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Lisa McGrath

Dr Lisa McGrath PhD, MA, PGCE, BA (hons), SFHEA

Senior Lecturer


Summary

I am a senior lecturer and researcher in the field of Educational Linguistics, with a specific focus on genre and academic writing. I teach and supervise on courses across the SIoE, and lead the research project module on the MA in Education. I lead and teach on the University English Scheme, and am responsible for designing and delivering bespoke academic English courses across the university. I am also involved in continuing professional development, such as leading writing for publication groups and teaching on the PGcert Higher Education.

Teaching

Department of Education, Childhood and Inclusion

College of Social Sciences and Arts

Research

To date, my research has focused on textual and contextual facets of writing for international publication and genre pedagogy. In particular, I am interested in connections between the social and epistemological dimensions of disciplines, and the choices academic writers make in terms of textual features, genre and language. My recent research has combined theories of genre and metacognition in both academic writing and continuing professional development contexts. My work has appeared in journals such as Journal of Second Language Writing, English for Specific Purposes, Teaching in Higher Education and Applied Linguistics.

Publications

Negretti, R., & McGrath, L. (2020). English for Specific Playfulness? How doctoral students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics manipulate genre. English for Specific Purposes, 60, 26-39. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2020.04.004

Kaufhold, K., & McGrath, L. (2019). Revisiting the role of 'discipline' in writing for publication in two social sciences. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 40. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2019.06.006

McGrath, L., Negretti, R., & Nicholls, K. (2019). Hidden expectations: Scaffolding subject specialists' genre knowledge of the assignments they set. Higher Education. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-019-00373-9

Negretti, R., & McGrath, L. (2018). Scaffolding genre knowledge and metacognition: Insights from an L2 doctoral research writing course. Journal of Second Language Writing, 40, 12-31. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2017.12.002

McGrath, L., & Kaufhold, K. (2016). English for Specific Purposes and Academic Literacies: Eclecticism in academic writing pedagogy. Teaching in Higher Education, 21 (8), 933-947. http://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2016.1198762

McGrath, L., Berggren, J., & Mežek, Š. (2016). Reading EAP: Investigating high proficiency L2 university students’ strategy use through reading blogs. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 22, 152-164. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2016.03.003

McGrath, L. (2016). Open-access writing: An investigation into the online drafting and revision of a research article in pure mathematics. English for Specific Purposes, 43, 25-36. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2016.02.003

McGrath, L. (2016). Self-mentions in anthropology and history research articles: Variation between and within disciplines. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 21, 86-98. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2015.11.004

McGrath, L. (2015). Dissertation: Writing for publication in four disciplines: Insights into text and context. Fachsprache: International Journal of Specialized Communication, 3-4, 223-227. http://www.fachsprache.net/Issues/current_issue

Kuteeva, M., & Mcgrath, L. (2015). The theoretical research article as a reflection of disciplinary practices: The case of pure mathematics. Applied Linguistics, 36 (2), 215-235. http://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amt042

McGrath, L. (2014). Parallel language use in academic and outreach publication: A case study of policy and practice. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 13, 5-16. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2013.10.008

Kuteeva, M., & McGrath, L. (2014). Taming Tyrannosaurus rex: English use in the research and publication practices of humanities scholars in Sweden. Multilingua, 33 (3-4). http://doi.org/10.1515/multi-2014-0017

McGrath, L., & Kuteeva, M. (2012). Stance and engagement in pure mathematics research articles: Linking discourse features to disciplinary practices. English for Specific Purposes, 31 (3), 161-173. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2011.11.002

Theses / Dissertations

Fleming, K. (2021). Exploring inclusive partnerships: parents, co-production, and the SEND code of practice (2015). (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Mcgrath, L. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00419

Presentations

Mežek, Š., McGrath, L., Negretti, R., & Berggren, J. (2022). Scaffolding L2 Academic Reading and Self-Regulation Through Task and Feedback. http://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.3018

Kuteeva, M., & McGrath, L. (2020). Taming Tyrannosaurus Rex: English use in the research and publication practices of humanities scholars in Sweden.

McGrath, L., Berggren, J., & Mezek, S. (2020). Insights into L2 students’ approach to academic reading in an introductory EAP course. Presented at: ASLA Symposium, Södertörn Högskola, Sweden

McGrath, L. (2020). Revisiting discipline in writing for publication in the social sciences. Presented at: AESLA Conference, University of Cadiz, Spain

McGrath, L. (2020). Hidden expectations: scaffolding subject specialists’ genre knowledge of the assignments they set.

