Writing with confidence (2 cr)

Objective

You recognise and understand different types, genres, styles of texts in your professional field and develop your skills to create them. You use professional literature to support your writing.

You develop your confidence in writing (e.g., overcoming writer’s block).

You improve skills that are needed in the process of writing a thesis.

Content

What types of texts are created during your studies and in your professional field? What skills do you need to write your thesis or other reports and research-based papers?

What aspects do you need to consider when you plan your writing?

How can you integrate evidence from the existing professional literature into your own writing and texts?

What tools can you use to find motivation for writing, to overcome writer’s block or barrier of beginning?

Course material

Material is developed by the teacher and the students on the Learn platform.

Study forms and methods

The course is implemented in the online environment (Learn). The studies are based on independent work with the course material.
The study modules are chosen according to students' own study objectives.
Exercises and activities are built around creation of a written report (a chapter of one's thesis currently in progress (about 5 pages); some written course assignment in which students need to use sources (about 3-5 pages), an expert article (3-5 sources), or 2 consequent expert blogs (2 pages each).

RDI and work-related cooperation

The course material has a big focus on development of professional and academic writing skills for the purposes of future professional communication and research-based assignments.

Timing of exams and assignments

There is no exam. Independent assignments of the chosen modules and self-reflection activities are to be completed within the course time frame.

Student workload

2 credits = 2 x 27 hours of student work

Course part description

The course offers several modules that a built around the following topics:
1. tools to overcome writer's block and other challenges
2. hints to manage own time and writing process
3. creating texts in writing based on sources (summarising and paraphrasing)
4. critical writing skills
5. advanced grammar for writing
6. Xamk's (or other) reporting and referencing guidelines
7. presenting research results/findings
8. AI and ethics
9. writing a professional report

In order to complete the course, four modules are to be completed. The last module is a must for all, while three other modules can be chosen based on the students' needs.

Evaluation scale

Approved/Failed

Assessment methods and criteria

Independent assignments of the chosen modules and self-reflection activities are to be completed within the course time frame.