Course detail

Introduction to Academic Skills

FaVU-1PAPTAcad. year: 2023/2024

The course focuses on the acquisition of basic academic skills in working with text – sourcing, reading and writing. Students learn to conduct research and assess the relevance of sources in relation to their subject of interest. They gain an orientation to a variety of academic genres. They learn practical techniques and strategies for reading scholarly texts, ways of processing the information they have gathered, and the creation of quotations and paraphrases. They practise creating their own output that meets academic parameters – asking a question, structuring an interpretation, making an argument, taking into account existing knowledge, citations and bibliography. Last but not least, attention is paid to the ethical aspects of academic work – correct citation and referencing of sources, avoiding plagiarism and misinterpretation, cultivating expression. Proseminar is taught in several small groups. The teaching takes the form of a series of specifically focused assignments, the mastery of which is verified by students in the form of group feedback.  

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Mgr. Václav Magid

Department

Department of Art History and Theory (KTDU)

Entry knowledge

None.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Credit is awarded for active participation in seminars (more than 75 % attendance) and for completing all interim assignments. Missed classes may be made up with additional assignments by agreement with the instructor.  

Lectures and seminars take place at the premises of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Brno University of Technology at designated times. Two absences are tolerated. 

 

 

Aims

The aim of the proseminar is to learn basic academic skills in working with text – searching for sources, reading, writing, observing publishing ethics.  

Students demonstrate the ability to critically read and understand a scholarly text. They can summarise its ideas and take their own position on them. They are able to express themselves in a sophisticated written manner. They are able to write a term paper that meets the professional criteria and formal parameters of an academic text.  

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

ŠANDEROVÁ, J. Jak číst a psát odborný text ve společenských vědách. Několik zásad pro začátečníky. Praha: SLON, 2005. ISBN 80-86429-40-7.
ZBÍRAL, R. Příručka psaní seminárních a jiných vysokoškolských odborných prací. Praha: Linde, 2009. ISBN 978-80-7201-779-9.

Recommended reading

ČMEJRKOVÁ, S., DANEŠ, F., SVĚTLÁ, J. Jak napsat odborný text. Praha: Leda, 1999. ISBN 80-85927-69-1.
ECO, U. Jak napsat diplomovou práci. Praha: Votobia, 1997. ISBN: 80-7198-173-7.
BAILEY, S. Academic writing: a handbook for international students. London, New York: Routledge, 2015. 978-1-138-77849-8.
Institut úzkosti. 2021. Kvíření jazyka českého: O užívání genderově inkluzivního jazyka v institucích a organizacích. http://www.institutuzkosti.cz/events/kvireni-jazyka-ceskeho-videozaznam-online-diskuse?src=cz

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUM_B Bachelor's, 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme VUB Bachelor's

    branch VU-VT , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme DES_B Bachelor's, 2. year of study, summer semester, elective
    , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Seminar

14 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Václav Magid

Syllabus

1. Searches. Determining the topic and searching for sources. Information databases, assessing the relevance of sources. 

2. What is an academic text? Introduction to genres and approaches in theory. Structure of an academic text. Publication ethics. 

3. Reading a scholarly text. Hermeneutic circle, critical reading and comprehension. 

4. Practicing techniques of processing a professional text: outline, summary, quotation, paraphrase. 

5. Practicing techniques of processing a professional text: interpretation, polemic. 

6. Practicing the actual writing process: formulating a research question, identifying sources, creating an outline, argumentative strategies, language, working with word processors, citation standards. 

7. Group discussion of sample essays.