Introductory description

This module focuses on English for Academic Purposes, so materials are adapted to students’ respective disciplines (or related disciplines). Students develop skills that are applicable to academic research and writing processes, including techniques for finding relevant sources, assessing source quality, identifying key information, making and organising notes, and critically evaluating information from academic texts. Input on writing includes appropriate and accurate use of paraphrasing, summarising and quoting techniques as well as discipline-appropriate citation and reference practices. Iterative processes of writing to a rubric and editing written work in response to feedback are emphasised.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

• READING: selecting texts around a key debate or question; identifying key sections of longer texts; note-taking, including paraphrasing, summarising and quoting; identifying key points; critically evaluating written information; synthesising multiple texts.
• WRITING: planning an extended piece of writing; structure and paragraphing; paraphrasing, summarising and quoting; citing (including reporting verbs) and referencing; avoiding plagiarism; formality and informality; the language of caution; coherence, cohesion and linking conjunctions.
• LEARNER AUTONOMY: using library research tools to find source texts; self-assessing and editing written work; responding to feedback; monitoring and reflecting on learning.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Communicate with accuracy and fluency, using appropriate vocabulary and academic style to clearly and coherently convey meaning in an academic genre relevant to undergraduate study.
• Apply online tools to conduct guided library research, evaluate and use a range of sources to provide evidence to support analysis of relevant theories within their discipline (or a related area); and display their findings in extended written form by making appropriate use of paraphrasing, quoting and summarising techniques.
• Recognise the need to adhere to conventions of citation and reference to support claims and acknowledge others' work.
• Critically reflect on processes of learning and set future goals for undergraduate study.

Subject specific skills

Students will be trained in a range of academic reading and writing strategies. They will learn how to appropriately select from and apply these strategies in order to synthesise and evaluate information from academic texts in order to produce an extended, structured piece of writing in an appropriately academic style.

Transferable skills

Students will learn how to manage a time-intensive schedule that includes synchronous and asynchronous teaching input as well as self-guided study. They will also be introduced to techniques for informal self-assessment.