LANG 5070
Critical Writing for China Studies
Course Description
Turn dense academic texts into confident, evidence-based arguments. LANG5070 gives postgraduate researchers in global China studies the critical reading and academic writing skills that power a successful research career — in English, and on your own terms.
Highlights
- training to read the field’s most demanding academic texts critically, and to respond with arguments backed by solid evidence
- hands-on workshops, small-group seminar discussions and blended learning tasks, practising real academic communication and get personalised feedback at every stage
- bridging the gap between theory and practice
Assessments
- Written assignment:
Draft 1 to compare and justify the selection of two articles/sources;
Final annotated bibliography of three articles. - Academic speaking: Seminar discussion in groups of 5 to analyse and critique academic texts
- Final reflection on the research process through the semester
- Blended learning tasks
Target Students
MSc in Global China Studies students
Learning Experience
Student testimonials
- "The course is very practical and each class was designed to be relevant, especially to those of us who have not had much training in academic writing in English."
- "The course bridged the gap between theory and practice and has provided me with a solid foundation for my academic development."
- "This course helped me to understand academic writing in a very practical way."
- "I learned how to give an academic presentation and developed my academic writing skills."
- "Through this course, I have not only improved my English academic writing skills but I have also acquired the important skills of carrying out academic criticism and compiling bibliographies."
Course outcomes
- Understanding features of a range of academic research genres
- Developing critical and analytical interpretations of data, sources and arguments in texts
- Producing written arguments with integrated sources and appropriate linguistic and rhetorical conventions
- Communicating own research questions and findings to peers and scholars of global China studies