MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

COURSE SPECIFICATION
I. General information
1. Course title in Vietnamese: Viết Học Thuật
2. Course title in English: Academic Writing
3. Course code: ENGL5307
4. Knowledge/Skills
☐ General ☐ Major
☒ Foundation ☐ Additional
☐ Discipline ☐ Graduation thesis
5. Credits
Tota
Theory Practice Self-study
l
3 2 1 3(2,1,5)
6. Administration of the course
a. Faculty: Foreign Languages
b. Academics: Mai Thi Hong Dung
c. Email: [email protected]
d. Room: 503, Ho Chi Minh City Open University,
35 – 37 Hồ Hảo Hớn, Cô Giang Ward, District 1
II. Course overview
1. Course description
Academic Writing, which should be taken in the sixth term of the second year, is an
advanced language skill course. The course content includes choosing a topic, researching,
outlining, citing information sources, and writing a complete essay/ paper. This course is also
designed to equip students with essential skills for academic writing, focusing on producing
well-structured and coherent research essays and papers. Throughout the course, students will
gain knowledge of academic text structures, develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and
research skills, and learn to work independently as well as collaboratively.
2. Requirements
No. Requirements Code
1.
Pre-requisites

2.
Preceding courses

Reading – Writing 1 ENGL5302

Reading – Writing 2 ENGL5303
Reading – Writing 3 ENGL5304
No. Requirements Code
Reading – Writing 4 ENGL5305
3. Co-courses
Advanced Reading ENGL5306
3. Course objectives
Course
Description PLOs
objectives
PLO7
PLO8
CO1 Provide students with knowledge of writing a research essay/ paper PLO9.1
PLO10

PLO7
Equip students with critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, PLO8
CO2
research skills PLO9.1
PLO10
Cultivate an attitude for independent and collaborative work, fostering
critical thinking, proficiency in information technology, exhibiting PLO7
autonomy, and taking responsibility for group as well as individual PLO8
CO3
activities in understanding readings and creating related content within PLO9.1
the subject matter. PLO10

4. Course learning outcomes (CLOs)

On completing the course, students will be able to:
Course
CLO Description
objectives
CLO1.
Discuss issues related to the structure and features of academic texts
1
CO1
CLO1.
Evaluate the procedure for writing an academic paper
2
Synthesize the skills for choosing an appropriate topic, brainstorm
CLO2.
ideas, searching for, evaluating, and document sources to build an
1
CO2 outline for the academic paper
CLO2. Apply knowledge of features of an academic paper and academic
2 writing skills to write a complete academic paper.
CLO3. Participate actively in groups, show respect towards other group
1 members, and take responsibility when working in groups.
CO3
CLO3.
Complete tasks on time.
2
Alignment of CLOs and PLOs
CLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO9. PL PL
s 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 O O
10 11
1.1 x x x x
1.2 x x x x
1.3 x x x x
2.1 x x x x
3.1 x x x x
3.2 x x x x

5. Textbooks and materials

a. Textbook
[1] Zemach, D., Broudy, D., Valvona, C. (2023). Writing Research Papers: From Essay to
Research Paper. Macmillan Education
b. Other materials
Books
[2] Morley, J. (2023). Academic Phrasebank: An academic writing resource for students
and researchers. University of Manchester.
[3] Sternad, D., & Power, H. (2023). The thesis writing survival guide: Research and write
an academic thesis or dissertation with less stress. Harriman House.
Websites
[4] Empire State University. (n.d.). Research paper steps. SUNY Empire State College.
[https://sunyempire.edu/online-writing-support/resources/research/research-paper-steps/]
[5] The Present Writer. (2022). 3 bước làm bài nghiên cứu khoa học [Video]. YouTube.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4I1jscxfSg&ab_channel=ThePresentWriter]
[6] The Present Writer. (2022). Trích dẫn như thế nào để không bị đạo văn [Video].
YouTube.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=f_7iyGlFpX0&list=PLrF6aXL7eSGNNFJu0jtsmvI6vL6UoP4cG&ab_channel=ThePrese
ntWriter]
c. Web application
[7] Moodle (2024). Ho Chi Minh City Open University [https://lms.ou.edu.vn/]
6. Student assessment
Type of assessment Assessment methods Assessment time CLOs Weight
(1) (2) (3) (4)
A1. Formative CLO1.1
assessment CLO2.1
A1.1 Choosing topic (Group) Week 1 5%
CLO3.1
CLO3.2
CLO1.1
A1.2 Finding information CLO2.1
Week 3 5%
sources (Group) CLO3.1
CLO3.2
A1.3 Write an outline Week 4 CLO1.1 5%
Type of assessment Assessment methods Assessment time CLOs Weight
(1) (2) (3) (4)
CLO2.1
(Group) CLO3.1
CLO3.2
CLO1.1
A1.4 Write and check CLO2.1
Week 10 5%
citation (Group) CLO3.1
CLO3.2
Total 20%
CLO1.1
CLO2.1
A2. Mid-term A2.1 Write first draft (Group) Week 5 20%
CLO3.1
assessment CLO3.2
Total 20%
CLO1.1
CLO1.2
A.3.1. Write research essay/ Deadline set by
A3. End-of-course paper (Individual) CLO2.1 40%
instructor
assessment CLO2.2
CLO3.2
Total 60%
Total 100%

