Overview

This module is designed to improve understanding and production of academic structures in core skills - reading, writing and speaking.

On completion of this module, students will have developed and improved their skills in extracting pertinent information from text sources. They will also have produced a structured essay and a presentation.

Topics may include:

Decoding academic language

Speaking – (fluency/accuracy focus, expressing ideas, engaging effectively)

Efficient reading strategies – mapping text, taking notes, summarising

Essay structures, logical flow, organising information, providing support

Paraphrase and summary

Paragraph structure

Presentation skills: organising ideas, logical flow and structure, body language

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -50% A student has achieved the minimum acceptable standard of competence in coursework and examination relating to the learning outcomes above. Student has a basic awareness of structuring, presenting and identifying relevant information as required in skill-specific tasks. A student shows some improvement in her/his general and subject specific English competence.

-good -60% A student has achieved an acceptable standard of competence in coursework and examination relating to the learning outcomes above. A student has a good awareness of structuring, presenting and identifying relevant information as required in skill-specific tasks. A student shows a good level of general and subject-specific English competence.

-excellent -70% A student has achieved an exceptional standard of competence in coursework and examination relating to the learning outcomes above (equivalent to IELTS 7.0 or above).A student has an excellent awareness of structuring, presenting and identifying relevant information as required in skill-specific tasks. A student shows excellent general and subject-specific English competence.

Learning Outcomes

• Critically analyse and respond to an essay question, demonstrating an understanding and command of the academic discourse structures required.

• Demonstrate the ability to efficiently navigate and extract information from academic text sources.

• Develop and deliver an oral presentation as part of a team on a given topic, demonstrating an understanding of expressing ideas logically and coherently.