72641 - ACADEMIC WRITINGS

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

Students will learn: editing and written self-assessment skills; mastery of essential matters of format and style in academic writing (such as with citation and documentation); and important strategies for writing effective academic prose controlled by a clear purpose and supported with sufficient, well-organized content for a particular audience. Moreover, they will improve skills in controlling tone, register, style, accuracy, vocabulary, and structure in the practical use of English in formal academic writing.

Contenuti

Methodology Course, Part I: Academic Writing and Research Skills

The course introduces the main principles of written academic communication and covers the following topics: editing and written self-assessment; essential matters of format and style in academic writing (citation and documentation); important strategies for writing effective academic prose for a particular audience; and controlling tone, register, style, accuracy, vocabulary, and structure in the practical use of English in formal academic writing. Research skills to be improved include paraphrasing and integrating secondary sources and, especially, the formulation of initial research questions (i.e. what constitutes a properly academic inquiry? what is a primary research question? does the question identify an issue and provide focus on a situation? etc.). This course prepares students for further study in research problems and methodologies, in which skills for executing full research proposals and an introduction to prominent methodological approaches are taught.

Testi/Bibliografia

John M. Swales and Christine B. Feak, Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills. A Course for Nonnative Speakers of English.

Paul J. Silvia, How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing

Metodi didattici

Teaching methods for the course include: lectures; prepared readings; full class and small group discussions; in-class writing and learning exercises; peer-review exercises.

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

Possible Assignments include:

Written Abstract:

Each student will complete an assignment in which s/he writes a formal abstract which accompanies a project proposal (the assignment for the first section of the methodologies seminar). Evaluation criteria include: rigor of written work, earnestness of purpose and effort, integration of course material, and insight.

Revision, Editing, and Gloss Analysis Assignment:

Each student will complete an assignment in which s/he revises and edits several short texts. In addition to executing (and showing, via Word “track changes function”) the editing work, the student will also provide parallel commentary in the margins of these texts, explaining usage problems, discussing difficult passages, and offering possible strategies for improvement. Evaluation criteria include: rigor of work, earnestness of purpose and effort, insight, integration of course material, and creativity.

Research Question development:

Each student will present a research question to the class for general discussion, critique, and development.

The final exam for these two weeks belongs together with “Methodology Course, Part II: Research Problems and Methodologies,” which will be completed in spring semester. However, there will be several assignments (see above) during these two week sessions, which will be included in the final grade assessed to the Methodology Course Parts 1&2.

Results of the interim grade (unofficial) for these two weeks will be submitted to students by the end of the fall semester.

The outcome of the module will be averaged to that of the other module composing the integrated course in order to determine the final grade.

Orario di ricevimento

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