Topic outline

  • General


    Welcome to Academic Communication for MSc Students!
    • Group H07: 14.01.19 - 12.04.19
    • Mondays 09.00-12.15
    • Room R001/U121a

    This course is intended for students in master’s programs who are not yet in the process of writing their master’s theses. Master’s level students can earn the undergraduate (i.e. Bachelor’s) requisite foreign language credits through this course. Please notice that participants must attend 80% of the class sessions as part of continuous assessment.

     Workload 81 h (Small-group instruction 28h + independent work 53h)

     Learning goals 
     Upon completion of this course, students will be able to

      • recognise the strategies and elements that enhance clarity and audience-friendliness in both oral and written academic communication.
      • appply these strategies and elements in oral presentations and writing related to their field of study.
      • distinguish between formal and informal styles of communication.
      • apply a process approach to the development of oral and written work.
      • document sources properly and select strategies to avoid plagiarism.

    Content              
    This course introduces written and oral communication principles and strategies that are applicable to academic and research purposes. Throughout this course, students work individually, in pairs and in small groups to develop their presentation and writing skills.

    -     Students begin by writing on a topic from their own field of study based on previous (BSc) or ongoing (MSc) research.
    -     To enhance readability of the texts, students apply organisational patterns, such as problem-solution, as well as other writing principles.
    -     Based on their written work, students deliver an oral presentation videoed for self- and teacher-evaluation.
    -     As part of the learning process, students analyse presentations to identify their strengths and areas for improvement, as well as practise organizing and presenting information clearly to a non-expert, but academic audience.
    -     Moreover, students give and receive constructive feedback on their work and revise it accordingly.    

           Assessment methods and grading (see also Overview of Assignments and Grading)
            Preparatory assignments 40%                       
               Final written assignment   20%         
            Final presentation 20% (Videoed)     
            Online modules + written exam 20%

     Materials

    -          Provided by the teacher and students.

     CEFR  B2 or higher