Academic Writing Unit

Due to the increasing demand by Durham departments for academic writing courses catering for mixed groups of home and international students, the English Language Centre has established an Academic Writing Unit (AWU) as part of its in-sessional support services.

The AWU is taking responsibility for these departmental specialist courses and providing academic writing support and expertise to departments.  The Academic Writing Unit is also involved in the development of online academic writing materials for departments, delivered through the DUO system.

Departments wishing to take advantage of academic writing support classes delivered through the Academic Writing Unit should contact the Academic Writing Unit Director, Dr Philip Nathan at p.b.nathan@dur.ac.uk.

Both individual academic writing support sessions are available or extended programmes lasting for example through the academic terms.  Extended programmes are delivered on a pay-for basis, while shorter individual sessions are provided free of charge.

In 2011-12, individual academic writing sessions and programmes have been or are being delivered in a range of departments including Education, Medicine and Health, the Business School (UG Economics, UG Business Finance, MA Management, MSc Finance) and SGIA amongst others.

The Academic Writing Unit has also been involved in a collaborative project with the University's DUO team and the Geography Department, designing online academic writing activities and materials.

It should be noted that the AWU in-department courses will serve to complement the range of cross-disciplinary general academic language programmes targeted at international students.  These cross-disciplinary courses focus on broad academic writing principles, grammar and vocabulary, study skills, argument and criticality as well as a range of other ideas.

Our one-to-one individual consultations service remains available to all students, home and international, and can be accessed by emailing in.sessional@dur.ac.uk.