Academic Reading and Writing - YBEC119

• Title: Academic Reading and Writing
• Guaranteed by: Programme SHV - Language and Literature Module (24-KO)
• Faculty: Faculty of Humanities
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: both
• E-Credits: 3
• Hours per week, examination: 0/2, MC [HS]
• Extent per academic year: 26 [hours]
• 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: 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: James Partridge, D.Phil., Dr.
• Teacher(s): James Partridge, D.Phil., Dr.
• Incompatibility : YBAJ003
• Interchangeability : YBAJ003
• Is incompatible with: YBAJ003
• Is interchangeable with: YBAJ003

Annotation

English

Last update: James Partridge, D.Phil., Dr. (02.02.2021)

This course is an introduction to a number of key concepts in Academic Writing. We will begin by considering how academic writing differs from other styles of English, and then move on to discuss how to structure an essay, some specifics of vocabulary and grammar, and how to use (and not misuse) secondary sources, citations and footnotes. We will also look at some of the software you can use to help and improve your writing and discuss writing and delivering academic presentations. The aim of the seminar is to introduce students to the principles of academic writing and to improve their reading, writing and critical thinking skills. A high level of English, or native fluency, is a pre-requisite for this course.

Czech

Last update: James Partridge, D.Phil., Dr. (02.02.2021)

Tento kurz je úvodem do několika klíčových oblastí akademického projevu, zaměřených na psaní odborného textu. Budeme zkoumat, jak je akademické psaní odlišné od jiných stylů písemného projevu v angličtině a jak správně strukturovat esej. Zaměříme se také na některá specifika slovní zásoby a gramatiky, používání sekundárních zdrojů, citací, odkazů a bibliografie.

Literature

Last update: James Partridge, D.Phil., Dr. (02.02.2021)

Recommended:

• Bailey, Stephen. Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students. London, New York: Routledge, 2017, 344 s. ISBN 978-1138048744.
• Hamp-Lyons, Liz and Heasley, Ben. Study Writing : A Course in Written English for Academic and Professional Purposes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006, 168 s. ISBN 0-521-31558-1.
• Swales, John and Feak, Christine B.. Academic Writing for Graduate Students : Essential Tasks and Skills. : Michigan ELT, 2012, 418 s. ISBN 978-0-472-03475-8.
• Murray, Neil. Writing Essays in English Language and Linguistics: Principles, Tips and Strategies for Undergraduates. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012, 248 s. ISBN 978-9812794154.

Teaching methods

Last update: James Partridge, D.Phil., Dr. (29.07.2022)

Weekly seminars. 

Moodle site at https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=9703 for all downloadable course materials.

Syllabus

Last update: James Partridge, D.Phil., Dr. (02.02.2021)

The following topics will be covered:

1. What do we mean by Academic Writing? What is the purpose of academic writing and how does it differ from other types of writing in English?

2. Structure of an essay: Introduction, argument, conclusion. Abstracts: What is an abstract and how do we write one?

3. Vocabulary: General, academic and technical vocabulary

4. Grammar: Cohesion: Writing and linking sentences, paragraphs. Sentence construction. Sophisticated grammatical structures. Common issues: run-on sentences, phrasal verbs

5. Citations: Different styles: MHRA, Chicago, MLA, etc.

6. Software for academic writing: Zotero, Endnote, Outliners, etc.

6. Sources: Finding, evaluating and using secondary sources

7. Punctuation in academic writing.

7. Reading a text: Critical thinking. Language that expresses perspective and stance

8. Presentations: Conveying information in presentations; how to deliver effective presentations

9. Plagiarism

Course completion requirements

Last update: James Partridge, D.Phil., Dr. (29.07.2022)

Attendance at all classes, online or otherwise, is essential. Assessment will be by a short essay on an academic topic, to be submitted during the exam period after the course.