Advanced Academic Writing (GS)

The purpose of this part-time course is to prepare learners of English to produce academic essays displaying grammatical accuracy and lexical sophistication, as well as cogent argumentation at a level commensurate with the work produced by educated native speakers of English in the US academic context.

The course explores three common academic rhetorical modes: summary and critique, analysis, and argument synthesis. Students will learn the purpose and key elements of each, and practice writing, evaluating, and revising such essays. Students will also learn techniques for introducing, developing, and concluding their papers.

Students will be required to revise their assignments based on detailed comments related to the organization and development of their ideas, the accuracy of their grammar, the appropriateness of their vocabulary as well as the overall effectiveness of their writing.

In completing the assignments, international students will have the opportunity to become familiar with the academic discourse common at Columbia and to acquire the confidence necessary to examine texts critically and participate actively and effectively in their University courses.

The course is only open to students who are enrolled at the Columbia University School of General Studies (GS) who have been promoted or placed into ALP Level 9. Offered in the Fall and Spring semesters, please see your GS advisor to register.