Developing academic reading and writing English skills

This course builds on academic reading and writing skills learnt in the Spring term. Students will learn strategies to improve reading and writing skills in terms of complexity, accuracy, and fluency. A variety of learning activities will be provided to improve students' reading and writing performance and new academic genres will be introduced and practiced. Students are to read extensively,intensively, and critically, and to compose various texts, with an emphasis on Academic English, incorporating and reviewing the academic style of IEEE. In conjunction with the fostering of these skills, critical thinking and autonomous learning will also be enhanced. Additionally, the course will address listening and speaking skills, helping to activate the students' knowledge of English and build the confidence necessary for effective communication. The purpose is to enhance the skill of self-expression through many personalization activities as well as reviewing basic structures and vocabulary.

The course objective is to provide techniques for improving reading ability while developing written fluency skills. The students will create a portfolio of five essays, and by the end of the semester will a) improve academic writing skills through writing paragraph/multi-paragraph level essays in various discourse genres, b) practice writing to improve accuracy, fluency, and complexity, c) develop receptive as well as productive vocabulary knowledge essential for reading and writing academic texts, and d) learn to use Word or equivalent software to compose well formatted academic texts.

"L1 Overview of the course and diagnostic writing
L2 Unit 4 Argument Essays Verbal Exploration Topic: School uniforms, Entrepreneurship
L3 Unit 4 Argument Essays Reading: School Uniforms, Writing: Defining an Argumentative Essay
L4 Unit 4 Argument Essays Reading: Entrepreneurship, Writing: Subjunctive Clauses
L5 Unit 5 Problem-Solution Essays Verbal Exploration Topic: Internet privacy, Mt. Everest
L6 Unit 5 Problem-Solution Essays Writing: Developing a Problem-Solution Essay, Reading: Internet privacy
L7 Unit 5 Problem-Solution Essays Reading: Mount Everest, Writing: Building Vocabulary
L8 Unit 5 Problem-Solution Essays Writing: a Problem-Solution Essay, Test Preparation
L9 Midterm Timed Essay
L10 Unit 6 Reaction Essay Verbal Exploration Topic: Old photos, Communicative activities
L11 Unit 6 Reaction Essay Writing: Exploring a Reaction Essay
L12 Unit 6 Reaction Essay Reading: Old Timers, Writing: Understanding Short-Answer Questions
L13 Unit 6 Reaction Essay Writing: A Reaction Essay, Test Preparation
L14 Final Timed Essay"

A communicative language teaching (CLT) blended approach will be adopted. Lessons are delivered by powerpoint presentation along with the e-version of the main textbook, in English. All work will be submitted and returned electronically via Google classroom. The lessons will be learner-centred focusing on pair work and group work tasks. Discussions of readings and peer evaluations of essays will form part of the classes. Regarding the listening and speaking focued classes, communicative tasks, role plays, pair work and group discussions will be used to enhance the students’ speaking and listening ability, whilst constantly reviewing vocabulary.

Students must complete the graded portfolio of essays and book-based readings / activities, as well as the mid and final timed essays. Research for essays outside of class will be required. Moreover, students are expected to preview and review all materials, (including any new vocabulary), constantly, and actively participate in classroom activities.

"Class Contribution/Participation = 45%
Essays = 55%
3 Essays (10%×3) = 30%
Midterm Timed Essay = 10%
Final Timed Essay = 15%"

A minimum CASEC score of 570 in the first year

"Cengage The Great Writing Series, Fifth Edition
<Level 4 - Great Essays>
ISBN : 9780357020852"

English Communication, English Writing.

Make sure you have joined the Google Classroom online and lecture channel on Slack before the first class.

Google classroom will be used and a link provided to participating students.