Academic English reading and writing - Syllabus

(Tuesday – 14.00-15.30)
Instructor: Kata Szabo (szabo.kata29@gmail.com)

Course description
The aim of the course is to give an overview of certain techniques and methods used in academic writing
along with a focus on academic reading in order for the students to get acquinted with such texts with a
critical and analytical thinking. The course will be following the structure of Gyula Tanko’s book called
Professional Writing – The Academic Context. However, students are encouraged to read and use the
other readings provided below.

About the lessons

The lessons will take place on MS Teams every Tuesday at 14 p.m. We will be discussing the chapters, that
the students are requested to read in advance for each lesson, and analyze the problems, complexities
that might arise. Furthermore, from time to time students will be asked to prepare short essays and tasks
that will be discussed together during the lessons.

Lesson 1 (Feb 8)
Introduction, discussion
Lesson 2 (Feb 22)
Chapter 1 – Introduction to Academic Writing & Chapter 2 – Idea generation techniques and outlining
Lesson 3 (Mar 8)
Chapter 3 – The paragraph (+ Discussion of thesis writing in particular)
Lesson 4 (Mar 22)
Chapter 4 – Coherence and cohesion
Lesson 5 (Apr 5 )
Chapter 9 – Using sources in academic writing
Lesson 6 (May 3)
Chapter 11 – Punctuation and sentence-level errors + Discussion

Assignment
At the end of the semester, each student will be asked to submit a short essay on a topic of their choice
using the material and knowledge acquired during the course.
The final grade is based on attendance (30%), participation/weekly readings (30%) and the final essay
(40%).

Recommended readings:
• Becker, Howard S., Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis,
Book, or Article (Chicago, University of Chicago: 1986).
• Hartley, J. (2008). Academic writing and publishing: A practical guide. New York:
Routledge.
• Soles, Derek, The Essentials of Academic Writing (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005)
• Paltridge, B. (2002). Thesis and dissertation writing: An examination of published
advice and actual practice. English for Specific Purposes, 21(2), 125–43.