Course description
Academic English: How to Write a Thesis
Designed for anyone writing their first academic research project, Academic English: How to Write a Thesis guides you through the process of becoming an academic research writer into producing your first academic research publication. Created by experts in academic writing, the course spans 5 modules covering what it means to be an academic writer, getting ideas for research, finding and sourcing relevant literature, appropriately reporting research methods and results according to disciplinary expectations, and developing critical insights into your research findings. A world of academic language and expertise is at your fingertips in Academic English!
This ground-breaking course covers a wealth of useful ideas, tips and language features focusing on each step of the research publication process. Featuring a range of exemplars from high-quality published research sources, and insightful commentary from disciplinary experts across the arts & humanities, social sciences, physical and life sciences, Academic English takes you through the key stages of planning, drafting, writing and revising a research thesis, dissertation or journal article. We cover the main structures and language features of each written section including the introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion and conclusion, with an array of individual and peer activities designed to bridge the gap between what you know and what you can do as a writer. Reflective course assessments test your knowledge of critical disciplinary academic content while guiding you through the academic writing process.
Upcoming start dates
Who should attend?
Prerequisites
None
Course delivery details
This course is offered through The University of Queensland, a partner institute of EdX.
1-3 hours per week
Costs
- Verified Track -$99
- Audit Track - Free
Certification / Credits
What you'll learn
Module 1: Becoming an academic writer
Where to begin as an academic research writer? How can you take an idea and turn it into a research thesis or article? This module explores what it means to be an academic research writer in the 21st Century, covering concepts such as identifying current or future problems for research, challenging established facts or beliefs, and understanding and replicating existing research in your discipline. We also explore expert opinions on starting the academic writing process, and the different forms in which academic research writing may appear.
Module 2: Understanding academic language and conventions
Academic writing is the means of communicating with members of your discipline or research area. It is therefore important to learn how academics communicate with each other in written form, the language that makes academic writing different from other kinds of writing, and the conventions of citation and referencing used in your particular field of research. This module covers these ideas and more while presenting some useful tools that can help you bridge the gap between non-academic and academic writing forms.
Module 3: Planning and writing the introduction and the literature review
Despite some differences, the structure, language and processes used in writing the introduction and literature review sections of a research thesis or article are remarkably similar across disciplines. This module explores how writers can establish their research territory, present the gaps in current knowledge, and formulate their goals and aims, before considering how the work of others can be integrated into your own arguments and stance.
Module 4: Exploring the method and results sections
This module covers key aspects of reporting research methods and data types. We explain how to report participant samples, research instruments, experimental procedures and research design, before covering how to report a range of qualitative and quantitative data types includings interview and observation data, surveys, statistical tests, tables and charts.
Module 5: Discussing and concluding your findings
Now the research is complete, what does it all mean? This final module helps you find and select the key points of your research findings so that you can summarise what it all means for the academic reader in your discipline or research area. We cover the art of making claims about your findings while considering your study's limitations and ideas for future research.
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