keine Angabe Academic Writing

Speaker: Jan Schilling, M.A.; English Language Teaching and Translations The seminar will provide helpful insights into the use of English for academic prose purposes. Although it especially focuses on the distinctive features of the doctoral thesis, discussed ideas and concepts are also relevant for other forms of academic texts, e.g. abstracts, research papers or essays. The introduced and applied techniques target at developing an awareness for crucial elements of the writing process and improving the overall writing fluency. Attention will be given to sensible structuring of academic texts with the general aim to enhance and transport clarity and precision of arguments into well-formulated and convincing texts. Content • needs analysis • definition and conventions/ features of academic texts: what is academic style after all? • strategic considerations before and during the writing process: structuring and organising your efforts, getting in the right state of mind • creating logical unity: cohesion of the text and how to achieve it, from the text as a whole down to sections, paragraphs and single sentences • formal versus informal: choosing the right vocabulary and expressions, e.g. both appropriate and meaningful nouns, verbs and adjectives • linking paragraphs and whole sections: how to use connectors and transitions, being aware of their subtle differences in meaning • structure, proportion and order of elements in academic prose • the most common errors found in academic writing and how to avoid them Methods Input presentation units will give an overview of the general concepts, allowing the participants to reflect their own writing experience with the help of the provided examples. The discussed writing techniques will be tested and evaluated during teamwork-focused tasks with sample texts, but the participants are encouraged to bring along shorter sections or drafts of their own academic texts as workpieces for in-class scrutiny and streamlining. Detailed and indivi-dual feedback will be offered to ensure the best possible output for the participants. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance. Universität Duisburg-Essen SS 2012 Prom, Promotion Dr. Steinmayr Markus