ENH1250 - Academic Writing

Leader: Nina Philadelphoff-Puren

Offered

Caulfield First semester 2007 (Day)
Clayton First semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

Students will receive both practical and critical training in the genre of the academic essay. Students should develop the effectiveness of their academic writing by analysing and practising the relevant skills. The logical, rhetorical and grammatical aspects of writing within the academic discourse community will be developed through individual and collaborative writing exercises. These exercises will include a consideration of claims, argument structure, reasoning, vocabulary, evidence, register, genre, audience, voice, style and presentation. The cultural and institutional contexts of academic writing will also be analysed.

Objectives

By the conclusion of the subject you should:

1. Be able to identify the structure of an argument.
2. Be able to identify different kinds of claims.
3. Understand the process of reasoning in academic contexts.
4. Be equipped with a basic set of critical thinking skills, transferable between disciplines.
5. Have a developed understanding of the academic essay.
6. Understand the conventions of academic writing.
7. Have improved skills in writing and editing.
8. Have a knowledge of the concept of discourse.

Assessment

Class test: 25%
Essay (1500 words): 25%
Essay (2000 words): 40%
Participation: 10%

Contact hours

3 hours (1 x 1 hour lecture and 1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

Prohibitions

ENH1240