Grammar in writing skills

Good writing skills allow you to communicate your message clearly to a reader. We will focus on grammar, punctuation and sentence structure as these are key elements of written communication. 

There will also be opportunities to relate the content to work in your own discipline 

Overview of the module 

This module is intended for non-native speakers of English who wish to familiarise themselves with how grammar is used to improve academic writing and to practise some of the language that will be expected of them during their postgraduate studies. 

The main aim is to prepare students for all the academic writing tasks that will be required during their studies. Students will become familiar with a number of reference sources and academic writing styles. 

Aims of the module 

The main aims of this unit are to: 

• Increase and develop understanding of the importance of grammar and language use in academic  writing.
• Develop ability to write more accurately, objectively  and effectively at university.
• Develop awareness of the importance of  verbs and noun phrase use in academic writing.
• Develop awareness of how different types of sentences can help cohesion in academic writing.
• Develop awareness of caution and modal verb use for referencing skills at university. 

Student learning outcomes 

Having successfully completed the unit, students will be aware of:  

• Common grammar rules and conventions of formal writing
• Use of verbs and tense to convey actions  and ideas
• Use of sentences to discuss and build coherent arguments
• The importance of language accuracy and clarity of ideas in academic writing 

Learning and teaching methods 

The sessions will run as a mixture of seminars and workshops. Students will be expected to participate actively and to produce some written work.

Assessment 

This is not a credit bearing module. There is no formal assessment. 

Further information can be found on English for Academic Purposes WEBSITE

The EAP skills support programme offers academic language support to international students who need to develop their English language and academic literacy skills during their studies. All classes are free of charge to international students registered at the University of Southampton. If you want to continue to improve your English, we offer the following academic language skills support classes: academic writing skills; PhD thesis writing skills; Masters level dissertation writing skills; critical thinking skills; presentation & seminar skills and everyday English skills. 

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