Programma del corso

The main objective of this course is to inform non-native writers of English – at university level – how to deal critically and competently with the conventional stylistic models characteristic of native writers of academic texts, with the ultimate goal of producing research papers, articles, or reports, and possibly a thesis. Writing a clear paper with well-reasoned logical continuity involves learning about how a papers are structured (logical coherence); how to impart substance (significance and depth); and style (including citation of sources).

Yet being able to write coherently and express logical arguments in correct English could become problematic if students lack the linguistic knowledge such as grammar skills, lexical skills, and knowledge and usage of academic vocabulary needed for outlining, writing, editing and revising.

This writing course intends to offer students the opportunity not only to become aware of the genre-specific writing structures that characterize English academic writing, but also with special attention given to the lexical and syntactic components of writing in legal contexts. As a ‘process’ writing course, half of the classes will be held in the computer lab where students will produce different structures common to academic texts, with support and input in the production of academic writing, such as:

1) a focus on the meaning and form of words specific to academic vocabulary;
2) a focus on the morphological and syntactic features associated with argumentative discourse;
and most importantly,
3) a focus on the discourse component, i.e. topic sentences, the organization of paragraphs, linking and transitions, all of which contribute to the production of well-reasoned, coherent arguments which reflect the logical linearity that typifies academic writing in English.

Hours: 25.