This course is made up of the following two hour sessions:
SESSION ONE: Analysing titles and structuring essays
This class uses Blooms taxonomy as a framework to begin analysing essay titles and the different level of analysis that a lecturer may require. After analysing a number of titles we move on to look at planning, with the emphasis on writing a very early stage plan that can be used to guide research. Finally, the session moves on to cover some techniques for streamlining research, using an example title and a range of research materials.
SESSION TWO: Introductions and Argument
This session introduces the notion that an academic essay is based around a single thesis statement or argument. The key elements of an effective introduction are introduced and students are given the opportunity to analyse a number of examples before practising their own. Moving on, we look at how an argument can be developed through the essay, introducing the idea of topic sentences as ‘signposts’ to guide the reader.
SESSION THREE: Developing Paragraphs: Cohesion and Fluency
This session builds on how arguments are developed within an essay by showing the fundamental elements of a successful paragraph. As well as covering how to write effective support and summaries for each paragraph, the session teaches cohesive devices to enable flow.
SESSION FOUR: Academic Style, Editing and Proofreading
This session explores how to make academic writing more readable by introducing students to ideas of rhythm, tone and voice. As well as covering the basics of what constitutes academic style, it will look at several common errors and how to eliminate these with effective proofreading.
