communication within international programmes of studies and onwards. The course also aims to help students improve their public speaking and presentation skills which will enable them to present their research to the scientific community effectively.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• - understanding of the significance of writing as a way of developing and sharing knowledge in an academic environment - knowledge of the characteristic features of academic writing style - ability to use vocabulary and structures appropriate to academic language
• - knowledge of the paragraph and essay structure - ability to use linking words appropriately - ability to produce a logical and coherent paragraph/essay
• - ability to identify and formulate aims and objectives of a research paper - knowledge of and ability to follow the structure of the Introduction to a research paper - ability to use appropriate language
• - knowledge of the principles of writing the literature review section - knowledge of and ability to use different techniques to avoid plagiarism - ability to paraphrase and summarise material - ability to refer to sources and introduce quotations correctly
• - knowledge of the essay structure - ability to use linking words appropriately - ability to produce a logical and coherent essay
• - knowledge of the goals and structure of the Methods/Results section - ability to produce a logical and coherent Methods/Results section - ability to use appropriate language

Course Contents

• Topic 1. Features of academic writing.
  What is academic writing? Types of academic texts. Formal vs. informal texts Text structure. Features of academic language (formality, complexity, precision, objectivity, caution, accuracy, explicitness, responsibility). Hedging.
• Topic 2. Writing a paragraph
  Paragraph structure. Transition signals.
• Topic 3. Describing a research paper
  Identifying aims and objectives of a research paper. Describing professional significance of a research paper. Defining the scope of research. Organising your writing. Useful language.
• Topic 4. Using sources in a research paper
  The role of sources in a research paper. Principles of writing the literature review section. Factors to consider when choosing a source. Plagiarism. Paraphrasing techniques. Summarising. Combining sources. Direct quotations. Useful language.
• Topic 5. Writing an essay.
  Types of essay. Essay structure. Linking words.
• Topic 6. Writing the Methods section of a research paper and reporting research findings
  Goals. Outline. Reporting vs. interpreting research findings. Dealing with expected/surprising/conflicting etc. findings. Referring to figures. Typical mistakes in the interpretation of the data. Useful language.

Assessment Elements

• Test
• Paragraph
• Paraphrase/Summary
• Literature review
• Presentation

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (1 module)
  0.2 * Literature review + 0.2 * Paragraph + 0.1 * Paraphrase/Summary + 0.3 * Presentation + 0.2 * Test

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Wallwork, A. (2016). English for Academic Research: Grammar, Usage and Style. New York: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=528290
• Wallwork, A. (2016). English for Writing Research Papers (Vol. Second edition). Cham: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1175370

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Wallwork, A. (2016). English for Presentations at International Conferences (Vol. Second edition). Cham: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1175382