Writing

Written and oral communication in Management (in English): emphasis on strategies for identifying, analyzing, and solving writing and speaking problems. Course work based on academic and professional communication in management.

Written and oral communication in Engineering (in English): strategies for generating, developing, organizing, and presenting ideas in a technical setting; problem-solving; communicating to different audiences; editing and revising; and public speaking. Course work based on academic, technical, and professional writing in engineering.

Production of written and oral assignments designed to communicate scientific problems and findings to varied audiences. Analysis of the disciplinary conventions of scientific discourse in terms of audience, purpose, organization, and style; comparative rhetorical analysis of academic and popular genres, including abstracts, lab reports, research papers, print and online journalism.

Critical assessment of digital genres in terms of audience, purpose, organization, and style; application of rhetorical strategies for effective communication in digital contexts. Topics and readings derived from writing pedagogy and critical analyses of online environments: technological affordances, non-linear structure, “living” texts, online identity, network dynamics, authorial collaboration.

Principles and use of academic research and genres, rhetorical strategies, and general editing skills.

With materials from across the curriculum the course prepares students to meet the expectations of the university classroom: note-taking and summary of lectures; paraphrase and summary of written and multimedia materials; oral and seminar presentations. Development of critical thinking, reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills and strategies. Au moyen de documents tirés de divers programmes offerts à McGill, ce cours prépare les étudiants aux exigences des cours universitaires: prendre des notes, faire des exposés oraux, résumer (cours magistraux, documents oraux, écrits et multimédias). Développement du raisonnement critique, lectures, écoutes, rédactions, habiletés et stratégies de communication.

Open to students who have more than a basic knowledge of English. Focus is on developing writing skills: structuring an academic essay; expressing complex ideas; documenting sources. Independent learning strategies for vocabulary building, grammar, editing techniques, critical thinking and reading skills. Fundamentals of oral presentation, including pronunciation skills.

For the student whose English is at an advanced level. Critical thinking and reading applied to the whole writing process. Academic genres: summary, paraphrase, quotation, and critique. Review of writing mechanics. ESL diagnostic for advanced students.

For the near-native speaker of English. Principles and use of academic research, genres, rhetorical strategies, and editing skills.