Level/category

General studies

Teaching language

English

Type of course

Compulsory

Recommended year of study

2

Total number of ECTS

5 cr

Competency aims

The aim is to equip students with the tools necessary to succeed in writing the thesis, i.e. to know the writing process and the prerequisites of sound research writing, style, structure, accuracy of English and technical presentation.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is expected to be able to:
- correctly structure a written project report and apply the the principles of academic writing.
- demonstrate a command of writing techniques to achieve the writing purpose, and develop the content structure.
- write in stylistically appropriate and grammatically correct English.
- cite sources in the text correctly with a corresponding List of References.
- apply Arcada's Thesis Writing Guidelines to produce a technically well presented written project.
- competently proofread the text for integrity, and correct errors in the language before final submission of the project.
- competently produce the final thesis work, and submit a technically complete thesis for examination to the supervisor according to her/his instructions.

Course contents

Principles of researching, planning and outlining
Citing sources and listing references
Writing process
Structure - coherency and fluency - in writing
Writing techniques
Language and style
Drafting and revising
Technical presentation
Extended written assignment (4-5,000 words) to be completed within a 6-week plan for submission at the end of the course.

Prerequisites and co-requisites

Professional English year 1

Additional information

Exam based on course book and Thesis Writing Guide
Attendance to all classes is compulsory. All graded assignments are subject to deadlines and must be completed BEFORE the exam.

Recommended or required reading

*Study Writing - a course in writing skills for academic purposes. Hamp-Lyons & Heasley (Cambridge 2006 ISBN 0-521-53496-8)

Other literature:
- Academic Writing for Graduate Students - Essential Tasks and Skills. A Course for Nonnative Speakers of English. John M. Swales & Christine B. Feak (The University of Michigan Press)
- The Good Grammar Guide
- Richard Palmer (Routledge Study Guides Routledge)
- Collins Cobuild English Dictionary (HarperCollins)
- Guide to Managerial Communication
- Effective Business Writing and Speaking
- Mary Munter (Prentice Hall)
- Mastering Communication Nicky Stanton (Macmillan Master Series)
OTHER LITERATURE:
?Oxford Guide to Writing & Speaking ? The Key to Effective Communication? ? John Seely (Oxford University Press)
?Schaum?s Guide to Writing great Research Papers? ? Laurie Rozakis (McGraw-Hill)
?A Practical English Grammar? ? Thomson & Martinet (Oxford University Press)

Study activities

  • Lectures - 30 hours
  • Exercise based learning - 0 hours
  • Laboratory lessons and tasks in a simulated environment - 30 hours
  • Tuition managed by students but supervised by the teacher - 33 hours
  • Individual studies - 40 hours

Workload

  • Total workload of the course: 133 hours
  • Of which autonomous studies: 40 hours
  • Of which scheduled studies: 93 hours

Mode of Delivery

Participation in tuition

Assessment methods

  • Exams
  • Reports and productions
  • Essays

Teacher

Kimberley Nigel

Examiner

Kimberley Nigel

Group size

No limit

Assignments valid until

Until date 2008-04-25

Assessment methods

  • Date of examination will be announced later - Exams
  • Date will be announced later - Reports and productions
  • Date will be announced later - Essays

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