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23921-01 - Practical course: Academic Writing in African Studies (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Every fall sem. |
| Lecturers | Nadira Soraya Haribe (nadira.haribe@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The aim of this course is to introduce you to the craft of academic writing, to improve your writing skills and to get you ready to write your academic papers, especially the MA thesis. Therefore, you will mostly work on texts of your own choice (a seminar paper you have to write, your MA thesis, an essay, reading reaction, or other). We will work on writing strategies, text structuring as well as on language and style. Furthermore, you will be introduced to the literature referencing program Zotero and will benefit from personalised, individual coaching slots throughout the semester. Finally, we will work on revising your chosen texts and peer feedback. |
| Learning objectives | -Learn about academic writing as a process -Practice your writing skills -Learn about structure and style of academic texts -Get to know procedures, tools and institutions for data-collection |
| Bibliography | Elbow, Peter. 1998. Writing with Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Lunenburg, Frederick C., and Beverly J. Irby. 2008. Writing a Successful Thesis or Dissertation: Tips and Strategies for Students in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Molinari, Julia. 2022. What Makes Writing Academic (1st Ed.). London: Bloomsbury Academic. Silvia, Paul J. 2019. How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing (2nd Ed.). Washington: American Psychological Association. Sword, Helen. 2012. Stylish Academic Writing. Cambridge, Massachusetts & London: Harvard University Press. |
| Admission requirements | This course is geared primarily to MA students and advanced BA students (3rd year) from those disciplines contributing to the MA African Studies. |
| Course application | Anmelden: Belegen; Abmelden bei der Dozentin. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-täglich | Friday | 12.15-16.00 | Rosshofgasse (Schnitz), Sitzungsraum S 181 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 19.09.2025 | 12.15-16.00 | Rosshofgasse (Schnitz), Sitzungsraum S 181 |
| Friday 03.10.2025 | 12.15-16.00 | Rosshofgasse (Schnitz), Sitzungsraum S 181 |
| Friday 17.10.2025 | 12.15-16.00 | Rosshofgasse (Schnitz), Sitzungsraum S 181 |
| Friday 31.10.2025 | 12.15-16.00 | Rosshofgasse (Schnitz), Sitzungsraum S 181 |
| Friday 14.11.2025 | 12.15-16.00 | Rosshofgasse (Schnitz), Sitzungsraum S 181 |
| Friday 21.11.2025 | 12.15-16.00 | Rosshofgasse (Schnitz), Sitzungsraum S 181 |
| Friday 12.12.2025 | 12.15-16.00 | Rosshofgasse (Schnitz), Sitzungsraum S 181 |
| Modules |
Modul: Ungleichheit, Konflikt, Kultur (Master's degree subject: Sociology) Module: Changing Societies Lab (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) Module: Introduction to African Studies (Master's degree program: African Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Active participation to sessions Submission of assignments in time |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Soziologie |