Academic Writing I 4219-ZP001
Academic Writing I introduces students to the fundamentals of university-level writing. The course teaches the basics of the essay form, including approaches to critical reading, essay structure, drafting, revision, editing and aspects of advanced grammar and style. The core focus will be the students’ development of a short, well-structured essay with a clear topic and thesis.
Course topics
1. What the Text Says
2. Critical Reading
3. Responding Meaningfully and with Objections
4. Thesis Statements and Essay Structure
5. Drafting and Revising
6. Editing and Proofreading
7. Voice and Tone
8. Revision in Action
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student will:
SKILLS
- be able to critically read and write in English within academic discourse
- be proficient in using terminology related to academic writing
- construct a basic academic essay
- formulate the topic and thesis statement of an essay
- prepare and revise a critical text on a given topic
COMPETENCIES
- articulate opinions on complex and often controversial topics, confronting them with the opinions of others in an atmosphere of mutual respect
- critically evaluate media content related to the USA
- conduct a brief peer review of other students' work and respond to their reviews by formulating their own opinions
- take a stance on selected cultural and social controversies in the United States
- understand and adhere to academic ethics standards and know how to avoid plagiarism
- collaborate effectively in a group
Assessment criteria
40% Portfolio (final submission of edited work)
30% Homework
30% Classwork
Grading scale:
0-60 – 2
60-70 – 3
71-75 – 3,5
76-85 – 4
86-90 – 4,5
91-95 – 5
96-100 – 5!
Bibliography
Graff, Gerald and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing
Kirszner, Laurie G. and Stephen R. Mandell. Patterns for College Writing: A Rhetorical Reader and Guide
Bailey, Stephen. Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students
Booth, Wayne C. et al. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 7th ed.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: