363-1063-00L  Academic Writing Course

SemesterAutumn Semester 2016
LecturersR. Mihalka, S. Milligan
Periodicityevery semester recurring course
Language of instructionEnglish
CommentCompulsory for students who entered in Spring 2015 onwards.



Courses

NumberTitleHoursLecturers
363-1063-00 GAcademic Writing Course
Course is offered in collaboration with Language Center University of Zurich and ETH Zurich.

Opening lesson and placement test: 30.09.2016
Dates: 14.10.-9.12.2016, workshop group A and B biweekly.
20s hrs
Fri08:15-12:00LEE D 105 »
R. Mihalka, S. Milligan

Catalogue data

AbstractThis course for MTEC master's students will focus on developing and refining students' English writing skills and their understanding of the requirements and conventions of academic writing.
ObjectiveThe course develops a range of practical and transferrable writing skills. Its first aim is to improve the academic writing skills necessary for the successful completion of an MSc thesis. The course provides theoretical input, practical writing exercises, and detailed individual feedback. It is organized into an initial group lecture and four subsequent workshops in smaller tutorial groups.

The group lecture raises awareness about academic conduct, especially with regard to plagiarism. Afterwards, students take placement tests so that the areas where they need improvement can be identified. The following workshops concentrate on these highlighted areas, and feedback on placement tests is integrated into the input and practice during these sessions.

Students can use the skills developed on the course to improve the overall quality of their MSc theses and to produce their thesis more rapidly and efficiently. These skills can also be used beyond the MSc, whether students go on to complete a PhD or to produce reports and other documents in industry.
ContentGroup lecture:
an introduction to writing an MSc thesis in D-MTEC
selecting topic and supervisor
academic expectations
avoiding plagiarism

Workshop 1:
the writing process
reading, note taking and planning
overview of the thesis structure
building academic vocabulary

Workshop 2:
writing methods sections
embedding figures and tables
structuring sentences and paragraphs
noun phrases and articles

Workshop 3:
introductions; results and discussion sections
analysis v description
writing critically
relative clauses

Workshop 4:
abstracts and conclusions
editing your own text
punctuation, spelling, and grammar
Lecture notesNotes will be available after registration.

Performance assessment

Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course
ECTS credits0 credits
ExaminersS. Milligan, R. Mihalka
Typeungraded semester performance
Language of examinationEnglish
RepetitionRepetition only possible after re-enrolling for the course unit.

Learning materials

No public learning materials available.
Only public learning materials are listed.

Groups

No information on groups available.

Restrictions

PriorityRegistration for the course unit is only possible for the primary target group
Primary target groupManagement, Technology, and Economics MSc (363000)

Offered in

ProgrammeSectionType
Management, Technology and Economics MasterMaster's ThesisOInformation