Introductory description

Academic reading and writing skills are of considerable importance for students’ academic skills development whilst they are studying at Warwick. It is intended that this module will enable international students to gain the knowledge and understanding of these skills, in a range of genres needed at university. The module recognises that international students experience specific challenges in academic reading and writing which are partly connected to linguistic demands, and also linked to the need to adapt to the requirements of working within a new cultural context. With this in mind, the proposed syllabus is designed to promote both reading and writing skills, so that students become accustomed to seeing the synergy between the two skills, and how they can best be deployed to optimise their performance in assessments, and ultimately, their degree outcomes.

Module web page

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.

This module is designed to follow a broad progression from more supported, micro-level writing input and activities in term1 to more extensive writing skills in term 2 and 3 (including dissertation writing). In the early stages of term 1, students will develop reading skills that are immediately relevant to them in tackling their departmental reading lists, and will explore and consolidate the sentence and paragraph level writing micro-skills and documentation skills needed to write an assignment. The term 2 programme is premised on the fact that most students will have received some feedback from their academic tutors on essays and assignments that they have submitted, and will have specific targets to meet. These form the basis of further input sessions. Term 3 of the module focuses primarily on developing the skills of dissertation writing and writing up empirical research.

Learning outcomes

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

• Select and use an appropriate written style and structure that is commensurate with context and departmental expectations in their subject area;
• Write clear and accurate English which communicates effectively and makes consistent sense to an educated academic reader;
• Implement appropriate skills of source usage and documentation in written work that adhere to the precepts of academic integrity;
• Produce a critical argument that promotes an appropriate ‘slant’ on source material and provides effective analysis;
• Read general and specialised academic texts more efficiently and critically, and be more sensitive to bias and loopholes in a writer’s argument;
• Synthesise information from a range of texts and build source material effectively into written texts;
• Implement a process-based approach to writing, including effective drafting, editing and re-drafting of texts;
• Engage effectively in peer and self-auditing of written texts.

Indicative reading list

We recommend the following books:

Creme, P., & Lea, M. (2008). Writing at university: A guide for students. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Swales, J. M. (2000). English in today's research world: A writing guide (No. 428 S71). University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (EUA).
Godfrey, J. (2018). How to use your reading in your essays. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2004). Academic writing for graduate students: Essential tasks and skills (Vol. 1). Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

International

The module is intended for international students who are seeking a greater appreciation of the nature and quality of writing needed to make a success of their degree programmes.

Subject specific skills

Key skills:

• Awareness of the key discourse features of written English
• Understanding of coherence and cohesion of written texts
• Appreciation of how written English is structured
• Awareness of rhetorical strategies for writing persuasively
• Awareness that written discourse varies across academic fields and disciplines
• Knowledge and understanding of different genres of academic writing

Transferable skills

Key skills:

• Grammatical and syntactical competence
• Effective adaptation of written style to suit the context
• Awareness of audience and purpose
• The writing process, including editing, drafting and re-drafting
• Peer and self-evaluation

Cognitive skills:

• Ability to apply critical analysis to an argument
• Ability to think independently about critical questions
• Ability to structure and shape a discussion
• Understanding of the components of an argument
• Advanced understanding of a variety of written genres