6. Teaching and learning methods:

Group presentations
Group discussions
Lecturing
Blended learning
Peer review activities
Collaborative Research Writing
7. Teaching and learning methods
Blended learning
Lecturing
Pair work Discussion
Group work Discussion
Extensive and Close Reading Activities
Reflection paper writing
8. Teaching schedule
Textbooks
Week/ Student
Content CLOs Teaching and learning and
Session assessment
materials
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
1 Unit 2: Choosing a topic CLO1.1 In class: A1.1 [1], [2], [3],
Part 1: Selecting a topic CLO2.1 3 periods of theory [4], [5], [7]
for your essay and CLO3.1 1,5 periods of practice
research paper CLO3.2 Instructor:
 Textbooks
Week/ Student
Content CLOs Teaching and learning and
Session assessment
materials
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Part 2: Learning a + Lectures
difference between a + Instructs students to form
persuasive and an groups, discuss in groups, do
expository research paper exercises, choose topics
Part 3: Preparing to write + Gives feedback on and
the first draft of your marks to students’ chosen
essay topics
Students:
+ In class: form groups,
discuss in groups, do
exercises, choose topics,
present topics to instructor
+ Practice on LMS: 1,5
periods – Read materials,
lectures, answer questions
+ Self-study: 9 periods – read
materials

(Students learn theory in class:

3 periods; practise in class: 1.5
periods; practise online: 1.5
periods; self-study: 9 periods)

2 Unit 4: Researching CLO1.1 In class: None [1], [2], [3],

Part 1: Considering CLO2.1 3 periods of theory [4], [5], [7]
sources of information CLO3.1 1,5 periods of practice
Part 2: Learning effective Instructor:
online search techniques + Lectures
Part 3: Evaluating the + Instructs students to discuss
reliability of websites in groups, do exercises, find,
Part 4: Focussing your evaluate, and take notes of
research information sources
Students:
+ In class: discuss in groups,
do exercises, find, evaluate,
and take notes of information
sources
+ Practice on LMS: 1,5
periods – Read materials,
lectures, answer questions
+ Self-study: 9 periods – read
materials and find, evaluate,
and take notes of information
sources

(Students learn theory in class:

3 periods; practise in class: 1.5
periods; practise online: 1.5
periods; self-study: 9 periods)
 Textbooks
Week/ Student
Content CLOs Teaching and learning and
Session assessment
materials
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
3 Unit 4: Researching CLO1.1 In class: A1.2 [1], [2], [3],
(continued) CLO2.1 3 periods of theory [5], [7]
Part 1: Considering CLO3.1 1,5 periods of practice
sources of information CLO3.2 Instructor:
Part 2: Learning effective + Gives feedback on and
online search techniques marks to students’ information
Part 3: Evaluating the sources
reliability of websites Students:
Part 4: Focussing your + In class: present information
research sources to instructor
+ Practice on LMS: 1,5
periods – Read materials,
lectures, answer questions
+ Self-study: 9 periods – read
materials

(Students learn theory in class:

3 periods; practise in class: 1.5
periods; practise online: 1.5
periods; self-study: 9 periods)

4 Unit 5: Outlining CLO1.1 In class: A1.3 [1], [2], [3],

Part 1: Assessing your CLO2.1 3 periods of theory [5], [7]
progress with your CLO3.1 1,5 periods of practice
research Instructor:
Part 2: Learning some + Lectures
important vocabulary for + Instructs students to discuss
talking about research in groups, do exercises, make
papers outlines
Part 3: Looking at Students:
common patterns of + In class: discuss in groups,
organization do exercises, make outlines
Part 4: Practicing + Practice on LMS: 1,5
different types of periods – Read materials,
outlining techniques lectures, answer questions
Part 5: Writing an outline + Self-study: 9 periods – read
for your research paper materials and complete
outlines

(Students learn theory in class:

3 periods; practise in class: 1.5
periods; practise online: 1.5
periods; self-study: 9 periods)

5 Unit 5: Outlining CLO1.1 In class: A2.1 [1], [2], [3],

(continued) CLO2.1 3 periods of theory [5], [7]
Part 1: Assessing your CLO3.1 1,5 periods of practice
progress with your CLO3.2 Instructor:
research + Gives feedback on and
Part 2: Learning some marks to students’ outlines
 Textbooks
Week/ Student
Content CLOs Teaching and learning and
Session assessment
materials
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
important vocabulary for Students:
talking about research + In class: present outlines to
papers instructor
Part 3: Looking at + Practice on LMS: 1,5
common patterns of periods – Read materials,
organization lectures, answer questions
Part 4: Practicing + Self-study: 9 periods – read
different types of materials
outlining techniques
Part 5: Writing an outline (Students learn theory in class:
for your research paper 3 periods; practise in class: 1.5
periods; practise online: 1.5
periods; self-study: 9 periods)

