Course objectives:
- Develop / improve your ability to write well-structured, coherent and logical texts
- Enhance your scientific / academic vocabulary
- Learn to structure sentences and paragraphs
- Learn to think critically when reading academic papers
- Learn how to avoid plagiarism
Themes:
Each week, we will perform a close reading of a text or two. This part—active reading and annotating—will be done individually. The aim is to notice patterns in both structure and logic of the text and the language choices of the writer: paragraph structure, placement of old and new information; sentence patterns (long/short, is the main clause positioned at the beginning or the end of sentence); word choice, and arrangement of words. Afterwards, we will analyse and discuss the text as a group. This is the ultimate way to hone your writing skills.
You will do some actual writing, too—practicing paraphrasing and summarising skills, that is, rephrasing the work of others using your own words so as to avoid plagiarism. Write down what the author is trying to find out. What are the main points? What did you learn? What do you think about the author’s position? Do remember that this course is an opportunity for you to express your ideas. Try to find your voice—your distinct style that is aligned to an academic way of communicating like others in your field. You are the writer!
As for the texts, multidisciplinary writers will be studied when possible to reflect the heterogenous nature of the class whose students come from various disciplines. |
