Academic Writing Course- First Lesson

Academic writing course first lesson

Needs Analysis

Interview each other in pairs, making notes about your partner in this table.

Name:
Job
Present	Past	Future
Studies
Present	Past	Future
Studies of and use of English
Present	Past	Future
Academic writing and reading (in English and other languages)
Present	Past	Future
Other writing in English
Present	Past	Future
Views on academic writing in English (ways of learning, difficulties, differences, etc)

What is “academic writing”?

Work together to write a paragraph defining academic writing. Look on the next page for ideas of what you could write if you need to.

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Possible ideas for what to put in the paragraph

Why a definition is important/ interesting/ necessary/ difficult etc.

Examples

Contrasts with non-academic writing

Having to define your terms is a fairly common thing to do in academic writing. Do you think you produced a good academic English paragraph? How could you improve it (given time and relevant resources)? 

What is good academic writing? What do you need in order to produce good academic writing?

Draw a circle around the words below and then brainstorm a mind map on the topic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

producing good academic writing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look on the next page if you need suggestions for what to put on the mind map.

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Possible suggestions for the mind map

• Bibliography
• Culture
• Editing
• Grammar
• Organisation
• Paragraphs
• Phrases
• Planning
• Process
• Punctuation
• Quotes
• References/ Citations
• Sentences
• Spelling
• Supporting arguments
• Title
• Topic
• Vocabulary

Compare your mind map with another group and then discuss the questions below.

 

Discussion

• Which of the things on your mind map are most difficult and most important? How could you improve your ability to do those things?
• How can you use brainstorming and mind maps in academic writing? What other ways of coming up with ideas are there?
• Do you think yours is a good example of a mind map? What could be improved about it?
• Your homework will be to write a 300-word essay on the topic of academic writing. How useful could the mind map and definition paragraph you created today be?
• What else will you need to do before you start writing that essay?

 

Homework

Write a 300-word essay on the topic of academic writing, using the things you brainstormed and discussed today to help.