Syllabus
The following topics will be covered:
1. What do we mean by Academic Writing? What is the purpose of academic writing and how does it differ from other types of writing in English?
2. Structure of an essay: Introduction, argument, conclusion. Abstracts: What is an abstract and how do we write one?
3. Vocabulary: General, academic and technical vocabulary
4. Grammar: Cohesion: Writing and linking sentences, paragraphs. Sentence construction. Sophisticated grammatical structures. Common issues: run-on sentences, phrasal verbs
5. Citations: Different styles: MHRA, Chicago, MLA, etc. Software we can use: Zotero, Endnote
6. Sources: Finding, evaluating and using secondary sources
7. Reading a text: Critical thinking. Language that expresses perspective and stance
8. Note-taking: Taking notes during lectures. Identifying key information.
9. Presentations: Conveying information in presentations; how to deliver effective presentations
10. Plagiarism
Annotation
This course is an introduction to a number of key concepts in Academic Writing. We will begin by considering how academic writing differs from other styles of English, and then move on to discuss how to structure an essay, some specifics of vocabulary and grammar, and how to use (and not misuse) secondary sources, citations and footnotes.
We will also look at some of the software you can use to help and improve your writing and discuss writing and delivering academic presentations. The aim of the seminar is to introduce students to the principles of academic writing and to improve their reading, writing and critical thinking skills.