Introduction to Academic Writing

Maria Hassan
BS-Economics/ BS Economics & Mathematics -- Fall 2022

Overview
This course is not just about writing; it would also mandate you to read, extensively and critically.
Reading is the support system for writers; it not only introduces readers to vocabulary and syntactical
range but also enriches their appreciation of discourse variation, genre and stylistics. Therefore, there are
three main components of the course: Reading, Writing, and Critical Reflection.
For this course, focal points of engagement include:
• critical reading
• writing process- developing arguments, generating ideas, drafting, peer evaluation, and
individual writing consultations
• Features of academic texts and academic writing conventions
This course is designed to enable you:
• engage critically with academic texts and identify academic genres.
• write clearly.
• structure an academic paper, at the macro as well as micro level.
• write logical introductions and literature reviews as well as cogent discussions and conclusions.
• cite works of other authors in accordance with the conventions of the discipline.
• Edit and refine your own written work

Except for the first two readings, all the readings for the course will be discipline specific.
Course Outline
Session Content
1 Course Overview & Introduction
2-6 Critical Reading The Grameen Bank, Muhammad Yunus,
Critical reading as a process Scientific American November 1999 (Session
Evaluating academic texts 2)
Identifying Key Arguments
Evaluating Claims and Supporting Evidence  Bailey, Stephen (2006)
Macro and Micro Level Argumentation  Handouts & Exercises
Writing Academic Critiques
Revision and Peer Review
Assignment 1 10%
Critique of an article from an Economics journal
7-9 Research Based Writing
Writing in Economics- Genres Analysis https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/
Book Reviews, Literature Reviews,  Lynn Mcintyre, Patrick B. Patterson, Laura c.
Economic History, Empirical &Theoretical Anderson and Catherine, Household Food Insecurity
Papers in Canada: Problem Definition and Potential
 Conventions of Academic Writing Solutions in the Public Policy Domain: Canadian
Avoiding Plagiarism Public Policy , Vol. 42, No. 1 (March 2016), pp. 83-
 Summarizing & Paraphrasing 93
 Putting Authors’ Ideas in Your Words
 Bailey, Stephen (2006)
  Verb List for Academic Writing  Handouts & Exercises
 Changing Sentence Structure & Form  A Guide to APA Referencing Style: 6th
 Integrating Quotations in Your Writing Edition
 Referencing and Citation  Writing a Critical Review: Allyson Skene
 Integrating published ideas  Academic Good Practice – A Practical Guide
Readings for Assignment # 1
1.
Session # 8:
Assignment # 3 : 20 %
First Draft of a Literature Review for Development Economics / Any other subfield (For this assignment, the
topic for your proposed paper must be approved by a faculty member of Economics department.)
You should submit the topic/ argument for your paper in the 9th session during class.
10-20 Academic Writing
 Literature Reviews (Sessions 11-13)  Webster, J & Watson, R, T. (2002)
 Analysis / Discussions (Sessions 14-15)  Reviewing the Literature: A Short Guide for
 Conclusions (Sessions 16-17) Research Students
 Introductions (Sessions 18-19)  Bailey, Stephen, 2006
 Abstracts (Sessions 20)  Writing Economics , 2001
 Handouts & Exercises
21-24 Writing a Research Proposal 
Process and Practice
Assignment
Research Proposal (1500- 2500 words)
25-26 Revising an Academic Paper  Checklist for Revision
 Macro Revision
 Peer Review Checklist
 Micro Revision
Peer Review
Assignment 3: Draft Revision 5 %: 150-word critical analysis of an academic paper written by a peer.
27-28 Policy Writing  How to Write a Policy Brief- International
 What is a Policy Brief? Development Research Center
 Critically Evaluating Policy Briefs  How to Plan, Write and Communicate an
 Designing a Policy Brief effective Policy Brief- Laura ffrench-Constant
Audience, Purpose, Tone and Style
 Framing
Session # 25 Assignment # 3: Final Draft Submission (Incorporating the feedback on the first draft)
29 Review and Feed Back

Readings:
1. Bailey, Stephen (2006). Academic Writing- A Handbook for International Students, 2 nd
Edition (Pdf), 5th Edition (Pdf)
2. Nation, I. S. P. (1990). Teaching and Learning Vocabulary. New York: Newbury
House. Academic Word List. http://wwwub.massey.ac.nz/~wwlang/staff/awl/headwords.shtml
3. Thomson, William. A Guide for the Young Economist: Writing and Speaking Effectively
about Economics. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2001.
4. Writing Economics: Robert Neugeboren, Mireille Jacobson – Harvard Resources-2001
 5. Webster, J & Watson, R, T. (2002). Analyzing the Past to Prepare for the Future: Writing
a Literature Review; MIS Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 2 (Jun., 2002), pp. xiii-xxiii:
Management Information Systems Research Center, University of Minnesota
6. Reviewing the Literature: A Short Guide for Research Students- D. R. Rowland, The
Learning Hub, Student Services, The University of Queensland
7. How to Write a Policy Brief- International Development Research Center
8. How to Plan, Write and Communicate an effective Policy Brief- Laura French-Constant
Resources
1. A Guide to APA Referencing Style: 6th Edition
2. Writing a Critical Review: Allyson Skene. The Writing Centre, University of Toronto at
Scarborough.
3. Academic good practice – a practical guide- http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills
4. NBER Working Papers Database
5. PSLM - http://www.pbs.gov.pk/content/pakistan-social-and-living-standards-measurement
6. Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies
https://pips.gov.pk/sites/default/files/PIPS_Research_Digest_Feb_2017_0.pdf
7. SDPI: Policy Briefs
https://www.sdpi.org/publications/files/
TrackII_diplomacy_Building_disaster_resilience_in_Pakistan_and_India(PB-65).pdf
https://www.sdpi.org/publications/files/Pakistan-Environment-Barometer-2018-Environment-an-issue-not-a-
priority(PB-63).pdf
8. SEPRI : British Political Economy Brief # 30
http://speri.dept.shef.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/SPERI-Brief-30-Craig-Berry-and-Sean-McDaniel.pdf
9. Academic Phrase Bank: http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
10. https://data.worldbank.org/
Grading

1 Assignment 1 Critique of an academic paper 10 %

2 Assignment 2 Literature Review 20 %
3 Assignments Assignment 3 Data Analysis 10%
4 Assignment 4 Policy Brief 10 %
5 Final Paper - Research Proposal 30%
6 Quiz 1 Critical analysis of a review 05 %
7 Quizzes Quiz 2 Policy Brief Review 05 %
Projects PENZU Journal 10 %

Writing Centre
Writing centres at universities help students become better writers.

Ardeshir Cowasjee Centre for Writing (ACCW) is an academic facility available to all IBA students.
You are required to have at least ONE consultation session at the writing centre for each of your graded
assignments. Some of the students would be required to attend weekly sessions at the writing centre.
For all your sessions at ACCW, you should bring one of your academic writing pieces for discussion &
consultation. Writing centre is NOT a proof reading facility.
Plagiarism:
Academic honesty is an absolute imperative. What you present as your work must be your work. Please
read the section on plagiarism in the Academic Policy Manual or consult IBA’s handbook on plagiarism.

Instructor:
Maria Hassan [email protected]
Office: Room 214, Second Floor, FF Buildign
Ardeshir Cowasjee Centre for Writing, First Floor, Alumni Students Centre

Counselling hours:
Monday & Wednesday 11:00-1:00 (subject to change)
Others by appointment