Essentials of Academic Writing in English - YBEC089

• Title: Essentials of Academic Writing in English
• Guaranteed by: Programme SHV - Language and Literature Module (24-KO)
• Faculty: Faculty of Humanities
• Actual: from 2021
• Semester: both
• E-Credits: 4
• Hours per week, examination: 0/2, MC [HT]
• Capacity: winter:unknown / 20 (20); summer:unknown / unknown (20)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: you can enroll for the course repeatedly; course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; you can enroll for the course in winter and in summer semester
• Guarantor: Conan Turlough Doyle, M.A., Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): Conan Turlough Doyle, M.A., Ph.D.

Annotation

Last update: Conan Turlough Doyle, M.A., Ph.D. (15.02.2022)

The course will guide undergraduate students through the process of producing a short academic text in English. The course will teach students how to identify and produce academic writing in English in contrast to other types of text, by considering the style, the citation of sources and the reliability of the information contained within a text.

Registration requirements

Last update: Conan Turlough Doyle, M.A., Ph.D. (14.02.2022)

In the event that the faculty reverts to remote tuition, the Zoom link will be posted here.

Teaching methods

Last update: Conan Turlough Doyle, M.A., Ph.D. (14.02.2022)

The instructor’s own interests in medieval literature and history may guide the course content but the precise texts under discussion may be modified to suit the interests of the students: Students are welcome to suggest topics for discussion.

The class will function as a discussion group: preparation is essential, and much of the class time will be spent discussing a text which has been circulated in advance.

Short written assignments or worksheets will also be given as homework each week.

Students must be able to work independently to complete assignments.

Requirements to the exam

Last update: Conan Turlough Doyle, M.A., Ph.D. (15.02.2022)

Credit will be awarded for:

·         attendance and participation

·         completion of short homework assignments

·         an in-class presentation of the student’s work

·         a short academic essay of approximately 1500 words will be due at the end of the semester

A maximum of 3 absences are allowed. In the event of COVID-19 self isolation, please contact me as soon as possible to make arrangements for online instruction.

Syllabus

Last update: Conan Turlough Doyle, M.A., Ph.D. (17.02.2022)

Auhenthic materials used in the syllabus will be selected to suit the needs and interests of the students after Week I.

Week I: What Constitutes an Academic Text?

Materials for Week I:
Though these materials will be printed for the benefit of the class, they may be read on-line.

Christopher Carbone, ‘Ancient Bubonic Plague Outbreak Might Have Been Exaggerated, Study Shows’, Fox News.com, 3 Dec. 2019

Peter Sarris, ‘New Approaches to “The Plague of Justinian”’ Past and Present (2021) https://doi.org/10.1093/pastj/gtab024

The article is very long, we will only read the abstract and introduction.

 

Topics covered during the semester will include:

• Citation of sources
• Types and styles of academic writing
• Quotation and paraphrase
• Structure and argument
• Avoiding repetition
• Error correction and proofreading
• Skim reading for research
• Close reading
• Critical appraisal of information
• Finding relevant sources

Entry requirements

Last update: Conan Turlough Doyle, M.A., Ph.D. (14.02.2022)

The seminar is suitable for first-year undergraduate students
There are no formal prerequisites, but English language proficiency of at least B2 level is expected (no attestation or certificate is required).
The seminar is designed as a discussion group or working laboratory, where we work mainly with academic texts relevant to study in the humanities.

In case of the course taking place online, we will meet on a weekly basis as scheduled via Microsoft Teams (in this case, PC/laptop, internet connection /and a headset/ is required).
If you need to self-isolate for medical reasons, please contact me to schedule alternative tuition.