MAUUD4100 Academic Writing Course description

This course covers the structure and 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 in universal design of ICT
• has thorough knowledge of the formal academic writing conventions in Universal Design literature

Skills

On successful completion of this course the student:

• can find research results in literature databases and patent databases
• can analyse and critically evaluate various information sources
• can structure and formulate arguments
• can write summaries using his/her own words
• can formulate research questions
• 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 parts of the theories are reviewed and discussed in plenary. Students will solve a set of project tasks that include searching and organizing literature, presenting literature reviews both in writing and orally, and conducting peer reviews. The lecturer will give feedback during the course.

• An individual report documenting the literature search on a self-selected topic, and a summary of the selected articles (75-100 words per article), 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.
• Two drafts of an individually written literature report based on literature search (3000-3500 words). The drafts are part of the portfolio. Students receive individual feedback on the first draft from a peer.

Form of examination

Portfolio including:

• A series of individual written assignments.
• Two individual written reviews of other students' first draft of the literature reports.
• An individual reflection paper (1000-1500 words).
• A revised draft of a literature report (3000-3500 words), written individually based on comments from the peer.

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.

Use of Examiners

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

Assessment grades

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.

Syllabus

Compulsory literature

(approx. 800 pages in total)

American Psychological Association, Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Edition, pp. 3-40, 61-69, 284-342, 2001.

Nygaard, L., Writing for Scholars: A Practical Guide to Making Sense and Being Heard, Universitetsforlaget, pp. 29-150, 2008.

Quinn, M. J., Ethics for the Information Age, 3rd Edition, Pearson Education, pp. 1-490, 2009.

Supplementary literature

Leslie Lamport, LaTeX: A Document Preparation System, 2nd Edition, Addison-Wesley, pp. 1-226, 1994.

Handouts and materials used in class.