New Courses in September! Register now!

Academic Writing University Center (NUST MISIS) in cooperation with the English Language Office (ELO) by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow offers free online courses: Introduction to Academic Writing & Publication in the English Language, Publishing Research Articles in English: An Intermediate-Advanced Writing Course

An Introduction to Academic Writing & Publication in the English Language

Writing in a second language is difficult. In fact, the idea of publishing research in English can be overwhelming. This course is designed for faculty and graduate students who hope to begin (or continue) publishing their work in English, but who require English-language support in the process. With a focus on English language acquisition, vocabulary development, and understanding academic style/tone, participants will explore the academic writing and publication process from beginning to end.

The course will begin with the basics of rhetoric and academic writing in the English language. We’ll practice writing in a concise way, using precise vocabulary, and identifying rhetorical appeals.

Next, we’ll cover the following:

1) strategies for writing success

2) writing abstracts and summaries

3) clarifying arguments

4) making claims for significance

5) organizing material in a coherent way

6) revising for language clarity

A focus on the writer’s purpose and the role of the audience is central to this course: How can you as a writer best reach your audience? What do you want your audience to understand from your text? These are some of the questions we’ll explore.

The course starts September 20, Monday evenings from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. (Moscow Time)   register now

Publishing Research Articles in English: An Intermediate-Advanced Writing Course

The world of academic writing and publishing is particularly challenging in a second language, even for those who have extensive professional experience in their fields. This course is designed for faculty and advanced graduate students who have a strong grasp of the English language and of research in their respective fields, but who nonetheless require some additional support integrating the two (i.e., English and research writing). In a supportive English-immersive environment, course participants will explore the academic writing and publication process with the goal of publishing quality journal articles in English with confidence.

Amongst other things, the course will cover:

1) strategies for writing success, including a brief overview of rhetoric and academic writing norms

2) abstracting, summarizing, and clarifying arguments

3) making claims for significance

4) organizing material in a clear narrative

5) identifying appropriate English-language journals for submission

6) writing for an international English-language audience

7) revising for language clarity, accessibility, and poetics

A focus on rhetorical skill in English with an aim toward productive publishing is a major component of this course. How can you develop your skills as a researcher-writer in English? How can you improve your English-language publication output? These are some of the questions we’ll explore.

The course starts September 15, Wednesday evenings from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (Moscow Time) register now

Instructor: Kelly Metz-Matthews   

Kelly Metz-Matthews has spent nearly a decade teaching across the disciplines of English Rhetoric and Writing, (T)ESOL, and Teacher Education. In addition to serving as a (virtual) English Language Fellow for NUST MISiS, Kelly coordinates an academic writing program at the University of San Diego and coordinates faculty learning at San Diego City College. Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in English, a master’s degree in liberal studies (emphasis: narrative nonfiction writing), a master’s degree in English as a second language curriculum and instruction, and a TESL/TEFL certificate. She is currently completing her doctoral dissertation on the ways English functions as a form of gendered symbolic power. Prior to teaching, Kelly worked as a professional writer and editor. She has publications forthcoming on participatory writing in the remote second-language classroom and on preparing teachers to work with emerging bilinguals in the U.S./Mexican borderlands.