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Improving Writing - The Science and Linguistics of Writing

Out of stock

SKU
SC-148
Explore linguistic concepts and structures that support great writing – and how to apply these skills in the classroom.

Understanding linguistics for writing can empower you with a profound understanding of language and deliver more effective writing for you and your students. 

$480.00

Key facts

Course category
Education, Professional Practice
Options

Please submit an enquiry to express an interest or to request further information.

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Duration
4 weeks
Group Bookings
Enquire now
Prerequisite/s
None
Certification
Certificate of Attendance

Why this course?

Leveraging evidence-based research from the Science of Language and Reading Lab, this course is designed to address diminishing student competencies in writing.   

 

Understanding the relationship between linguistics and writing will unlock your ability to teach writing more effectively.  You’ll learn the building blocks for great writing; a framework for diagnosing and addressing writing errors and give your students the uplift they need to develop their writing skills. 

Why study a short course at La Trobe

Industry experience while you study

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Rising demand

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Powerful Collaborations

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Course content

  • Designed so participants can apply learnings into their writing practice, this course is also suitable for anyone seeking to improve their writing skills.

Topics covered: 

• The linguistic structure of English, and its implications for your writing

• Analysing grammatical components of effective sentence and paragraph writing

• The key components of clear, effective writing for academic purposes (reports, essays)

• Breaking the writing process down into manageable steps

This course was developed in conjunction with La Trobe University’s Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab.  Founded in 2020 by Professor Pamela Snow and Professor Tanya Serry, the SOLAR Lab collaborates with researchers, teachers, school leaders and allied health professionals to integrate evidence-based learning approaches into classroom practice to promote success in reading, writing, and spelling.

You’ll learn:

  • To analyse the linguistic structure of academic writing at the phrase, sentence and paragraph level.
  • To apply key sentence and paragraph writing strategies for clear and effective expression.

Your study experience

The total time commitment for this course is 10 hours, through 4 x 1.5 hour weekly live, online webinars and 4 hours’ additional learning activities and material.  The weekly webinar will be recorded and made available afterwards. 

At the conclusion, you will receive a Certificate of Attendance for 10 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). 

Who you'll learn from

Dr Nathaniel Swain 

Dr Nathaniel Swain brings a myriad of experiences and expertise to his role as Senior Lecturer, Learning Sciences and Learner Engagement and Director of Academic Programs – Undergraduate.  Originally educated as a linguist and speech-language pathologist, Nathaniel became a classroom teacher to pursue his lifelong dream of teaching students so every child can achieve their best. Drawing upon his linguistics, instructional coaching, and even his performing arts expertise, Nathaniel creates effective and engaging learning environments for any student with whom he works, and he is highly sought after in schools and systems around Australia. 

 

Dr Swain has significant practical and theoretical experience, having worked as Head of Teaching and Learning and Instructional Coach across secondary and primary settings in Victoria. He has received several prestigious awards in his career including: the Learning Difficulties Australia Mona Tobias Award (2023), Engagement Excellence and Teaching Excellence Awards (2018), and the 2016 Three Minute Thesis Competition (Winner, University of Melbourne Grand Final; and Runner-Up, Asia-Pacific Final). 

 

Dr Nathaniel Swain founded and spear-headed the influential Think Forward Educators community. Now a registered charity, this organisation provides quality professional learning, guidance, and networking for teachers and educators across Australia. With more than 23,000 members nationally, Think Forward is an influential force for supporting teachers to learn about, adopt, and refine the practices that align with the Science of Learning.

 

Nathaniel is a blogger and writer, producing a newsletter for teachers called the Cognitorium, and has a book for school leaders and educators coming out this year, entitled Harnessing the Science of Learning: Success Stories to Kickstart Your School Improvement.

 

Vanessa Rohlf 

Vanessa is a Research Officer in the School of Psychology and Public Health, and is a consultant, therapist, and educator specialising in compassion fatigue, stress management, pet loss, and animal bereavement.

Paulieen Bennett 

Pauleen is Head of Department of Psychology and Counselling at La Trobe University. She is Australia’s leading expert in Anthrozoology, past-President and Fellow of the International Society for Anthrozoology, and Associate Editor of the field’s leading journal, Anthrozöos. Since 2011, she has led a multidisciplinary research group focusing on human-companion dog relationships, and particularly on how these impact human health and dog welfare.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Find out more about further education at La Trobe  View all FAQ

I would like information about a short course. Who can assist me?  

Email: LaTrobeProfessional@latrobe.edu.au 

Phone: 1300 135 045

I have paid the fee for a short course. When will I be able to access it?  

On completion of your registration, you'll be provided with an account on our Learning Management System (LMS) and the course material will be made available at the advertised date, or as outlined on your registration confirmation email.  For our on-demand courses, access will be immediate.

What payment options are there?

  • You may arrange to pay by BPAY or EFT
  • For group bookings, we encourage purchase orders.  Contact us for a quote, and upon receipt of your purchase order we can make the course available to you.
  • Unfortunately, we are not able to arrange instalment payments.

Contact us on LaTrobeProfessional@latrobe.edu.au for assistance. 

Can I arrange payment with a Purchase Order?

Yes, we accept Purchase Orders. Please email to LaTrobeProfessional@latrobe.edu.au and our La Trobe Professional team will provide you with payment details and access to your course. 

I am getting an error when I try to log into my LMS account. Can you help? 

  • The first thing to check is your order confirmation email - it will contain your Learning Management System (LMS) account and password.  Note that this account may not be the same as your staff, student or previous short course participant account. 
  • The second thing to check is that you're logging on as a short course participant and not as a student - choose 'Other Users' - select Short Course as your institution and use your account and password as provided.

If you need any assistance, contact us on LaTrobeProfessional@latrobe.edu.au. 

