Course detail

Academic Writing

FAST-BYA11Acad. year: 2013/2014

Introducing the canonical sections of a scientific paper in international journals and proceedings (IMRAD, etc.).
Explaining the structuring of scientific paper, paragraphing, quotating and references.
Practise in writing abstracts and short scientific papers.
How to use the vocabulary and phraseology precisely.

Language of instruction

Czech

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Mgr. Jolana Tluková, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Social Sciences (SPV)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

The student will know basic types of academic papers, will know the canonical division into sections, and their contents.
They will know how to work with professional vocabulary from authentic texts, choose suitable conjunctions, work with dictionaries.
They will understand common in-text abbreviations, style of titles, and the goals of scientific papers.
They will know how to write a standard abstract for a conference, elaborate and distribute the research outcome into individual sections, write a summary.
They will know how to suggest several types of paper titles.

Prerequisites

Knowledge of general English at the B1 level according to CERF.

Co-requisites

None.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is based on the study of authentic academic texts online on Moodle, active discussion about language problems in seminars, and written asigments to practice the attained knowledge followed by a lecturer´s feedback.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

To be able to get their credits, students need to attend classes regularly (max. 3 absences/semester), do their homework and actively participate in the lessons.

Course curriculum

1st - 6th weeks, 2 lessons per week:
Introduction to scientific texts, study of samples from authentic papers published in journals and conference proceedings.
7th - 12th weeks, 2 lessons per week:
Practice of writing acadenic papers, peer-review, discussion about frequent problems in texts.
13th week:
credit test

Elaboration of an abstract on students' dissertation topics, discussion about texts.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

Introducing students to the methods of scientific text in English (goals, methods, style), structure and referencing

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Extent and forms are specified by guarantor’s regulation updated for every academic year.

Recommended optional programme components

None.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Terry, Wilson: Focus on Academic Skills. London: Pearson Longman, 2006.

Type of course unit

Exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Mgr. Jolana Tluková, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Introduction to the style of academic English, types of academic papers.
2. Requirements and aims of academic papers, template.
3. Brief characteristics of each section of a academic paper, contents and form of Introduction.
4. Contents and form of the section Methods and Materials.
5. Contents and form of the section Results.
6. Contents and form of the section Conclusion.
7. Contents and form of the section Discussion.
8. Contents and form of the section Abstract
9. Title and its types, paragraphing.
10. Common in-text abbreviations, quotations.
11. Consultation of seminar papers.
12. Discussion of common mistakes in written texts (Czenglish).
13. Test.

VUT

Faculties

University Institutes

Parts

Academic Writing

Type of course unit