School of Media and Design

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

2018/2019 Spring
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Course: Academic English Lecture Time and venue:
Lecturer: Prof. Wu, Fang Contact: wufangwf@sjtu.edu.cn
Consultation hours: by appointment Office location: A305, SMD
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Week Topic Presentation Assignment

Week 1 Introduction to academic English
Feb 27
Week 2 Styles of academic writing 1
Mar 6 Readings:
Strunk & White: Chapter II
Week 3 Use electronic resources in SJTU library
Mar 13 for academic writing
13:00-15:20
Venue:

Week 4 Styles of academic writing 2

Mar 20 Readings:
Strunk & White: Chapter V
Week 5 How to write an introduction Paper critique
Mar 27 Readings:
Booth, Colomb, & Williams: Chapter 3&4
Week 6 Conceptualization: writing literature Paper critique
Apr 3 review
Readings:
Booth, Colomb, & Williams: Chapter 5&6
Week 7 Method and methodology Report your Hand in
Apr 10 topics Assignment
#1
Week 8 Writing method and findings: Survey Paper critique
Apr 17 Readings:
Read the sample papers very carefully
Week 9 Writing method and findings: Paper critique
Apr 24 Experiment
Readings:
Read the sample papers very carefully
Week 10 PUBLIC HOLIDAY
May 1
Week 11 Writing method and findings: Content Paper critique Hand in
May 8 analysis and citation analysis Assignment
Readings: #2
Read the sample papers very carefully
Week 12 Writing method and findings: qualitative Paper critique
May 15 research
Readings:
Read the sample papers very carefully
Week 13 Visual presentation of your findings Hand in
May 22 ***Workshop: Bring your laptops Assignment
#3
Week 14 Theorization: writing discussion Paper critique
May 29 Readings:
Read the sample papers very carefully
Week 15 Mini conference: Panel 1-4 Final
Jun 5 presentation
Week 16 Mini conference: Panel 5-8 Final
Jun 5 presentation

ATTENDANCE:
Attendance is required as part of your course grade. If you miss more than three classes, you
will receive a fail grade even if you have submitted the assignments and given the
presentations.

PAPER CRITIQUING:
The discussion leader of the week should first give a 10-15 minutes presentation about the
journal article(s) of that week. The discussion leader is encouraged to present an in-depth
analysis of the writing styles, argumentations, organizations, and etc. The discussion leader
should then lead their fellow students to discuss the topic of the week using the sample
journal article. The discussion leader is encouraged to raise questions to facilitate
interactions.

ASSIGNMENT #1:
Think of a research topic that you are interested in. Write an essay with the answers to the
following questions:
1. What is the major question you want to answer with this study?
2. What is the theoretical and practical background of your topic?
3. Why is this study important?
4. How can this study contribute to theory building/body of knowledge of this field/practices
of the industry?
Requirements:
2-3 pages, double space, 12 font, Times new roman
Use APA style (or any other academic style in a coherent way)
ASSIGNMENT #2
Review the literature on the main concepts of your study (the topic you chose in assignment
#1). Keep the following questions in mind when writing the literature review chapter.
1. What are definitions of the concept? Which definition you prefer to use in your study?
2. How does previous literature study this concept? Are previous findings relevant to your
study? Why?
3. Are there associations between those concepts? Are there any existing findings about the
association? Is it a controversial association? What is your argument about this association?
Why?
4. What are the research hypotheses and research questions?
Requirements:
6-8 pages, double space, 12 font, Times new roman
Use APA style (or any other academic style in a coherent way)
Do NOT copy and paste sentences from the literature you are reviewing. It is not only a very
bad practice; it is plagiarism! Try to articulate the previous findings to support your own
argument.
Try to use tables and figures to illustrate your points. Use a figure to demonstrate the
theoretical framework of your study.

