Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
1ELT519Academic Writing and Research Ethics3+0+03706.10.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Master's Degree
Department / Program English Language Teaching
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course This course aims to:
1. Develop students’ ability to plan and write each section of a research article (IMRaD and related structures) for ELT/applied linguistics journals.
2. Strengthen students’ skills in literature searching, synthesizing research, and identifying a publishable research gap.
3. Enable students to design feasible studies and write transparent, replicable methodology sections aligned with research questions.
4. Build competence in research ethics: informed consent, confidentiality/anonymity, permissions, data management, and responsible reporting.
5. Improve academic style, coherence, stance (hedging/boosting), and argumentation through drafting and revision cycles.
6. Prepare students to select an appropriate journal and complete a professional submission package (formatting, cover letter, compliance checklist).
Course Content This course supports MA students in producing a complete, submission-ready research article in ELT/applied linguistics while developing advanced academic writing skills and strong research ethics. Throughout the semester, each student designs a feasible study, drafts all sections of a journal article through guided milestones, participates in intensive peer review, and prepares a full journal submission package. Midterm focuses on completing a synthesized Literature Review and a coherent, ethically sound Methodology; the final requires a full manuscript and submission materials aligned with a target journal.
Course Methods and Techniques Writing workshop
Peer review
Instructor conferences: alignment check and revision plan.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. Fatma Çiloğlan Konur fatma.ciloglan@hku.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
Course Notes Required Textbook:
Belcher (Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks).

Course Category
Field %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 40
Final examination 1 % 60
Total
2
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 3 42
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 14 3 42
Assignments 6 8 48
Mid-terms 1 30 30
Final examination 1 48 48
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 7 210

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1  Select  an appropriate target journal and analyze genre conventions to plan a publishable manuscript.
2 Write an argument-driven literature review that synthesizes sources and establishes a clear research gap and research questions.
3 Design and report an ethically sound methodology, including consent/confidentiality and data management decisions.
4 Present and interpret results responsibly, linking findings to the literature with warranted claims, implications, and limitations.
5 Produce a submission-ready manuscript and submission package (formatting, references, cover letter) demonstrating scholarly integrity.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Introduction: course roadmap, publication process, academic integrity & research ethics overview. Topic brainstorming + feasibility check; set up writing tracker. Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
2 Journal Targeting & Genre Analysis: aims/scope, article types, author guidelines, avoiding predatory journals.  Select  target journal + analyze 2 model articles. Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
3 Research Ethics & Integrity: consent, confidentiality, permissions, authorship, plagiarism/patchwriting, responsible AI use. Finalize RQs + ethics plan (brief). Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
4 Literature Searching & Source Management: search strategies, inclusion/exclusion, synthesis matrix, reference managers. Build annotated bibliography + synthesis table. Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
5 Writing the Introduction: gap logic, stance/hedging, coherence and signposting. Introduction draft clinic. Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
6 Writing the Literature Review: thematic synthesis, building an argument, paraphrasing ethically. LR draft peer review. Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
7 Methodology Writing: design, context, participants, instruments, procedures, analysis plan; trustworthiness/validity. Methods draft + ethics documentation. Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
8 Midterm Exam: Submission: Literature Review + Methodology. Instructor conferences: alignment check and revision plan. Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
9 Results Reporting: reporting conventions (quant/qual/mixed), tables/figures, transparency. Results outline + table shells. Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
10 Writing Results: clarity, neutral reporting, integrating visuals. Results draft clinic. Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
11 Writing Discussion & Conclusion: interpreting findings, implications for ELT, limitations, claim strength. Discussion draft peer review. Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
12 Abstract, Title, Keywords & Referencing: abstract types, keyword strategy, citation accuracy, formatting. Full draft assembly + reference check. Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
13 Submission Package Workshop: cover letter, compliance checklist, final formatting, responding to reviewers (preview). Full draft revision + submission package. Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
14 Final Exam: Submission: Full manuscript + submission package aligned to target journal. Optional: submit to journal if approvals/data are complete. Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks
15 Library Week.

 
Sustainable Development Goals
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12
C1 2
C2 2 1 3 3 3
C3 1 5
C4 4 2 5 4
C5 1

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant