Academic Writing in English: A Course Syllabus
Tutor: Bai Limei (bailimeinwnu@gmail.com)
Teaching Material: Self-compiled teaching material
Academic Year: First Term 2013-2014
Students: Class 1、2、3 & 4, Junior 2013
I. Aim
It is a tremendous challenge for undergraduates majoring in English as a foreign language to do research papers in English and in English-related academic areas. The difficulty lies first of all in their lack of an adequate command of the English language and the rudimentary knowledge required for research work. What is worse is that they are not well equipped with the methods and techniques of doing academic researches and writing research papers. This course is designed for the junior English majors to serve as a general reference guide to the writing of academic research papers. It elaborates upon all steps and mechanisms of academic writing ranging from the topic selection to the documentation of the paper, and provides the paper writers with rhetorical [rɪ'tɑrɪkl], referencing and formatting techniques required in accomplishing their writing tasks. This course intends to give the students some basic ideas of academic research --- its nature, value and significance, essential features, techniques and methods, to cultivate in the students a scientific attitude, a rigorous study style, a creative mind and a great courage to explore unknown academic areas, thus helping prepare the students as foreign language professionals for fierce competition and great challenges they are expected to face and take on after graduation from the university.
II. Teaching Plan
Unit 1 Overview of academic writing
Unit 2 Steps in writing a research paper
Unit 3 Choosing a topic
Unit 4 Developing an outline
Unit 5 Writing an abstract
Unit 6 Wring a literature review
Unit 7 Writing of the paper
Unit 8 Writing about literature, translation, linguistics and language teaching studies
Unit 9 Style and mechanics
Unit 10 Documentation of the paper
III. Assignment and Assessment
1. Physical attendance (20%)
2. Group discussion and activity participation (20%).
3. Final examination (60%)
IV. References
Gibaldi, Joseph. 2001. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
McCormack, J & Slaght, J. 2006. English for Academic Study: Extended Writing & Research Skills. Higher Education Press & Garnet Education.
Rudestam, K. E. & Newton, R. R. 2001. Surviving Your Dissertation. Sage Publications, Inc.
程爱民、祁寿华，2005，《英语学术论文写作纲要》，上海外语教育出版社。
田贵森等，2008，《英语专业写作》（第四册），上海外语教育出版社。
文斌，2010，《英语专业学术论文写作教程》，华中科技大学出版社。
文秋芳，2001，《应用语言学研究方法与论文写作》，外语教学与研究出版社。
杨永林等，2002，《英语论文写作研究》，中央广播电视大学出版社。
张霖欣，2008，《英语专业毕业（学术）论文写作教程，河南人民出版社。
周开鑫，2006，《英语专业学生学术论文写作手册》，外语教学与研究出版社。