ASSIGNMENT #3
Choose the research method(s) for your study. Write an essay with the answers to the
following questions:
1. Why is this method the right method for your study? Justify it.
2. What is the procedure of your method?
3. What is your sampling method? Why?
4. How will your measure independent and dependent variables?
Requirements:
3-4 pages, double space, 12 font, Times new roman
Use APA style (or any other academic style in a coherent way)

FINAL PROJECT:
Combine the assignments #1 #2 #3 into a research proposal. You are supposed to thoroughly
revise the introduction, literature review, and research method. A considerable progress is
expected after you learn about academic writing for a semester.
Requirements:
12-18 pages, double space. 12 font, Times new roman
Use APA style (or any other academic style in a coherent way)
Use a figure to present the theoretical framework.
Deadline: Jun 18
Put the hard copy of your final project into my mailbox in the building of the School of
Media and Communication and send the soft copy to the teaching assistant.

MINI CONFERENCE:
You will report the progress of your research project to your fellow students in the mini
conference. Each of you will give a 12-minute presentation of your research project in the
mini conference.

GRADING SCHEME:
Attendance: 10%
Paper critique: 20%
Assignments #1-3: 30%
Final project: 20%
Mini conference: 20%

TEXTBOOKS
Strunk, W. & White, E. B. (1999). The elements of style. New York: Longman.

Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., & Williams, J. M. (2003). The craft of research. Chicago:
University of Chicago press.

SAMPLE JOURNAL ARTICLES

Week 5 Chan, M. (2015). Multimodal connectedness and quality of life: Examining the
influences of technology adoption and interpersonal communication on
well-being across the life span. Journal of Computer-Mediated
Communication, 20(1), 3-18.
Hassid, J. (2012). Safety valve or pressure cooker? blogs in Chinese political life.
Journal of Communication, 62(2), 212-230.
Week 6 Rupp, D. E., Mccance, A. S., Spencer, S., Sonntag, K., Rupp, D. E., & Spencer,
S., et al. (2008). Customer (in)justice and emotional labor: the role of
perspective taking, anger, and emotional regulation. Journal of Management,
34(5), 903-924.
Feng, B. (2014). When Should Advice Be Given? Assessing the Role of
Sequential Placement of Advice in Supportive Interactions in Two Cultures.
Communication Research, 41(7), 913–934.
Week 7 No paper critiquing
Week 8 Chan, M. (2016). Social network sites and political engagement: exploring the
impact of Facebook connections and uses on political protest and
participation. Mass Communication and Society, 19(4), 430-451.
Brossard, D., & Nisbet, M. C. (2006). Deference to Scientific Authority Among a
Low Information Public: Understanding U.S. Opinion on Agricultural
Biotechnology. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 19(1), 24–
52.
Week 9 King, G., Schneer, B., & White, A. (2017). How the news media activate public
expression and influence national agendas. Science, 358(6364), 776-780.
Bigsby, E., Monahan, J. L., & Ewoldsen, D. R. (2016). An Examination of
Adolescent Recall of Anti-Smoking Messages: Attitudes, Message Type, and
Message Perceptions. Health Communication, 1-11.
Week 10 Public holiday
Week 11 Huang, Y. H. (2006). Crisis situations, communication strategies, and media
coveragea multicase study revisiting the communicative response
model. Communication Research, 33(3), 180-205.
Taylor, M., & Kent, M. L. (2010). Anticipatory socialization in the use of social
media in public relations: a content analysis of prsa's public relations tactics.
Public Relations Review, 36(3), 207-214.
Week 12 Hoover, S. M., & Coats, C. D. (2011). The media and male identities: audience
research in media, religion, and masculinities. Journal of Communication,
61(5), 877–895.
Gehl, R. W. (2014). Power/freedom on the dark web: a digital ethnography of the
dark web social network. New Media & Society, 18(7), 1219-1235.
Week 13 No paper critiquing
Week 14 Eveland, W. P. (2002). News information processing as mediator of the
relationship between motivations and political knowledge. Journalism &
Mass Communication Quarterly, 79(1), 26-40.
Iyengar, S., & Simon, A. (1993). News coverage of the gulf crisis and public
opinion: a study of agenda-setting, priming, and framing. Communication
Research, 20(3), 365-383.