Developing Academic WritingLaajuus (3 cr)

Learning objectives

The student
• is able to write academic texts to specified audiences
• can produce short and long academic texts according to process writing principles
• is able to find, evaluate and uses sources in compliance with ethical standards of academic conduct, including writing in-text citations and bibliographic entries
• can recognize and use academic English writing conventions such as appropriate tone, tense, vocabulary, paragraph types, linking words and phrases
• knows how to transform research outcomes (quantitative and/or qualitative) into the appropriate academic format
• can edit both own and text of others
• understands how to structure a thesis/report according to academic standards

Contents

• Text audience, organization and style (tone, voice, tense, vocabulary)
• Process writing: Exploring and focusing on a topic, outlining, organizing texts from general-specific and specific-general, logical division of ideas
• Finding, evaluating and using sources ethically (referencing), academic misconduct (see TENK pdf), writing in-text citations and bibliographic entries
• Paragraph types: thematic, descriptive, narrative, argumentative, comparative/contrastive and metatextual
• Linking words and phrases, punctuation
• Paraphrasing, writing summaries and abstracts
• Structuring a thesis/report according to academic standards, ensuring compliance with the institutional instructions Writing reports and theses at Haaga-Helia
Additionally, progressive levels of vocabulary and grammar are integrated into each topic.

Lähtötaso ja sidonnaisuudet muihin opintojaksoihin

No prerequisites, but recommended at the start of the Thesis Planning course.

Implementation methods, demonstration and Work&Study

Contact sessions/Online sessions involve explanation of academic writing/English along with numerous in-class exercises; therefore, attendance is important for acquisition of writing skills. Writing assignments are to be completed outside of the class time and will be assessed in the follow-up session by oneself and peers through instructor guidance.
• Lectures
• Workshop-style learning environment
• Written assignments with clear application to the thesis writing process
• Peer assessment

Learning materials

Oshima, A. & Hogue, A. 2007. Introduction to Academic Writing: Level 3, 3rd ed. Pearson Longman. White Plains, NY. USA.

Swales, J. & Feak C. Academic Writing for Graduate Students. University of Michigan Press. Ann Arbor, MI. USA.

Haaga-Helia Thesis Coordinators. 2019. Writing reports and theses at Haaga-Helia. Haaga-Helia UAS. Helsinki, Finland.