AJ3204 Academic Writing

Faculty of Education
Spring 2023
Extent and Intensity
0/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Olga Dontcheva-Navrátilová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Helena Worthington, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Olga Dontcheva-Navrátilová, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Supplier department: Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Timetable of Seminar Groups
AJ3204/Kombi01: Fri 24. 2. 10:00–11:50 učebna 10, Fri 10. 3. 10:00–11:50 učebna 10, Fri 24. 3. 10:00–11:50 učebna 10, Fri 14. 4. 10:00–11:50 učebna 10, Fri 28. 4. 10:00–11:50 učebna 10, Fri 12. 5. 10:00–11:50 učebna 10, H. Worthington
AJ3204/Kombi02: No timetable has been entered into IS. H. Worthington
AJ3204/Prez01: Wed 10:00–11:50 učebna 12, O. Dontcheva-Navrátilová
Prerequisites
Advanced level of English.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 12 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course aims to:
- develop the academic writing skills of the students with focus on argumentation and rhetorical structure;
- provide practice in writing the rhetorical sections of a diploma thesis;
- raise students’ awareness of similarities and differences between English and their native language so as to enable them to identify potentially problematic areas for their future learners.
It will teach students how to:
- build their authorial identity and communicate with their readers;
- write argumentative texts using the problem-solution and cause-effect patterns;
- critically evaluate sources and reference to sources (quotations and paraphrases) and visual devices. It will teach students how to:
- build their authorial identity and communicate with their readers;
- write argumentative texts using the problem-solution and cause-effect patterns;
- critically evaluate sources and reference to sources (quotations and paraphrases) and visual devices;
- teach the basics of academic writing to their students.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student will be able to:
- write an argumentative academic text in English;
- abide by the Anglophone academic style conventions (soft sciences) in terms of formality, writer-reader interaction, academic vocabulary and phraseology;
- apply the appropriate rhetorical structure of the genre of diploma theses;
- use essential skills for the teaching profession, such as analytic thinking, creativity in designing lessons and teaching materials, and adapting learning content for practical needs;
- transfer the knowledge to teaching writing in English lessons and work with relevant academic genres.
Syllabus
  • 1. Academic writing - context, conventions, approaches. The genre of diploma thesis.
  • 2. Writing Introductions. General-specific openings and the thesis statements
  • 3. Writing the Thesis statement. Personal vs. impersonal stance.
  • 4. Writing the Literature review. Citing sources.
  • 5. Coherent information flow - topic development.
  • 6. The cause-effect pattern. Coherent information flow - connectors.
  • 7. Presenting arguments, reporting results and findings.
  • 8. Stance in academic discourse.
  • 9. Writing the Conclusions.
  • 10. Writing the Summary.
Literature
    required literature
  • MCCARTHY, Michael and Felicity O'DELL. Academic vocabulary in use. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008, 176 stran. ISBN 9780521689397. info
  • HAMP-LYONS, Liz and Ben HEASLEY. Study writing : a course in writing skills for academic purposes. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006, 213 s. ISBN 9780521534963. info
    recommended literature
  • SWALES, John and Christine B. FEAK. Academic writing for graduate students : essential tasks and skills. 3rd ed. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Press, 2012, xiv, 418. ISBN 9780472034758. info
  • PALTRIDGE, Brian and Sue STARFIELD. Thesis and dissertation writing in a second language : a handbook for supervisors. New York: Routledge, 2007, vii, 189. ISBN 9780415371735. info
  • Wood, S. A. (2023) Teachers talking writing: Perspectives on places, pedagogies and programmes. The WAC Clearinghouse.
Teaching methods
Teaching methods:
explanation and discussion in seminars;
guided writing and editing text drafts;
observation of selected phenomena during teaching practice;
home study and practice.
Assessment methods
Completion prerequisites:
- attendance: minimum 80%;
- active participation in seminars;
- completing 3 writing assignments 70%
- completing three progress tests - passmark 70%. (H.Worthington's group)
- attendance and active participation in seminars;
- completing 6 written assignments 70%.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: kombinované studium: výuka v blocích.
Teacher's information
https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=945
Day-time students https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=945 Distant students https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=1559 For online semester: Please note that students are requested to secure good internet connection in order to participate in online lessons and they must attend these meetings with both the sound and camera on. Distant students (H.Worthington's group) https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=3561
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/spring2023/AJ3204