NPO_WL Better Academic Writing in English

Pan-university studies
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Joseph Lennon, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PaedDr. Marta Holasová, Ph.D. (assistant)
Ing. Daniela Svobodová (assistant)
Mgr. Martina Šindelářová Skupeňová (assistant)
Guaranteed by
Joseph Lennon, Ph.D.
Contact Person: Joseph Lennon, Ph.D.
Prerequisites
The course is aimed especially at graduate students and academics, but is suitable for anyone with at least an intermediate level of English and some experience with academic writing.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The course introduces a few specific strategies and structures for writing better academic texts in English - that is, texts that are clearer, more interesting, and more impactful. It offers guided practice with these strategies through self-study materials and one-to-one consultations with a writing expert.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, participants will:

- Be familiar with several new perspectives on reading, conceiving, structuring, writing, and revising academic texts in English;
- Be able to identify a few specific techniques professionals use to make their writing clear, concise, and engaging;
- Be well-practiced in adapting these techniques to their own writing;
- Be introduced to the Masaryk University Writing Lab and its one-on-one writing consultation services
Syllabus
  • There are 5 units to the course:
  • Unit 1 - That's Interesting! Introducing Your Work
  • Unit 2 - Referring to Sources: Escaping the Parentheses
  • Unit 3 - Transitions: Going from WHAT to WHY (and HOW)
  • Unit 4 - Rescuing Your Sentences: The Paramedic Method for Revision
  • Unit 5 - Making your Abstract Less Abstract (and Using 'I' Wisely)
  • Each unit has 5 elements:
  • 1. A video from the Masaryk University Writing Lab that introduces a concept for improving your writing, and shows examples of how that concept can be applied to real texts
  • 2. Some extra materials that show different perspectives or applications of the concept
  • 3. A "Better Academic Reading" exercise that offers practice in recognizing the concept at work in professional texts
  • 4. A "Better Academic Writing" exercise that offers practice in using the concept in one's own writing
  • 5. An invitation to bring the writing produced in the course for a one-on-one consultation in the Writing Lab
Teaching methods
The course consists of self-study materials in the form of videos, handouts, and short reading and writing exercises. Participants are also encouraged to meet for a few one-to-one consultations with a writing expert from the Language Centre.
Assessment methods
Since the main purposes of the course are to introduce the Writing Lab concept and to improve support for academic writers at Masaryk, we ask that each student meet the instructor for at least one Writing Lab consultation (in person or online). Details about what to expect in a consultation and how to request one can be found in the course materials. We may also ask you to fill out a survey about your views on academic writing support at Masaryk and how we might improve it.
Language of instruction
English
Teacher's information
Funded by the MUNI 3.2.1. project, project no. NPO_MUNI_MSMT-16606/2022.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2023, spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/cus/autumn2024/NPO_WL