LINGUIST List 11.547

Sun Mar 12 2000

Support: Academic Writing/ Open University, UK

Editor for this issue: Lydia Grebenyova <lydialinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. J.Swann, Academic Writing: PhD Studentship/ Open University, UK

Dear colleagues,

I'd be grateful if you could pass the following information on to anyone who
might be interested in applying for this studentship at the Open University,
UK.

Thanks,

Joan Swann

- ----------------------------

The Open University: Education: Full-Time PhD Studentship

Applications are invited for a full-time 3-year studentship, tenable from
October 1st 2000 and based at the Centre for Language and Communications,
School of Education, The Open University, England. The studentship includes
a basic maintenance grant of �6620 per year and covers the annual full-time
research student fee.

Project area: Academic writing in a global context
Supervisors: Theresa Lillis and Joan Swann.

The project

The aim of this research project will be to explore the teaching and
learning of academic writing within a global context. Open University (OU)
courses are already available in several countries and this globalisation is
set to increase. In this, the OU is typical of many higher education
institutions. However, the globalisation of text-based courses with a
text-based examination structure raises many questions about academic
literacy practices to which we do not yet have answers. The existing
research base is small and, for the most part, confined to 'local' contexts.
Major questions raised by globalisation and a consequent increasing reliance
on electronic tutoring include the following: How do students from different
social, cultural and linguistic backgrounds make sense of academic texts?
What are the problems that they face in learning the academic conventions
required by markers of their assignments? What is the precise nature of
these conventions and how can they be more effectively taught and learnt in
a global context? In what ways are existing academic literacy practices
changing as a result of the use of new interactive media and teaching and
learning in a global context?

Application

The applicant should have a good first degree or equivalent experience in a
relevant area, such as education, linguistics, literacy studies, rhetoric,
communication studies, English. She/he will demonstrate a commitment to
adult learning and an interest in the field of academic literacy practices.
She/he will also have an interest in computer-mediated communication and
teaching and learning in higher education.

The deadline for submitting an application is April 30th 2000.

For an application form and Research Degrees Prospectus, contact Pam Burns,
Centre for Language and Communications, School of Education. The Open
University. PO Box 75, Walton Hall. Milton Keynes MK 7 6AL, UK. Email:
p.burnsopen.ac.uk

Any further enquiries about the project should be directed to Theresa
Lillis, t.m.lillisopen.ac.uk or Joan Swann, j.swannopen.ac.uk.