Attention: CoVID-19 measures / 新型コロナウイルス感染症対策
Because of the Novel Coronavirus disease (CoVID-19), it is anticipated that this course will be conducted online during the 2020 term.
To join this course or make other inquiries, please contact the instructor by email: nilep (at) ilas.nagoya-u.ac.jp
The information below is from 2019. Content of the course will be similar during 2020.
Course objectives
This course develops skills of academic research writing and logical thinking. Its goal is to help graduate students understand how to incorporate sources into their writing and to write a literature review. Students will make an annotated bibliography and deliver an oral presentation.
The course uses group discussion among students and the instructor. For this reason, all participants must be able to communicate in spoken and written English. All participants should be prepared to discuss actively. This includes asking questions and sharing your ideas.
Grading
Students who enroll for course credit are required to meet the following conditions: attend at least 80% of meetings; write an annotated bibliography; deliver one oral presentation. Students who wish to observe the course for no credit may request to do so.
See Assignments here.
Tutorial
Any graduate student, researcher, or professor may schedule a tutorial with Mei-writing faculty (including Professor Nilep) or Mei-writing tutors. You can arrange an appointment with Professor Nilep, or contact other faculty listed here.
Schedule
This schedule is tentative and may change. Please read the readings and complete the assignments by the date shown. Be prepared to discuss the readings in class.
| Date | Topics | Readings | Other assignments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/2 | Introduction, study groups | none | none |
| 10/9 | What is an annotated bibliography? | Engle, "The Annotated Bibliography"; Online Writing Lab, "Annotated Bibliographies" Lecture notes (PDF) |
Register at the administrative office of your department. (Deadline varies by department.) |
| 10/16 | What is a thesis statement? | Lai, "What is a thesis and how to build one from scratch" (PDF) Lecture notes (PDF) |
Preparation for assignment 2: Begin work on your annotated bibliography. |
| 10/23 | How can I improve my thesis statement? What is a literature review? |
Taylor, "The literature review" or ACW, "How to write a dissertation literature review" Lecture notes (PDF) |
Write a (one sentence) thesis statement. OPTIONAL: If you want feedback from the whole class email your thesis statement before midnight 10/22 to nilep (at) ilas.nagoya-u.ac.jpnilep(at)ilas.nagoya-u.ac.jp. If you do not email it, bring it to class. |
| 10/30 | What is a logical argument? | Lecture notes: Deductive reasoning and Inductive reasoning (PDF) | OPTIONAL readings from Fundamentals of Academic Writing: Nilep, "Deductive logic"; Van Heuveln, "Inductive reasoning"; Nilep, "Fallacies"; Gasson, "Rigor in qualitative analysis" |
| 11/6 | How do I use logical argument in my writing? | Online Writing Lab, "Using logic in writing" | Analyze and be prepared to discuss these arguments. (PDF) |
| 11/13 | How can sources support (or challenge) my argument? | WTS, "Using Evidence"; Ingram et al. "Using a synthesis matrix" (PDF) Lecture notes (PDF) |
|
| 11/20 | Writing a literature review | UNC, "Literature Reviews"; UQ, "Why do I have to have a literature review; Making sense of the literature" Lecture notes (PDF) |
Bring your work-in-progress annotated bibilography to class. Ask any questions you have about the process. (not graded) |
| 12/4 | What is plagiarism? Why is it a problem? | Compare these three:
|
Based on the three readings and your own ideas, write a short definition of the word plagiarism. (not graded) |
| 12/11 | How do I write quotations, paraphrases, and summaries? | Nilep, Citation styles Lecture notes (PDF) |
Bring one or more articles, books, or other sources you are reading for your thesis or your research. You will use them to practice citing and paraphrasing. |
| 12/18 | How should I prepare for my oral presentation? | Bedford, "Preparing presentations with PowerPoint" and/or Shives, "Managing public speaking anxiety" Lecture notes (PDF) |
Review Major assignment 1 instructions. Prepare at least two questions to ask about preparing or delivering a presentation. |
| 1/8 | Tips from successful writers† | Wagenmakers, "How to write clearly"; Perlmutter, "The completion agenda" Lecture notes (PDF) |
|
| 1/15 | Student presentations | Major assignment 1: Oral presentations | |
| 1/22 | Student presentations | Major assignment 1: Oral presentations | |
| 1/29 | Major assignment 2 due. Email your annotated bibliography to nilep (at) ilas.nagoya-u.ac.jp. | ||
*TBA = "To be announced" (決めていない)
†Here is some more advice from successful writers. Thanks to colleague Lauren Gawne for suggesting these.
- Inger Mewburn, "The Valley of Shit."
- Katherine Firth, "Getting back into writing after a break."
- Peta Freestone, "Finding your 'zone' and staying there."
Note: PDF files can be opened using the free Adobe reader. Get Adobe reader here.
