Credits: 3
Schedule: 25.02.2019 - 08.04.2019
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):
IV
Learning Outcomes (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
This course aims to help doctoral students in art and design to develop their academic writing skills for the purpose of writing their thesis and other similar academic works. Coursework focuses on enabling participants to write more effectively for an international readership.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to
- Better recognize the features of effective academic writing for their own field
- Analyze sample texts to identify the language conventions and style particular to their own field of study
- Apply cohesive elements at the sentence and paragraph level to increase the flow of the text
- Utilize 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 organization 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 aims to 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 recognizing stylistic and organizational 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):
Themes include
- Writing behaviors
- Text type and structure
- Sharpening the focus
- Introductions and abstracts
- Paragraph development
- Cohesion and citing
- Results, discussion, conclusions
- Readability
- Style and mechanics
Assessment Methods and Criteria (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
Continuous assessment, completion of writing assignments and completion of course assignments. Note: 80% attendance required.
Elaboration of the evaluation criteria and methods, and acquainting students with the evaluation (applies in this implementation):
A pass meets the following criteria
- Active participation in workshops
- Completion of workshop activities (to a satisfactory level)
- Completion of workshop activities to gain access to feedback sessions (following the workshops)
- Completion of main assignment: 3-pages of text where principles of the course have been applied
- Giving peer feedback on the main assignment
- Submission of work in a timely manner
Workload (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
Small-group instruction 24 – 36 h + Independent study 42 – 57 h
Study Material (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
Provided by the teacher.
Details on the course materials (applies in this implementation):
Course materials are in electronic form in MyCourses
Substitutes for Courses (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
02105
Course Homepage (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=LCA-1030
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 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):
Please note that the course will be organised if a minimum of 10 people register for it.
Details on the schedule (applies in this implementation):
Five workshops 25.02 - 25.03 plus feedback session (08.04)
Tentative workshop schedule
10:00-11:30
Lunch: 45 min
12:15-14:00
Coffee: 15 min
14:14-17:00
Feedback session01.04 No class (Giving feedback to a peer)
08.04 Come at your scheduled time
- Teacher: Pilkinton-Pihko Diane