EIL4002 - Language Use in Diverse Fields

Leader: Dr. Farzad Sharifian and Ms. Lorraine Bullock

Offered

Not offered in 2007

Synopsis

This unit offers a detailed study of the language of academic writing. It covers both the genres and the registers of the academic discourse community, particularly considering the language structures appropriate to postgraduate study. These range from traditional essay genre to specific academic texts such as literature reviews, research proposals, summaries, reports and seminar presentations. One final aspect of this unit is that the skills, techniques and language studied during this unit may be applied, if not exactly in this format, to the communicative practices in the documents and language of other professions.

Objectives

Upon the successful completion of this unit, students will have developed the ability to:

1. Produce an individual writing style that is appropriate for the genres within this discourse community,
2. Understand the language forms appropriate to academic argument,
3. Be able to develop their own ideas within the language structures of their intended discipline,
4. Be able to distinguish the difference between jargon and terminology,
5. Be able to develop a detailed thesis statement in the approved academic style,
6. Construct an integrated text that includes both the writer's own opinion and the arguments and opinions of other writers,
7. Produce an appropriate bibliography, and
8. Being able to develop text from draft to final document in both language and content.

Assessment

Critical Essay (1000) : 25%
Analytical Summary of Professional Discourse/Register (1000) : 20%
Short Editing Project (1000) : 20%
Oral Presentation (500) : 10%
1 hour Class Test (1000) : 20%
Seminar preparation and participation : 5%

Contact hours

1 two-hour seminar per week.

Prerequisites

The successful completion of an undergraduate program, An IELTS score of 6.0, where no band is less that 5.5