MAUU4100 Academic Writing Course description

This course covers the composition of academic texts.

Admission requirements.

A student who has completed this course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

On successful completion of this course the student

• has thorough knowledge of writing in research processes
• has advanced knowledge of forums and channels in which research results are published
• has thorough knowledge of the formal academic writing conventions

Skills

On successful completion of this course the student

• can find research results in literature databases
• can analyse and critically evaluate various information sources
• can write summaries using his/her own words
• can formulate scientific reports
• can use electronic reference tools
• can carry out objective and constructive peer reviews on written work

General competence

On successful completion of this course the student

• can identify research fraud and plagiarism
• has a thorough knowledge of responsibility for author and co-authorship in accordance with the Vancouver Convention

The course is organized as a series of lectures where the central concepts are discussed. Students will solve a set of tasks that include searching and organizing literature, presenting literature reviews in both written and spoken form, and conducting peer reviews.

Coursework requirements

• An individual report documenting the literature search on a self-selected topic, including summaries of the selected articles and a statement on the relationship between the articles. Each student is expected to study a given number of articles, some in detail. The report is part of the portfolio.
• An oral presentation of individual literature search. The presentation is not subject to assessment.

One draft of an individually written literature report based on literature search (3000-3500 words). The draft is part of the portfolio. Students receive individual feedback on the draft from three peers.

Participation

There is an 80% obligatory participation in order for the student to pass this course.

Portfolio including

• three individual written reviews of other students' draft of the literature report
• an individual reflection paper (1000-1500 words)
• a revised draft of a literature report (3000-3500 words), written individually based on comments from three peers

A portfolio assessment provides an overall assessment awarding one grade for the whole portfolio.

Students may only appeal against the determination of the examination grade awarded for the whole portfolio.

All aids.

For the final assessment a grading scale from A to E is used, where A denotes the highest grade, E denotes the lowest, and F denotes a fail.

Two internal examiners will assess the portfolio. External examiner is used periodically.