SYLLABUS
Theory and practice of academic writing for international journals
(3-semester course)
5 ECTS CREDITS
The course is intended to do the practice of professional and pedagogical
communication easier and more accessible to every student. The syllabus of the
course stimulates the development of individual writing skills through a number of
themes from understanding the reasons of academic writing and targeting a journal
to writing in very specific journal genres such as essay and review. Foreign
academic writing schools will be in focus within this course.
Aim of the course
The aim of the course is to encourage students to develop and improve their
academic writing competences and skills (in English) eventually leading to the
widening and increasing their contribution and voice in international academic
environment.
The subject of the course is focused on deep understanding of academic writing
theory and its significance for successful interaction of contemporary scholar in the
international scientific environment.
Learning outcomes
Subject specific knowledge and skills
After completing the program the student will be able to:
 address internationally recognized knowledge and experience in academic
writing on the bases of actual authentic writing materials analysis;
 evaluate and cope with crucial challenges which ‘new writers’ face in their
everyday writing research practice;
 use a dynamic contemporary step-by-step model of academic writing and
author/journal interaction;
 demonstrate efficient academic journal writing skills.
Cognitive abilities and non-subject specific skills
During the course students will develop:
analytical and intellectual skills;
logical and assessment skills;
reflexive skills;
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academic writing skills;
time management skills;
research outcomes presentation skills.
Teaching
The following methods and forms of study are used in the course:
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lectures;
seminars;
discussions;
writing exercises;
video presentations;
analytical reading.
At the end of the each course module the students are supposed to participate
in the seminar and discussion, do writing. Upon the successful completion of the
course the students will gain 5 credits.
Requirements
During the course the students are required to:
– attend lectures and seminars;
– participate in discussions;
– read and analyze sources from the course reading list;
– work with video presentations;
– fulfill writing exercises.
Grade determination
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Class participation - 20%
Participation in discussion – 20%
Tests – 30 %
Oral presentation – 30%
Reading
1. Barras R. (2002) Scientists Must Write: A Guide to Better writing for
Scientists, Engineers and Students, London, Routledge, 176p.
2. Chigisheva O. (2010) Book review. International education for the
millennium: toward access, equity and quality, Compare, Volume 40, Issue
1, pp. 100-102.
3. Day A. (2008) How to Get Research Published in Journals. Gower, 154p.
4. Ehrlich E.H. (1992) Shaum`s Outline of Theory and Problems of
Punctuation, Capitalisation and Spelling, McGraw-Hill, 182p.
5. Kramer M.G., Leggett G., Mead D.C. (1995) Prentice Hall Handbook for
Writers. Annotated Instructor’s Edition. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs,
New Jersey 07632, 727p.
6. Lee A., Boud D. (2003) Writing groups, change and academic identity:
research development as local practice. Studies in Higher Education,
Volume 21, Number 2, pp. 187-200.
7. Murray R. (2008) Writing for Academic Journals. Open University Press,
223p.
8. Murray R. (2001) Integrating teaching and research through writing
development for students and staff. Active Learning in Higher Education,
Volume 2, Issue 1, pp. 31-45
9. Murray R., Moore S. (2006) The Handbook of Academic Writing. A Fresh
Approach. Open University Press, 196p.
10. Markman R.H., Markman P.T., Waddell M.L. (2001) 10 steps in writing the
research paper. Barron’s, 170p.
11. Swales J.M., Feak Ch.B. (2004) Academic Writing for Graduate Students:
Essential Tasks and Skills. The University of Michigan Press, 117p.
Contact
Oksana Chigisheva, ochigisheva@rambler.ru