Writing Research
Code: 45348 ECTS Credits: 5| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 3500084 English Studies: Linguistic, Literary and Sociocultural Perspectives | OB | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Maria Cristina Pividori Gurgo
- Email:
- mariacristina.pividori@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
All students should have a C1 level of English or equivalent to follow the course and produce assignments at the level required for their final MA thesis. Students will be expected to engage with and undertake practical work using advanced texts in the fields of language and literature.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The aim of this module is to enable students to achieve an advanced level of written competence in academic English. Students will work with complex textual structures, rhetorical and argumentative strategies, and issues of format and style. They will also become familiar with the essential aspects of academic and literary discourses. Students will acquire the fundamental skills needed to conduct high-quality research in terms of content and methodology. Current research fields within English Studies will be discussed, and sessions on information search and reference management will be organized. Finally, students will learn how to effectively use the main tools that facilitate quality research.
Learning Outcomes
- CA09 (Competence) Autonomously formulate research proposals, using the tools, procedures, argumentative strategies, and scientific justification presented throughout the academic year.
- CA10 (Competence) Provide critical and constructive feedback in study and/or peer work environments.
- CA11 (Competence) Use inclusive and non-discriminatory language in academic productions.
- KA09 (Knowledge) Recognise the main bibliographic search tools and databases relevant to the different fields of study of English linguistics, literature, and culture.
- KA10 (Knowledge) Describe the main modalities and genres of English language academic writing to disseminate research results.
- SA13 (Skill) Apply the principles of academic citation correctly to written output.
- SA14 (Skill) Use new technologies (catalogues, databases, bibliographies, specialised journals) and bibliographical management to develop critical arguments in the field of academic writing.
- SA15 (Skill) Analyse the most outstanding features and objectives of academic writing.
- SA16 (Skill) Write academic texts in English that are clear, well-structured, and detailed on complex issues, according to the rules of style while demonstrating correct usage of mechanisms for textual organisation, division, and cohesion.
- SA17 (Skill) Present your academic projects in verbal form, in a clear and organised way, suited to the linguistic or literary field.
Content
The aim of this course is to address the difficulties students typically encounter when doing research for the first time. The module is designed to encourage students to formulate a research project, put their conclusions in writing (in the form of a ‘publishable’ paper), and present it to the rest of the class. It is organized as a progression from the earliest stages of research to the final stage, i.e., the completion and revision of a paper.
1) The group will be divided into two, depending on the chosen TFM topic (literature/culture or language):
A) Research module on Literature (2,5 ECTS)
Seminar held from 02/12 to 03/12, 2025.
B) Research module on Language (2,5 ECTS)
Seminar held from 02/13 to 03/13, 2025.
2) Applied Academic Skills: From Lectures and Workshops to Libraries (2,5 ECTS) Additionally, the module includes 4 online lectures (Joint Lecture Series), the PhD Winter Workshop and a training session offered by the UAB Humanities Library. In this part of the module, students will get to know the research community through a series of on-site and online workshops and lectures.
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Class discussion | 3 | 0.12 | CA09, CA10, KA09, KA10, SA15, SA17 |
| Lectures | 5 | 0.2 | KA09, KA10, SA15 |
| Online lectures and PhD Winter Workshop | 16.25 | 0.65 | CA10, KA10, SA14, SA15, SA17 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Practical Exercises in Groups | 15 | 0.6 | CA09, CA10, CA11, KA09, KA10, SA13, SA15, SA16 |
| Tutorials | 10 | 0.4 | CA09, CA10, CA11, KA10, SA14, SA15, SA17 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Homework, reading and study | 43.75 | 1.75 | CA09, CA10, CA11, KA09, KA10, SA13, SA14, SA15, SA16 |
| Online library course | 7 | 0.28 | KA09, SA13, SA14 |
This course consists of two parts:
-
Area-specific training in either language or literature/culture, focusing on the development of specific academic skills and the use of research sources related to each discipline.
-
Supplementary activities that include four online lectures, the PhD Winter Workshop,the writing of an evaluative report on the conferences and the PhD Workshop, and an online training session offered by the UAB Humanities Library.
The area-specific sessions will be structured around the following activities:
- Lectures introducing fundamental theoretical concepts
- Class discussions on assigned readings
- Practical exercises
- Oral presentations and writing assignments
Note: Within the schedule set by the MA programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and courses or modules through questionnaires.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writing of Report (on PhD Winter Workshop and online lectures) | 20% | 4 | 0.16 | CA09, CA10, CA11, KA09, KA10, SA13, SA14, SA15, SA16 |
| Written assignments and oral presentations (Language or Literature) | 80% | 21 | 0.84 | CA09, CA10, CA11, KA09, KA10, SA13, SA14, SA15, SA16, SA17 |
A) Research Module (Language or Literature) (80%)
Language
- EAP Critical Discourse Analysis: 30%
- Extended Abstract: 40%
- Oral Presentation/Narrated PowerPoint Presentation: 30%
Literature
- EAP Writing Practice (1. Writing your title(s); 2. Defining the gap; 3. Writing your thesis; 4. Defining key terms; 5. Evaluating your sources; 6. Selecting a critical approach; 7. TEEL paragraph; 8. Handling the Q&A): 30%
- Extended Abstract: 40%
- Oral Presentation/Pecha-Kucha: 30%
B) Attendance and Writing of Reports Requirement (20%)
- Attendance and the writing of a report on the online lectures and the PhD workshop, as well as the completion of the online library course.
PLEASE NOTE:
- All exercises are COMPULSORY.
- The submission of any exercise invalidates the student's eligibility to receive a "Not assessed/Not submitted" course grade.
- When carrying out each assessment activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded and the date on which such a review will take place.
