Universität Wien

980038 TS The Specifics of English as Academic Language: Writing Proficiency (2012W)

0.00 ECTS (1.50 SWS), DoktorandInnenzentrum-Kursangebot

Please note: Participation is subject to an accepted research proposal or a dissertation agreement. Please send your research proposal to training.doktorat@univie.ac.at

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 24.10. 09:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 2 Berggasse 7 2.Stock
  • Thursday 25.10. 09:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 2 Berggasse 7 2.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This two-day workshop will support doctoral students in writing scientific texts in English (whether as part of their thesis project or generally in their field of study). The language of instruction and discussion in this whorkshop as well as of all materials used is English.
Participant of this whorkshop will approach English academic writing in 3 respects:
(1) The specifics of English academic language in general: vocabulary (semantic fields, degree of formality, collocations of academic vocabulary), sentence structure, tense and tense sequence, mode (active/passive), commonly used phrases and idiomatic expressions, linguistic means of text structuring (conjunctions, meta language) and punctuation.
(2) Specific differences between English and German academic language, especially with respect to stylistic issues: nominal style, noun composites, mode, sentence length, sentence structure, and reader vs. author responsibility.
(3) Selected aspects of academic genres in English: text structure (canonical paragraph structure in English, advance organizer, abstracts); positioning one's own work and relationship to the research field ("hedging", quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing and referencing in English); argumentation (useful words and phrases for building arguments, distinguishing argumentation from description, explanation and demonstration); the "red thread" or thematic progression (conjunctions, previews and reviews).

Assessment and permitted materials

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The workshop aims to raise the participants' awareness of the specifics of English academic language, the differences between German and English academic writing, and their knowledge of significant aspects of academic genres in the English language. By working with exemplary texts and through tasks, the workshop raises both foreign language competence and their text competence in academic genres. By pointing out not only the specifics of English academic language but also dealing with the most important differences on a stylistic level, the workshop allows participants to approach the writing of English academic texts with confidence and precision.

Examination topics

Reading list


Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:51