I want to enrol multiple staff in a short course. How do I go about this? 

Contact LaTrobeProfessional@latrobe.edu.au so that we can discuss options with you.  

What certification will I receive?

The type of certification depends on the assessment involved in the course. For example:

  • Microcredentials:  You will receive a digital credential that confirms the skills you’ve acquired, any assessments you’ve completed and potential pathways for credit or advanced standing towards a degree. 
  • Other assessed short courses:  This may include bridging programs or courses that prepare you for external certification from a professional body.  You might receive a certificate of achievement or a digital badge (a digital version of a certificate of achievement).
  • Non-assessed courses:  If a course doesn’t involve formal assessment, you’ll receive a certificate of attendance.
  • Single-subject enrolment: If you enrol in a single subject, you will receive an official transcript for that subject.

Please note that short courses or microcredentials are not formal qualifications under the Australian Qualifications Framework but may be eligible for consideration as advanced standing (credit) towards a degree.

What is a microcredential? 

Microcredentials are short courses that are assessed, carry academic credit, and to deliver specific skills or knowledge.  While they can be taken as standalone courses, many are designed to be combined or ‘stacked’ with other microcredentials to form the equivalent of a subject within a degree program.  Upon successful completion, you’ll earn a digital credential that outlines the skills and credit obtained, and any opportunities for stacking.

For La Trobe microcredentials, any advanced standing or stacking pathways are clearly expressed on the course page.   

What is advanced standing?

Advanced standing refers to credit for prior study or formal learning that can be credited towards a qualification, thereby reducing the number of subjects required to complete a course. For short courses or microcredentials (if these have been completed through recognised institutions or platforms and are deemed equivalent to La Trobe University subjects), credit may be granted either for specific La Trobe subjects or as unspecified credit towards elective requirements of a La Trobe course.

For La Trobe microcredentials, any advanced standing or stacking pathways are clearly expressed on the course page.   Upon successful completion of the course, you’ll receive a digital credential, which may be used when applying for credit for the relevant degree at La Trobe.

For more details, visit the University’s advanced standing web page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Proin eleifend arcu eros, id porta libero imperdiet quis. Nam sed orci sit amet quam faucibus vestibulum. In luctus metus enim.

Find out more about further education at La Trobe  View all FAQ

I would like information about a short course. Who can assist me?  

Email: LaTrobeProfessional@latrobe.edu.au 

Phone: 1300 135 045

I have paid the fee for a short course. When will I be able to access it?  

On completion of your registration, you'll be provided with an account on our Learning Management System (LMS) and the course material will be made available at the advertised date, or as outlined on your registration confirmation email.  For our on-demand courses, access will be immediate.

What payment options are there?

  • You may arrange to pay by BPAY or EFT
  • For group bookings, we encourage purchase orders.  Contact us for a quote, and upon receipt of your purchase order we can make the course available to you.
  • Unfortunately, we are not able to arrange instalment payments.

Contact us on LaTrobeProfessional@latrobe.edu.au for assistance. 

Can I arrange payment with a Purchase Order?

Yes, we accept Purchase Orders. Please email to LaTrobeProfessional@latrobe.edu.au and our La Trobe Professional team will provide you with payment details and access to your course. 

I am getting an error when I try to log into my LMS account. Can you help? 

  • The first thing to check is your order confirmation email - it will contain your Learning Management System (LMS) account and password.  Note that this account may not be the same as your staff, student or previous short course participant account. 
  • The second thing to check is that you're logging on as a short course participant and not as a student - choose 'Other Users' - select Short Course as your institution and use your account and password as provided.

If you need any assistance, contact us on LaTrobeProfessional@latrobe.edu.au. 

I want to enrol multiple staff in a short course. How do I go about this? 

Contact LaTrobeProfessional@latrobe.edu.au so that we can discuss options with you.  

What certification will I receive?

The type of certification depends on the assessment involved in the course. For example:

  • Microcredentials:  You will receive a digital credential that confirms the skills you’ve acquired, any assessments you’ve completed and potential pathways for credit or advanced standing towards a degree. 
  • Other assessed short courses:  This may include bridging programs or courses that prepare you for external certification from a professional body.  You might receive a certificate of achievement or a digital badge (a digital version of a certificate of achievement).
  • Non-assessed courses:  If a course doesn’t involve formal assessment, you’ll receive a certificate of attendance.
  • Single-subject enrolment: If you enrol in a single subject, you will receive an official transcript for that subject.

Please note that short courses or microcredentials are not formal qualifications under the Australian Qualifications Framework but may be eligible for consideration as advanced standing (credit) towards a degree.

What is a microcredential? 

Microcredentials are short courses that are assessed, carry academic credit, and to deliver specific skills or knowledge.  While they can be taken as standalone courses, many are designed to be combined or ‘stacked’ with other microcredentials to form the equivalent of a subject within a degree program.  Upon successful completion, you’ll earn a digital credential that outlines the skills and credit obtained, and any opportunities for stacking.

For La Trobe microcredentials, any advanced standing or stacking pathways are clearly expressed on the course page.   

What is advanced standing?

Advanced standing refers to credit for prior study or formal learning that can be credited towards a qualification, thereby reducing the number of subjects required to complete a course. For short courses or microcredentials (if these have been completed through recognised institutions or platforms and are deemed equivalent to La Trobe University subjects), credit may be granted either for specific La Trobe subjects or as unspecified credit towards elective requirements of a La Trobe course.

For La Trobe microcredentials, any advanced standing or stacking pathways are clearly expressed on the course page.   Upon successful completion of the course, you’ll receive a digital credential, which may be used when applying for credit for the relevant degree at La Trobe.

For more details, visit the University’s advanced standing web page.