McGrath, L., Muir, T., Negretti, R., & Solli, K. (2019). Crossing contexts: doctoral students' writing within and across public sector, industrial and academic institutions. Presented at: Professional, academic and work-based literacies symposium: Work, life, study: literacies in and out of institutions, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK

McGrath, L. (2019). Genre, academic literacies and metacognition: Theoretical "wanders" and their implementation in EAP pedagogy. Presented at: International Conference of English for Specific Purposes, University of Crete, Greece

Negretti, R., & McGrath, L. (2019). English for Specific Playfulness? How doctoral students find fun in the development of genre knowledge, authorial voice, and genre innovation. Presented at: EATAW Conference, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

McGrath, L., & Negretti, R. (2019). Scaffolding L2 academic reading and self-regulation through task and feedback. Presented at: BALEAP Conference, University of Leeds, UK

McGrath, L., & Negretti, R. (2018). Hidden expectations: Scaffolding subject lecturers' genre knowledge of the assignments they set. Presented at: NFEAP Conference, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway

McGrath, L., & Negretti, R. (2018). Hidden expectations: Scaffolding subject lecturers' genre knowledge of the assignments they set. Presented at: The Future of Genres, Oslo Metropolitan University

Kaufhold, K., & McGrath, L. (2018). Revisiting discipline in writing for publication in the social sciences. Presented at: Department of English Higher Seminar, Stockholm University, Sweden

Negretti, R., & McGrath, L. (2018). Transfer of genre knowledge? On metacognitive scaffolds in the writing for research doctoral class. Presented at: AESLA Conference, University of Cadiz, Spain

McGrath, L. (2017). An ESP genre perspective on teaching writing for publication. Presented at: Department of Higher Education Seminar, University of Surrey, Uk

Negretti, R., & McGrath, L. (2017). From genre knowledge to genre performance: Metacognitive scaffolds in the L2 writing for research classroom. Presented at: EATAW Conference, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK

McGrath, L. (2016). Writing for publication in pure mathematics: Insights into text and context. Presented at: Higher Seminar, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

Negretti, R., & McGrath, L. (2016). Visualizations of genre as a pedagogical tool in the ‘writing for research’ classroom. Presented at: NFEAP Conference, Norway

McGrath, L., Berggren, J., & Mezek, S. (2015). Reading for an English academic writing course: What novice students do. Presented at: EATAW Conference, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia

McGrath, L. (2014). Open access writing: An investigation into the co-authorship of a research article. Presented at: Symposium on Languages for Specific Purposes, Stockholm University, Sweden

Other publications

McGrath, L., & Samatar, A. (2019). Turning the tide of BAME experiences: A call for waves not ripples. https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/sioe/2019/11/05/turning-the-tide-of-bame-experiences-a-call-for-waves-not-ripples/?doing_wp_cron=1576694424.1837360858917236328125

McGrath, L., & Nicholls, K. (2017). Of writing, wardrobes and windows. Sheffield Institute of Education: https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/sioe/2017/06/15/of-writing-wardrobes-and-windows/?doing_wp_cron=1555361045.3380069732666015625000

McGrath, L., & Taylor, L. (2016). A world of EAP. ESP Today: https://www.esptodayjournal.org/pdf/current_issue/3.6.2016/BOOK-REVIEW-LYNDON-TAYLOR-and-LISA-MCGRATH.pdf

Other activities

I peer-review for journals such as Applied Linguistics, English for Specific Purposes, Journal of Second Language Writing and Journal of English for Academic Purposes. I am a member of the British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL) and the European Association of Teachers of Academic Writing (EATAW).

I am associate editor of the Journal of English for Academic Purposes.


Postgraduate supervision

I am able to supervise doctoral students in the following areas: academic writing, genre theory and pedagogy, disciplinary discourse, and Language for Specific Purposes (LSP).

Current Students

Katarzyna Maciag (EdD student) Students' experience of academic writing development.
Dave Darwent (EdD student) How learners and assessors use grade descriptors.
Katrina Flemming (PhD student) Parental perspectives on parent/carer-practitioner relationships post SEND Code of Practice 2015.


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