Course Title

ACADEMIC WRITING

Course Code

WRIT330235

Credit

3

Program Level

Instruction Language

Applicable for TESOL Program

Requirement in TESOL Program

Semester in TESOL Program

2

Applicable for Translation & Interpretation Program

Requirement in Translation & Interpretation Program

Semester in Translation & Interpretation Program

2

Requirement in Business English Program

Applicable for Business English Program

Semester in Business English Program

2

Overview

This course is designed for English majored students to achieve upper-intermediate level (equivalent to B2 – CEFR) in writing. The course aims to help students get acquainted with organization and components of an essay through understanding the structure of a paragraph as well as similarities between a paragraph and an essay. Besides, students will be introduced to practical and efficient approaches to acquire the skills, strategies, language and knowledge that are necessary for succeeding in writing essay types such as Descriptive Essay, Comparison Essay, Cause and Effect Essay, and Classification Essay. Students are also given opportunities to discuss their ideas and share their experiences, which helps not only improve their writing skills but also obtain some necessary academic skills to promote learner’s autonomy, critical thinking, presentation skills and teamwork skills which are essential tools for their college success.

Objectives

  Description
G1
  • Demonstrate the understandings of qualitative and quantitative research methodology principles in applied linguistics
G2
  • Justify the appropriateness of research methods in a specific area of research focus and distinguish it from other methods in relevant areas of the same field
  • Evaluate actual studies by specifying their strengths and weaknesses concerning different research-model options
  • Develop a comprehensive critical review on the research methods and designs employed in a particular topic of interest in an area of applied linguistics concerning the findings identified in this body of literature
  • Critique of the credibility of published research reports
G3
  • Work with colleagues on research project discussion and collaboration

Learning Outcomes

LOs of the Course Description
G1
  • Present the organisation of an essay and how it is similar to paragraph structure as well as the role of each part: introductory paragraph, body paragraphs and concluding paragraph;
  • Demonstrate steps to write an essay;
  • Explain the importance of unity and coherence in an essay;
  • Identify different types of essay development: description, comparison and contradiction, cause and effect, classification;
G2
  • Make use of paragraph writing to produce well-written essays under time pressure;
  • Make use of the writing outlines to structure their own writing;
  • Use a broad and precise range of vocabulary and a variety of sentence patterns in order to express ideas in comprehensible academic English;
  • Produce the final product of Descriptive Essays;
  • Produce the final product of Comparison and Contrast Essays;
  • Produce the final product of Cause and Effect Essays;
  • Produce the final product of Classification Essays.
G3
  • Develop teamwork skills through working together and sharing ideas through collaborative activities and peer feedback to consolidate grammar, vocabulary and expressions;
  • Enhance presentation skills;
  • Self-improve study skills and writing skills.

 

Materials

Required Textbooks and Materials:

Folse, S. K., Solomon,V. E., & Clabeaux, D. (2015). Great Writing 3: From Great

Paragraphs to Great Essays. Third edition. Boston: Heinle/Cengage Learning.

Suggested Coursebooks and Materials:

Oshima, A., & Hogue, A. (2006). Writing Academic English (4th ed.). (The Longman

Academic Series, Level 4). USA: Longman.

Soles, D. (2007). The Essentials of Academic Writing. USA: Longman.

John, L. (2008). College Writing Skills. Seventh ed. New York: McGraw.Hill.

Zmach, E. D. & Rumisek, A. L. (2005). Academic Writing from Paragraph to Essay. Oxford: Macmillan Education.

Helpful Websites

http://englishplus.com/grammar/
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/what.shtml
http://www.uefap.com/writing/writfram.htm
http://ncistudent.net/StudySkills/WritingSkills/Introduction.htm
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/CommonErrors.html

Assessment

Students are assessed for their performance in the following components:

Assessment

Percentage

Class participation and group work

15%

Home Assignments

15%

On-going assessment tests

20%

Final Exam

50%