Critical Writing 3301-L2PACW
1. Critical writing and reading; modes of analysis: description, definition, comparison, explanation, evaluation.
2. Critical summary: theory and practice; evaluative reporting verbs.
3. Review, e.g. film/book/article/academic paper.
4. Evaluation of sources: primary, secondary, and tertiary; print and online; the CRAAP test.
5. Quotation and paraphrase; citation and bibliography.
6. Argumentative essay – theory and practice: developing the thesis and supporting the argument, refuting the argument, planting a naysayer: considering counterargument
Type of course
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will:
- have learnt how to critically approach a text while reading and writing
- be able to analyse a text, present arguments, and generalise
- be able to write critical summaries, reviews, and/or argumentative essays
Code reference: K_U01.2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11
The student:
K_U01 is able to use basic terminology of linguistics, literary and cultural studies.
K_U02 is able to use basic methodology of linguistics, literary and cultural studies.
K_U03 is able to express himself/herself in English correctly, with precision and coherence, adjusting language forms to the communicational context.
K_U04 is able to present the aquired knowledge in a clear and logical way in the oral and written form.
K_U05 is able to monitor and diagnose the correctness of the Polish and English languages in use.
K_U07 is able to interpret, analyse, prioritise and synthesize various ideas, facts and phenomena concerning language, culture, society, history and economy.
K_U08 is able to select and apply relevant knowledge referring to English studies for the purpose of communication, didactics and research.
K_U10 has basic abilities to analyse other people's research, formulate a problem and determine the suitable research method.
K_U11 is able to appreciate the diversity of opinions presented in assigned reading and class discussions, using them as a source of inspiration rather than a threat to his/her own value system.
Assessment criteria
Credit for the course depends on: regular attendance, active involvement, and written work.
The retake consists in submitting written assignments which the student failed to submit and/or in rewriting assignments evaluated negatively, or in writing a new extra assignment or assignments. The submitted translations must obtain positive grades.
Two or three (to be determined by a specific group teacher) formally justified absences are allowed.
Bibliography
Optional background readings:
1. Critical Language Awareness. ed. Norman Fairclough. Longman, 1992.
2. Goatly, Andrew. Critical Reading and Writing. An introductory coursebook. Routledge: London and New York, 2000. (Part 2, pp. 117-177).
3. Macpherson, R. Advanced Written English. PWN, 2001.
4. McCrimmon, James. Writing with a Purpose. Boston & London.
5. Montgomery, Martin. Alan Durant and others. Ways of Reading. Routledge: London and New York, 2000. ("Critical thinking" pp. 91-101.).
6. Spratt, Brenda. Writing from Sources. St. Martin's Press Inc., New York 1991.
7. Taylor, Gordon. The Student's Writing Guide for Arts and Social Sciences. CUP, 1996. ("Writing book reviews" p.227.)
Collections of essays:
1. 75 Readings: An Anthology. McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1991.
2. Sather, Trevor. PROS and CONS: a Debater's Handbook. London.
3. The McGraw-Hill Reader. McGraw-Hill, 1988.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: