AJ1210 Writing Composition

Faculty of Education
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Radek Vogel, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Barbora Kašpárková, 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
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
This course is designed to improve the fluency of students' writing. Students will be introduced to the process of writing and be guided through the basic steps and techniques. The writing will be practised in various genres, with information relevant to writing for different purposes. The course focuses on mastering functions necessary for effective writing in general (comparison and contrast, evaluation and conclusion, generalisation and summary, expressing cause and effect, linking, etc.), as well as for academic purposes (developing arguments, providing evidence, citing other sources). The course enhances the acquisition of linguistic knowledge and teaching competencies indispensable for the professional development of future teachers of English, in particular communication and interpersonal skills, collaboration and teamwork, flexibility and adaptability (viz Strategic Aim 1, Strategies 2030).
Learning outcomes
After completing this course, students will:
- use formal English in writing
- demonstrate knowledge of editing and revision techniques
- understand the connection between writing and thinking and use writing and reading for inquiry, learning and thinking
- have acquired research skills, being able to integrate their own ideas with those of others and apply the conventions of citation correctly
- have raised their awareness of the functions and aspects of English, thus developing skills, such as analytic thinking, creativity in designing lessons and teaching materials, and adapting learning content for practical needs, which are qualities essential for teaching profession.
Syllabus
  • Styles and genres of writing
  • Formal vs informal register
  • Writing styles - descriptive, narrative, persuasive, expository
  • Structure of an essay/paper
  • Writing techniques
  • Topic sentence, developing an argument
  • Collecting evidence
  • Classifying, comparison and contrast
  • Writing summaries
  • Generalisation, hedging and boosting
  • Linking
  • Evaluation and conclusion
  • Academic style
  • Quotation and paraphrase
  • Citation styles (APA, MLA)
  • Working with tables and visuals (diagrams, graphs, pictures)
Literature
    required literature
  • DE CHAZAL, Edward and Louis ROGERS. Oxford EAP : a course in English for academic purposes. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013, 223 s. ISBN 9780194002011. info
    recommended literature
  • 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
  • MCCARTHY, Michael and Felicity O'DELL. Academic vocabulary in use. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008, 176 stran. ISBN 9780521689397. info
  • WHITE, Ronald V. Writing : advanced. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987, x, 117. ISBN 0194534073. info
Teaching methods
Individual writing assignments (2 compulsory in-class assignments and 2 set as homework).
Assessment methods
Completion of the course is based upon completion of four compulsory assignments during the semester and attendance in class.
Language of instruction
English
Study support
https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=3735
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Note related to how often the course is taught: kombinované studium: výuka v blocích.
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=3735
Moodle course for AJ1210 (full-time students): https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=3736
Moodle course for AJ1210 (combined students): https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=3735

The course requires approximately the same amount of time spent by studying materials and drafting assignments at home as the time spent in seminars. Except the four obligatory written assignments, other short written tasks are assigned during the course so that they can be discussed and peer-assessed in the next lessons.


If a student is spending the whole semester abroad within the framework of the Erasmus programme, attendance is not considered obligatory, but the other requirements (obligatory written assignments) must be submitted online in due times.


In the course, the use of AI is permitted for learning but not for cheating. It is acceptable to use AI for brainstorming ideas, basic proofreading, and suggestions for improvement. It is unacceptable to have a text generated, translated or reformulated. Remember to acknowledge all innovative ideas that are not yours. For generated ideas, use in-text citations. At the end of each assignment, state how you worked/did not work with AI. When in doubt, consult your teacher.

The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Autumn 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/spring2025/AJ1210