- In the event that tests or exams cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format available through the UAB's virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities, and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis, and/or discussions on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students can access these virtual tools or will offer them feasible alternatives.
REASSESSMENT:
- Reassessment for this subject requires a content-synthesis test for either the literature or the language component.
- Component b) is not eligible for reassessment.
- The definitive grade awarded for a reassessed item will be 5.
SINGLE-ASSESSMENT OPTION:
- This module DOES NOT incorporate the single-assessment option.
VERY IMPORTANT:
- Plagiarism is copying one or more sentences from unidentified sources and presenting it as original work (THIS INCLUDES COPYING PHRASES OR FRAGMENTS FROM THE INTERNET AND ADDING THEM WITHOUT MODIFICATION TO A TEXT PRESENTED AS ORIGINAL). Plagiarism is a serious offense. Students must respect the intellectual property of others, identify any sources they use, and take responsibility for the originality and authenticity of the texts they produce.
- In the event a student commits any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will receive a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities for the same subject, the student will receive a zero as the final grade for this subject.
- Irregularities include, for instance, copying in an exam, copying from sources without indicating authorship, or misuse of AI, such as presenting work as original that has been generated by an AI tool or program. These evaluation activities will not be reassessed.
Bibliography
- HOW TO DO RESEARCH (Language and Literature)
Andrews, Richard, “Research Questions.” University of East Anglia, 2004
Barrass, Robert. Students Must Write: A Guide to Better Writing in Coursework and Examinations. Routledge, 2005.
Barzun, Jacques, and Henry F. Graff. The Modern Researcher. 5th ed., Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992.
Berry, Ralph. The Research Project: How to Write It. Routledge, 1994.
Meloy, Judith M. Writing the Qualitative Dissertation: Understanding by Doing. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2002.
Mulderig, Gerald P. The Heath Guide to Writing the Research Paper. D.C. Heath and Company, 1992.
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. University of Chicago Press, 1993.
2. FINAL PAPER OPTIONS
2.1. LANGUAGE
Alcaráz Varó, Enrique. Inglés Profesional y Académico. Alianza, 2000.
Dröschel, Yvonne. Lingua Franca English: The Role of Simplification and Transfer. Linguistic Insights. Studies in Language and Communication, vol. 119, Peter Lang, 2011.
Fortanet, Inmaculada, et al., editors. Linguistic Studies in Academic and Professional English. Publicacions de la Universitat Jaume I, 2003.
Gillet, Andy. Using English for Academic Purposes: A Guide for Students in Higher Education. 2006.
Hartley, James. Academic Writing and Publishing: A Practical Handbook. Routledge, 2008.
Murray, Rowena, and Sarah Moore. The Handbook of Academic Writing: A Fresh Approach. Open University Press, 2006.
Martín-Martín, Pedro. The Rhetoric of the Abstract in English and Spanish Scientific Discourse: A Cross-Cultural Genre-Analytic Approach. European University Studies, vol. 279, Peter Lang, 2005.
Owtram, Thomas. The Pragmatics of Academic Writing: A Relevance Approach to the Analysis of Research Article Introductions. Linguistic Insights. Studies in Language and Communication, vol. 107, Peter Lang, 2010.
Pecorari, Diane. Academic Writing and Plagiarism: A Linguistic Analysis. Continuum, 2008.
Scott, Mike, and Christopher Tribble. Textual Patterns: Key Words and Corpus Analysis in Language Education. Studies in Corpus Linguistics, John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2006.
Swales, John. Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge University Press, 1990.
Swales, John M., and Christine B. Feak. English in Today's Research World: A Writing Guide. Michigan Series in English for Academic and Professional Purposes, University of Michigan Press, 2000.
Whitt, Richard J. Evidentiality and Perception Verbs in English and German. German Linguistic and Cultural Studies, vol. 26, Peter Lang, 2010.
Websites:
Guies de la Biblioteca de la UAB
Recursos per a la investigació
2.2. LITERATURE
Acheson, Katherine O. Writing Essays About Literature: A Brief Guide for University and College Students. Broadview Press, 2011.
Barnet, Sylvan, and William E. Cain. A Short Guide to Writing About Literature. Pearson Education Limited, 2014.
Bullock, Richard H. The Norton Field Guide to Writing. WW Norton & Company, 2019.
Gardner, Janet. Reading and Writing About Literature: A Portable Guide. Bedford Books St Martin's, 2020.
Griffith, Kelley. Writing Essays About Literature. Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011.
Hacker, Diana, Nancy I. Sommers, and Kimberli Huster. Rules for Writers. Bedford Books St Martin's, 2012.
Headrick, Paul. The Wiley Guide to Writing Essays About Literature. Wiley Blackwell, 2014.
Kane, Thomas S. The Oxford Essential Guide to Writing. Oxford University Press, 2003.
Meyer, Michael. Thinking and Writing About Literature: A Text and Anthology. Bedford Books St Martin's, 2001.
Morgan, Meg, Kim Stallings, and Julie Townsend. Strategies for Reading & Arguing About Literature. Pearson Custom Publishing, 2007.
Pirie, David. How to Write Critical Essays: A Guide for Students of Literature. Routledge, 2006.
Tyson, Lois. Using Critical Theory: How to Read and Write About Literature. Routledge, 2011.
Schilb, John, and John Clifford. A Brief Guide to Arguing About Literature. Bedford Books St Martin's, 2020.
Wardle, Elizabeth. Writing About Writing. Bedford Books St Martin's, 2020.
Websites:
Writing about Literature (Norton Guide)
Software
Moodle
Language list
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TEm) Theory (master) | 1 | English | second semester | morning-mixed |