2024

Academic writing skills in English I

Name: Academic writing skills in English I
Code: LLT13973D
3 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours
Scientific Area: Linguistics

Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Presentation

The syllabus is related to the objectives of the curricular unit inasmuch as it allows for the acquisition and development of written skills in academic English, including grammar knowledge and practice. It introduces the basic elements of academic writing (the process and the types of academic writ

Sustainable Development Goals

Learning Goals

1. Students will be able to express themselves in English coherently in writing at intermediate/advanced level; 2. Students will be able to engage in critical reading approaches; 3. Students will be able to acquire knowledge and practice in identifying and producing different types of academic written texts in English; 4. Students will be able to acquire knowledge and practice in planning, brainstorming, note-making, paraphrasing, summarizing, referencing, quoting, proofreading and rewriting; 5. Students will be able to acquire knowledge and practice in different elements of writing: argument, discussion, cause & effect, comparison, examples, cohesion and generalization.

Contents

Unit 1. The writing process: (a) the purpose, types and features of academic writing; (b) types of academic texts; (c) the development of critical reading approaches; (d) planning and brainstorming; key points & note-making; (e) paraphrasing & summarizing; (f) references & quotation; (g) rewriting & proofreading.
Unit 2. Elements of writing: (a) argument and discussion; (b) cause and effect; (c) cohesion; (d) comparison; (e) examples; (f) generalization.

Teaching Methods

The course provides practice in writing for a particular purpose—academic writing—through models and examples of academic texts. Both the process and the final product are considered. Students are encouraged to discuss and compare some of their writing and to draft and check their writing carefully through proofreading. Students may choose between two modes of assessment: (1) Continuous assessment: two quizzes, one after each unit (50% + 50%); or (2) Final Exam (100%).