Course Topics
academic writing and its conventions linguistic features of academic writing in English aspects of reading for academic writing exploiting basic corpus techniques to explore academic language compiling a corpus representative of academic language developing arguments structure of abstracts structuring oral presentations using effective linking phrases during oral presentations making effective use of presenting software such as PowerPoint

Teaching format
Lecture, workshop, seminar, discussion, individual work. A two-day mock conference will take place at the end of the course, where you will give your oral presentation or present a poster.

Educational objectives
On completing the course, students are expected to achieve the following outcomes: Knowledge and understanding • demonstrate knowledge of spoken and written academic discourse and its conventions • demonstrate knowledge of the structure and language of abstracts Applying knowledge and understanding • identify the features of academic discourse in English and apply these in their own oral and written output • work out rules regarding the meaning and use of academic language items through corpus observation • tailor communication through an awareness of audience, purpose and strategy Making judgments • think critically about and evaluate the academic conventions in a specific disciplinary area • analyse written academic discourse and evaluate its linguistic and stylistic features in order to evaluate communicative effectiveness • make informed choices about individual writing and speaking strategies Communication skills • discuss aspects of academic culture and academic discourse • use appropriate register and style in speech and writing • communicate effectively in an oral academic context Learning skills • draw on empirical information to improve English language awareness and competence for academic contexts • identify a gap in research and present an argument • use corpus tools at a basic level • recognise generic patterns and reproduce them in writing and speaking

Assessment
Abstract: produce an abstract following guidelines provided. Presentation: deliver an oral or poster presentation on a topic related to the student's PhD research.

Evaluation criteria
Attendance and active participation during the course. Production of an abstract that follows the genre conventions of the specific disciplinary area. Delivery of an effective oral or poster presentation respecting the specified time limit at mock conference. Note that attendance of at least 75% of the teaching hours is required. Attendance at the abstract writing day and the two-day mock conference is mandatory.