English - Introduction to Academic Writing C1

This course will help students learn to express themselves more correctly and persuasively in written English. There will be a focus on forming correct sentences and paragraphs, working towards the production of longer texts of the type students will be expected to write during their academic studies. They will also learn to evaluate and interpret the written texts of others.

After completion of this module students will be able to write academic texts with greater fluency and accuracy and with fewer grammatical errors. They will be able to engage the rules of composition to construct logical and mature descriptions, explanations, and claims of the sort they will need throughout their academic years and beyond.

Corresponds to C1 of the CER.

Performance, testing the learning outcomes specified in the module description, is examined by a cumulative portfolio of competence and action-oriented tasks. This includes three writing assignments (each 30%) covering various essay genres such as process description, comparison/contrast, problem/solution, requiring argumention, persuasion and analysis, as well as a final exam (10%). Students will be graded on their ability to present content clearly and succinctly taking readers’ needs and writing conventions into consideration.

As the course may be offered in various formats (online or classroom) the form and conditions of the final exam (with or without aids) will vary. Where audio or video is recorded, we observe the Basic Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO, Art. 12 -21).

Ability to begin work at the C1 level of the GER as evidenced by the placement test at www.moodle.tum.de.

• Handouts and selected extracts from published sources will be used in the course. Key literature will be advised by the teacher and/ or listed in the course description.

This course makes use of peer group revision (students give each other feedback on their texts), working through multiple drafts, and evaluation of model texts to help students develop their academic writing skills.