This course is designed to introduce students to academic writing, its genres, features and conventions. Starting from the basic stylistic features of academic writing, students work their way through the step-by-step writing process towards complex academic texts. The course exposes students to academic vocabulary and grammar, strategies of attaining objectivity and clarity, approaches of structuring academic texts, and referencing. Moreover, students practise vital writing skills such as summarizing, paraphrasing, emphasizing, arguing, exemplifying, etc. and learn how to use the Internet in the process of writing. Upon completing the course students improve their academic writing style and become more confident writers who are able to plan, organise, write, review and revise their texts. This course is originally designed for students of B2+ level (HSE Scale 60-69) aspiring to excel in writing for academic purposes.
Learning Objectives
The aim of the course is to make students confident writers who can properly organise the writing process and produce a written text that meets the requirements of academic style and common academic conventions.
Expected Learning Outcomes
know the basics of an academic style
know the academic style recommendations provided by London University
know how to ensure objectivity and clarity of their texts
enrich academic vocabulary and extend a grammar range
be able to use the Internet in writing (online dictionaries, thesauruses, corpuses, online writing assistants, online reference generators, etc.)
know the writing process steps
know how to structure academic texts
improve writing skills: summarizing, paraphrasing, exemplifying, classifying, etc.
learn about citation styles and types of citations
how to cite original sources according to the Harvard Style
be able to produce clear and properly structured academic texts
be able to write academic essays
Course Contents
Introduction to an academic style
Objectivity in academic writing
Formality in academic writing
Improving academic writing style
Formal structure and text organisation
Referencing
Genres of academic writing
Assessment Elements
Homework
Aim: to rehearse lecture+seminar materials + practise writing skills
Description: parts – theoretical and practical, types of questions – short answers, paraphrasing, gap-filling, matching, etc.
Max. point: 10 (the formula: (HW 1 + HW 2 + HW 3):3)
Time: limited from 30 min. to 1 h
Reference materials: allowed
In-class activities
Aim: to rehearse lecture+seminar materials + practise writing skills
Description: parts – theoretical and practical, types of questions – short answers, paraphrasing, gap-filling, matching, etc.
Format: paper, in class
Max. point: 10 (the formula: (ICA 1 + ICA 2):2)
Time: 30 min.
Reference materials: not allowed
Final test
Aim: to check understanding of the course content including lecture+seminar and self-study materials
Description: parts – theoretical and practical, types of questions – short answers, paraphrasing, gap-filling, matching, etc.
Format: off-line (in paper)
Max. point: 10
Time: 1h 20 min.
Reference materials: not allowed
Interim Assessment
2024/2025 1st module
0.5 * Final test + 0.25 * Homework + 0.25 * In-class activities
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
Academic writing : a handbook for international students, Bailey, S., 2011
Academic writing : from paragraph to essay, Zemach, D. E., 2005
Sawaki, T. (2016). Analysing Structure in Academic Writing. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1243326
Yucuis, N. (2016). Basics of Academic Writing ; A guide for navigating the perils of mechanics, punctuation, grammar, and style. United States, North America: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.29CD07C0
Антонова, М. Б. Academic Writing in English for Mathematics and Computer Science: Академическое письмо на английском языке: фундаментальная и прикладная математика и компьютерные науки. Уровни владения языком В2-С1 : учебник / М. Б. Антонова, А. В. Бакулев. — Москва : ФЛИНТА, 2019. — 264 с. — ISBN 978-5-9765-4269-3. — Текст : электронный // Лань : электронно-библиотечная система. — URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/151302 (дата обращения: 00.00.0000). — Режим доступа: для авториз. пользователей.
Recommended Additional Bibliography
50 steps to improving your academic writing : study book, Sowton, C., 2012
Hartley, J. (2008). Academic Writing and Publishing : A Practical Handbook. New York: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=224109
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
Pecorari, D. (2015). Academic Writing and Plagiarism : A Linguistic Analysis (Vol. Bloomsbury classics in linguistics edition). London: Bloomsbury Academic. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=993909
Instructor
Gabrielova, Elena
Course Syllabus
Abstract
Learning Objectives
Expected Learning Outcomes
Course Contents
Assessment Elements
Interim Assessment
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
Recommended Additional Bibliography
Authors