English Language Skills for Academic Purposes

About

You will cover linguistic structures (a variety of styles and registers from a range of academic authentic material). Various transferable skills will also be developed.

Week one
Reading and writing
Identifying text organisation: paragraphs, introductions, conclusions
Selecting sources for research essay writing
Academic vocabulary
Grammar for academic writing (as appropriate)
Speaking and listening
Self-introductions
Seminar discussions

Week two
Reading and writing
Academic conventions; referencing styles
Plagiarism (how to avoid it)
Synthesising sources
Summary writing
Speaking and listening
Note-taking skills: identifying main ideas; specific information
Seminar discussions (continued)
Short presentations
Pronunciation of key terms, numbers, etc.

Week three
Reading and writing
Academic style and register
Proof-reading and peer review
Final review and assessment
Speaking and listening
Short presentations (continued)
Final review and assessment

Course leader

James Sinclair-Knopp

Course aim

This module aims to:

- Familiarise you with the conventions of academic English and to give you opportunities to practise their use.
- Develop your skills in academic reading, writing, speaking and listening through exposure to a variety of academic texts and lectures, active participation in seminars and presentations, and a series of writing tasks.
- Give attention to linguistic structures of relevance to academic study, as exemplified in model texts.
- Focus on register and style to encourage you to differentiate successfully between the expectations of formal writing and speaking contexts, leading to the independent production of a fully referenced academic essay and individual presentation.
- Develop your transferable skills in research, synthesis, communication and critical thinking.

Fee info