Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA Urban Studies.
Description
‘Academic writing and presenting’ is a course in university-level writing and presenting. In the writing component, the course covers the stages of composition of an academic essay, such as close reading of sources, summary, citation and reference, identifying rhetorical aspects in a text or flaws in reasoning, developing a thesis, finding and using textual evidence, organising ideas with clarity, signposting an essay, compiling and referencing bibliographic material, avoiding plagiarism, and finally, strategies for revision. In the presenting component the course covers the creation of a presentation, such as structure, delivery, coherence and cohesion, terminology, interaction with one’s audience.
The second part of this course involves mentorship which aims to supervise and inform students during their first year about the possibilities within the programme and the required study paths. Students will have two plenary meetings with their group and mentor, and at least two individual meetings with their mentor. One of the plenary meetings involves a day activity and an assignment.
Course objectives
Course Objectives Writing Component
Students are able to apply and compare knowledge and understanding of at least two themes within Urban Studies .
Students can write a nuanced and critical thesis statement or problem question, and can answer this question in the body of their essay, using a logical structure and clear argumentation.
Students can use both primary and secondary sources critically, and can find their own niche in a discussion.
Students can formulate counter-arguments, and are able to rebut these.
Students are aware of the appropriate academic register used in essay writing, and can use this effectively.
Students are able to use the Chicago-stylesheet when presenting their written work.
Students master close reading techniques and develop the skill to analyse and summarize the main argument of a text in a critical and nuanced manner.
Students can conduct library research, gather and assess academic sources, and acknowledge academic work by others by referencing sources in accordance with recognised academic citation protocol.
Course Objectives Presenting Component
Students have developed a nuanced view on the workings of rhetoric.
Students can express themselves orally using the correct register in when presenting their research.
Students can deliver structured and coherent presentation about an academic research topic;
Students can interact with their audience during a presentation.
Students can handle questions from the audience during a presentation.
Students show intercultural awareness in giving useful peer-feedback and offering constructive criticism.
Course Objectives Mentoring component
- Students can motivate (both orally and in writing) their study plan, keeping in mind the possibilities within the programme, its study paths, and the implications of their choice.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA Urban Studies website
Mode of instruction
Academic Writing and Presenting
One lecture and 12 work groups.
Mentoring
Plenary meetings/activities;
Individual meetings for students.
Course Load
Writing component
Total course load for the writing component is 5 EC (1 EC = 28 hours), equal to 140 hours, devoted to:
Lectures 2
Tutorials 20
Assignments 46
Essay 72
Presenting component
Total course load for the presenting component is 3 EC (1 EC = 28 hours), equal to 84 hours, devoted to:
Tutorials 10
Assignments 60
Presentations 14
Mentoring component
Total course load for the mentoring component is 2 EC (1 EC = 28 hours), equal to 56 hours, devoted to:
Individual meetings 2
Plenary meetings 6
Study plan 24
Assignment 24
Assessment method
Assessment
Writing and presenting component
The following assignments are to be completed for the course:
Assignment 1: Online Library Tutorial.
Precentage: 10%
Assignment 2: critical reflection of introductory article, including all relevant references in Chicago format.Percentage 20%
Assignment 3: Bullet-point list of arguments for essay, including all relevant references in Chicago formatPercentage 20%
Assignment 4: Final essay, also to be uploaded via Turnitin.Percentage 35%.
Assignment 5: Presentation of essayPercentage: 15%
Please note that the weight average of Assignment 1, 2 and 3 together comprise the “Tutorial Grade”, which is 50% of your final grade. Attending all workgroups is compulsory. If you are unable to attend a session, please inform your tutor in advance, providing a valid reason for your absence. If you are absent from two or more workgroups without a valid reason, you will not be able to complete the course, and will not be able to fulfil the requirements for the BSA.
Resit
There is no re-sit option for assignments 1, 2 and 3
If you fail this course, you can re-submit an improved version of your final essay. The deadline for resubmission is 10 days after receiving the grade for the final essay. There is no resit for the presentation.
Exam review
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Mentoring component
1. Study Plan
2. Essay: critical reflection of literature related to Day Activity
Resit
One re-sit option. If you fail the assignment, you can resubmit an improved version of the essay.
Exam review
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for:
The time schedule of the course
The reading list
Powerpoints of the lectures
Announcements
All other information regarding the course
Reading list
- Gordon Harvey, Writing with Sources: A Guide for Students Third Edition, ISBN-13: 978-0872209442.
For this course, study materials include a guide to presenting as well as materials made available via Blackboard.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available on the website
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable
Contact
Writing and Presenting component
Mentoring component
Dr. Nadia Bouras
Dr. Hannah De Mulder
Dr. Jurriaan Witteman
Mentor TBA
Remarks
No remarks.