UTEC: ARW1

Academic Research Writing

Module 1: Academic Research Writing Fundamentals

March 15 – May 15

Unit 1 – An overview of Academic Writing.

1. An overview of academic writing.

2. Plagiarism

1. What is plagiarism?

2. Cultural background of plagiarism.

3. Types of plagiarism writing.

4. How to avoid plagiarism.

5. Proper citation.

6. Plagiarism review quiz.

Language Focus: Reporting verbs

Unit 2 - Reading Skills

1. Previewing

1. The value of previewing.

2. Key features while previewing.

3. Sample analysis.

2. How to follow arguments through previewing and pivots.

1. Recognizing pivots.

2. Model activity

3. Sample analysis.

3. Double entry notes.

4. Outlining.

1. Structure of formal outlines.

2. Hierarchy of information and ideas.

3. How to create a formal outline from double entry notes.

4. Sample analysis.

5. Topic sentences

6. Reading scholarly research articles

1. Research articles structure.

2. Basic strategy for reading scholarly research articles.

 

Unit 3 – Paraphrasing and summarizing

1. Paraphrasing

1. What is paraphrasing?

2. When to paraphrase in academic writing.

3. Why do I have to paraphrase?

4. How to paraphrase effectively: methods of paraphrasing.

5. Analyzing sample paraphrases.

Language Focus: Passive Voice and verbs in defining and naming. Indirect questions.

2. Summarizing

1. What is summarizing?

2. How are summarizing and paraphrasing related?

3. When to summarize in academic writing.

4. Steps in writing an effective summary.

5. Reporting verbs and attributive languages in summaries.

Language Focus: Summary reminder phrases.

 

Unit 4 – Components of Academic Writing

1. Research questions.

1. What is a research question?

2. Sample analysis.

3. Peer-feedback session.

2. Thesis statements.

1. Effective thesis statements.

2. Sample analysis.

3. Elements of an effective thesis statement.

4. Activity.

Language Focus: the vocabulary shift.

3. Introductions.

1. Principles behind an introduction.

2. Sample analysis.

3. Introductions structure.

4. Activity.

Language Focus: verbs in defining and naming.

4. Conclusions.

Language Focus: inversions

Unit 5 – Cohesion in writing

1. Cohesion in writing I: this and these

2. Transition words and phrases.

Language Focus: Other stylistic features.

Module 2: Two-Tier Level-Specific Course Content

May 15 – June 30

Unit 1.

1. Rubric introduction.

1. Higher-Tier: Five-page research article.

2. Lower-Tier: Three to five-page argumentative, resource based paper.

Unit 2.

1. Peer draft due – June 13

2. Peer review – June 17

Unit 3.

1. Conference draft due – June 30

Module 3: Professional research writing.

June 30 – July 15

Unit 1

1. Individual conferences

2. Final draft