6 Unit 6: Avoiding CLO1.1 In class: None [1], [2], [3],

Plagiarism CLO1.2 3 periods of theory [4], [5], [6],
Part 1: Learning about the CLO2.1 1,5 periods of practice [7]
issue of plagiarism and CLO2.2 Instructor:
academic expectations for CLO3.1 + Lectures
original work + Instructs students to discuss
Part 2: Learning the in groups, do exercises,
importance of crediting practise quoting, paraphrasing,
sources and building bibliographies
Part 3: Understanding the Students:
issues related to choosing + In class: discuss in groups,
what to quote and what to do exercises, practise quoting
paraphrase and paraphrasing
Part 4: Learning and + Practice on LMS: 1,5
practicing techniques for periods – Read materials,
quoting directly lectures, answer questions
+ Self-study: 9 periods – read
materials and complete
quotations paraphrases, and
bibliographies

(Students learn theory in class:

3 periods; practise in class: 1.5
periods; practise online: 1.5
periods; self-study: 9 periods)

7 Unit 6: Avoiding CLO1.1 In class: None [1], [2], [3],

Plagiarism (continued) CLO1.2 3 periods of theory [4], [5], [6],
Part 1: Learning about the CLO2.1 1,5 periods of practice [7]
issue of plagiarism and CLO2.2 Instructor:
academic expectations for CLO3.1 + Gives feedback on and
original work CLO3.2 marks to students’
Part 2: Learning the bibliographies
importance of crediting Students:
sources + In class: present
Part 3: Understanding the bibliographies to instructor
issues related to choosing + Practice on LMS: 1,5
 Textbooks
Week/ Student
Content CLOs Teaching and learning and
Session assessment
materials
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
what to quote and what to periods – Read materials,
paraphrase lectures, answer questions.
Part 4: Learning and + Self-study: 9 periods – read
practicing techniques for materials
quoting directly
(Students learn theory in class:
3 periods; practise in class: 1.5
periods; practise online: 1.5
periods; self-study: 9 periods)

8 Unit 7: The Language of CLO1.2 In class: None [1], [2], [3],

the Research Paper CLO2.2 3 periods of theory [4], [5], [6],
Part 1: Learning and 1,5 periods of practice [7]
practicing techniques for Instructor:
paraphrasing + Lectures
Part 2: Looking at + Instructs students to do
standard “moves” for exercises
performing various Students:
functions in a research + In class: do exercises
paper + Practice on LMS: 1,5
Part 3: Considering periods – Read materials,
common grammatical lectures, answer questions
structures in a research + Self-study: 9 periods – read
paper materials
Part 4: Reviewing and
practicing using (Students learn theory in class:
transitions 3 periods; practise in class: 1.5
periods; practise online: 1.5
periods; self-study: 9 periods)
9 Unit 9: In-Text Citations CLO1.1 In class: None [1], [2], [3],
Part 1: Learning about CLO2.1 3 periods of theory [4], [5], [6],
correct formatting for CLO3.1 1,5 periods of practice [7]
APA-style in-text Instructor:
citations + Lectures
Part 2: Further practice + Instructs students to discuss
deciding whether to in groups, do exercises,
paraphrase or quote practise quoting and
Part 3: Practicing paraphrasing in APA Style 7
paraphrasing and quoting, Students:
using correct in-text + In class: discuss in groups,
citations do exercises, practise quoting
Part 4: Conducting a peer and paraphrasing in APA
review of a classmate’s Style 7
research paper + Practice on LMS: 1,5
periods – Read materials,
lectures, answer questions
+ Self-study: 9 periods – read
materials and complete
quotations and paraphrases in
APA Style 7
 Textbooks
Week/ Student
Content CLOs Teaching and learning and
Session assessment
materials
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
(Students learn theory in class:
3 periods; practise in class: 1.5
periods; practise online: 1.5
periods; self-study: 9 periods)

9. Course policy
- Policy on task submission: Students must submit the assessed tasks to deadlines. Those
who fail to submit the tasks to deadlines are considered having no submission and are
assigned no marks.
- Policy on attendance: Students must attend at least 8 sessions of the course.
- Policy on final examination: Students who are absent up to 2 sessions of the course are
not allowed to submit their research essays/ papers at the end of the term.
- Class rules: Students must fully complete all the activities required by the instructor in
class. Students must fully complete all the homework required by the instructor.
DEAN Academic

Dr. Nguyễn Thúy Nga MA. Mai Thị Hồng Dung