Academic Writing

Course goals

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:  
 

• Create a logical research design that aligns the stated importance of the study, the research question, the literature review, and the methodology.
• Articulate an answerable research question.
• Use search engines effectively to conduct a literature review.
• Identify relevant theoretical and empirical sources in a literature review addressing a specific research question.
• Synthesize literature by identifying themes as well as gaps among studies.
• Identify and explain common attributes of each section of an empirical article.
• Critique both the research design and writing styles of published research articles.
• Use APA correctly to format a paper and cite sources.
• Use technical writing conventions effectively, including but not limited to: active verb tense, transition sentences, and headings.

Content

Successful researchers, consultants, and employees of both nongovernmental organizations and corporations often rely upon the critical skill of academic writing for communicating important scientific ideas. In this course, we will address the development of students’ skills in conceptualizing and writing high quality research reports. This skill set includes the abilities to read and understand research papers, make logical connections between different stages of a research study and sections of a written report, and use conventions of academic English and APA correctly. While each of these topics will be covered, we will most thoroughly practice the writing of answerable research questions, conducting literature searches, and synthesizing literature. These activities will provide us with opportunities and material for developing the broader skill set.