Course Catalogue

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This course will support international students on core academic programmes in the School of Social and Political Sciences by developing subject specific academic literacy skills and language. It will target key areas of need including reading-into-seminar speaking skills and how to effectively produce key features of academic written texts, thus supporting on-course study. It will do so by integrating core course content and using self-reflection and peer work to improve student autonomy. 

2 x one-hour classes or one two-hour class per week over semester 1 (total 20 hours) 

None

EAS5001 EAS5006

None

The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Assessed Seminar in Response to Case-Study: 8-minute (approx.) individual contributions to a larger group (3 or 4 students) seminar (individual mark). Weighting 30%

■ Assessed Presentation: 6-minute individual. Weighting 20%

■ Assessed Writing: 1 x 300. Weighting 15%. 1 x 700 words. Weighting 35%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ Assessed seminar: individual discussion with tutor.

■ Assessed presentation: recorded oral presentation and one-to-one Q&A with tutor.

■ Assessed writing: There is no alternative to the assessed writing, but extensions to the deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

This course aims to: 

■ introduce strategic reading skills and raise awareness and knowledge of academic text organisation & patterns;  

■ develop spoken English language proficiency and skills so students can interact effectively and respond in a structured manner to specific academic tasks/questions;  

■ develop knowledge of key aspects of written genres and discourses particular to students' context 

■ provide structured opportunities to develop the practical skills needed to produce associated written and spoken text/content effectively 

■ promote autonomous, collaborative, reflective learning 

By the end of this course students will be able to: 

■ use a variety of reading strategies to efficiently negotiate academic texts  

■ communicate effectively and appropriately across a defined range of spoken academic contexts   

■ write a defined range of academic and professional texts showing an understanding of key genre
features including, for example, citation, voice and register  

■ work autonomously to study/do group work in English in order to prepare effectively for, and therefore contribute to, course related tasks