Credits: 3
Schedule: 27.02.2019 - 05.04.2019
Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
Diane Pilkinton-Pihko
Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):
diane.pilkinton-pihko@aalto.fi
Teaching Period (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
Academic year 2018 - 2019: I, II, III, IV, V
Academic year 2019 - 2020: I, II, IV, V
Learning Outcomes (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to
- Recognise the features of effective academic writing for their own fields
- Recognise ineffective sentences and utilise techniques for re-writing them
- Analyse sample texts to identify the language conventions and style particular to their own fields of study
- Apply cohesive elements at the sentence and paragraph level to increase the flow of the text
- Utilise word choice appropriate to formal academic English
- Apply appropriate strategies for proofreading their own work
Content (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
As part of this course, students must bring samples of their written research. In other words, your scientific publications form a core part of the course. During the course, students work to improve their writing as they apply skills and techniques introduced in the course. The course content will include aspects of writing, such as
- Internal organisation of a text, including sequencing of information, paragraph writing and sentence structures
- Appropriateness to the reader (i.e. the target audience), including structuring of material, sentence and paragraph length, and vocabulary choice
- Clarity of the message (language structure, referencing, and cohesiveness)
- Writing effective sentences, paragraphs as well as abstracts, introductions, and conclusions
- Argumentation and researcher positioning/stance
- Editing for clarity and precision
The coursework will enable participants to write more effectively and with greater confidence for an international readership. In response to student needs, the course design includes individual and pair exercises, analysis, and criticism, all of which focus on training participants with specific tools for producing written material appropriate to the needs of an international readership. Simultaneously, students will be guided in recognising stylistic and organisational features of academic writing common to formal written English in their specific fields. As part of feedback, students submit their writing for teacher and peer review.
Working Life Skills: Skills in a foreign language, Written communication, Information retrieval, Ethical consciousness, Critical thinking, Lifelong learning, Self-confidence, Analytical skills, Time-management, Self-awareness, and Knowledge of research in own field.
Details on the course content (applies in this implementation):
See the schedule below.
Assessment Methods and Criteria (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
- Continuous assessment 20%
- Peer feedback 20%
- Written assignments 40%
- Assignment re-writes 20%
Note: 80% attendance required
Elaboration of the evaluation criteria and methods, and acquainting students with the evaluation (applies in this implementation):
Assignments and quizzes are pass/fail. These must be completed to earn the right to participate in the peer and teacher feedback sessions at the end of the course. For the feedback session, the main assignment is three continuous pages of your text (research paper or dissertation), where you have applied the principles from the course. Afterwards, students revise their texts based on the feedback. This final assignment is also pass/fail.
Workload (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
Small-group instruction 24 - 36 h + independent work 45 - 57 h
Study Material (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
To be announced at the onset of the course.
Details on the course materials (applies in this implementation):
Electronic materials are provided in MyCourses.
Substitutes for Courses (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
Kie-98.1340 Writing Doctoral Research
Course Homepage (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=LC-1340
CEFR level (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
C1 or higher
Prerequisites (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
The course is intended for doctoral students who have started their research for and/or writing their thesis. Participants must be able to produce examples of their own written work, as this will be a part of the material used in the course. An entry requirement for incoming participants is completing a needs analysis (sent to you upon enrolment) before the first session.
Grading Scale (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
Pass/Fail
Registration for Courses (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
WebOodi
Further Information (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
This course is offered as a 3-credit course. Additional credits cannot be obtained unless previously agreed as part of an integrated methodology course, for example. In this case, the agreement would have been made between the Language Centre and the professor of the content course and advertised to the targeted group of students.
Please note that the course will be organised if a minimum of 10 people register for it.
Additional information for the course (applies in this implementation):
It is possible to attend this course remotely.
Details on the schedule (applies in this implementation):
| Date | In Class | Contents | Preparation/Outside Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 27.02.19 | 12:30-16:30 | Chapter 1: Getting started Approach: Flipped class | 1.1 Writing style quiz 1.2 Sentence style analysis 1.3 Sentence types 1.4 General plan for paper |
| Fri 01.03.19 | 10:00-11:30 | Chapter 2: Your text type & its structure Approach: Flipped class | 2.1 Dissertation structure |
| Wed 06.03.19 | 12:30-16:30 | Chapter 3: Introduction & abstract Approach: Lecture & workshop | See MyCourses assignments |
| Fri 08.03.19 | 10:00-11:30 | Chapter 4: Paragraph writing Approach: Flipped class | 4.1 Criteria of a good paragraph 4.2 Paragraph structure 4.3 How to build a paragraph |
| Wed 13.03.19 | 12::30-15:00 | Chapter 5: Logical progression Approach: Lecture: Logical progression & Flipped class on other topics | 5.1 Thematic progression 5.2 Parallel structure 5.3 Transitions |
| Fri 15.03.19 | 10:00-14:00 | Chapter 6: Results-Discussion-Conclusions Approach: Lecture & workshop | See MyCourses assignments |
| Wed 20.03.19 | 12:30-16:30 | Chapter 7: Readability Approach: Lecture & workshop | See MyCourses assignments |
| Fri 22.03.19 | 10:00-14:00 | Chapter 8 Style & Mechanics Approach: Lecture & workshop | See MyCourses assignments |
| 27.-29.03.19 | No class | Peer review | See MyCourses feedback session |
| 03.-05.04.19 | Assigned times | Peer & teacher feedback |
- Teacher: Pilkinton-Pihko Diane