Weeks 1-2: Orientation and Chapter One of Academic Writing
Orientation
1. Introduction to the course
2. The class policy, including the attendance, the group work, the peer-review and feedback, etc.
3. The form of examination, and so on.
4. Emphasis on the importance of previewing and self-study.
Chapter 1 Essay Purpose and Instructions
Aims:
ü understand what academic writing is
ü understand the purpose of essays
ü analyse essay titles
Part One: Self-evaluation as leading-in
Let Ss read the list of statements and circle the answer according to their condition.
1. I understand what academic writing is.
2. I understand the purpose of essays.
3. I know the academic meaning of instruction words in essays.
4. I can find key words in essay titles to help me understand what I am expected to write.
5. I can analyse the structure of an essay question to give a full answer and include the right information.
6. I know who to go to at my university if I need advice about an essay.
Part Two：On Writing and Discussing in Group
On Question Discussion
1. What is academic writing?
ü Academic writing is writing which is done by scholars (students or academics) for other scholars to read.
ü It can take many forms: journal articles, textbooks, dissertations, group project reports, etc.
ü The essay still remains the most popular type of assignment for students.
2. What are essays?
ü Essays are written by students and are likely to be read by one person only: their tutor.
ü The essay can be set as a coursework assignment to assess a student’s understanding of a module, or as an exam question.
On Writing
1. The purpose of essays
ü A common form of assessment in many disciplines.
ü Many reasons for the popularity of essay as the type of assignment.
ü Difference between an ordinary question and an essay question.
(See details on P9)
2. Analysing essay titles
ü How to find and decide the essay title based on the question.
ü How to set your full title on your first page.
ü To understand the word “discuss” from the perspective of academic essay.
ü The steps to follow:
a) to refer to different aspect of a topic
b) look at the benefits and drawbacks of different points of view
c) give your own conclusion
(See Exercises 1, 2)
3. Analysing key words and structure of essay titles
ü A good technique: to underline or highlight key words.
ü Take the IELTS-type essay question as example.
ü Focus on the clue brought by a key word and pay attention to the structure and content.
ü Tell the difference between the relevant information and the irrelevant one.
Weeks 1-2: Orientation and Chapter One of Academic Writing
Orientation
1. Introduction to the course
2. The class policy, including the attendance, the group work, the peer-review and feedback, etc.
3. The form of examination, and so on.
4. Emphasis on the importance of previewing and self-study.
Chapter 1 Essay Purpose and Instructions
Aims:
ü understand what academic writing is
ü understand the purpose of essays
ü analyse essay titles
Part One: Self-evaluation as leading-in
Let Ss read the list of statements and circle the answer according to their condition.
1. I understand what academic writing is.
2. I understand the purpose of essays.
3. I know the academic meaning of instruction words in essays.
4. I can find key words in essay titles to help me understand what I am expected to write.
5. I can analyse the structure of an essay question to give a full answer and include the right information.
6. I know who to go to at my university if I need advice about an essay.
Part Two：On Writing and Discussing in Group
On Question Discussion
1. What is academic writing?
ü Academic writing is writing which is done by scholars (students or academics) for other scholars to read.
ü It can take many forms: journal articles, textbooks, dissertations, group project reports, etc.
ü The essay still remains the most popular type of assignment for students.
2. What are essays?
ü Essays are written by students and are likely to be read by one person only: their tutor.
ü The essay can be set as a coursework assignment to assess a student’s understanding of a module, or as an exam question.
On Writing
1. The purpose of essays
ü A common form of assessment in many disciplines.
ü Many reasons for the popularity of essay as the type of assignment.
ü Difference between an ordinary question and an essay question.
(See details on P9)
2. Analysing essay titles
ü How to find and decide the essay title based on the question.
ü How to set your full title on your first page.
ü To understand the word “discuss” from the perspective of academic essay.
ü The steps to follow:
a) to refer to different aspect of a topic
b) look at the benefits and drawbacks of different points of view
c) give your own conclusion
(See Exercises 1, 2)
3. Analysing key words and structure of essay titles
ü A good technique: to underline or highlight key words.
ü Take the IELTS-type essay question as example.
ü Focus on the clue brought by a key word and pay attention to the structure and content.
ü Tell the difference between the relevant information and the irrelevant one.