The Development of Reading and Writing Skills in English course is intended for students in the B2 or C levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to build on their prior English skills and foster academic and life-long learning skills in English. The course focuses on providing students with the theoretical or conceptual basis for working in academic English and practical assignments and activities in which to develop their skills. Specific foci include developing strong academic reading strategies and familiarizing students with different types of academic texts, including essays, reports, and scholarly articles. Furthermore, the course familiarizes students with academic vocabulary, phrases, and style in English. The primary focus is on building reading and writing skills, but the development of speaking and listening skills is also an essential component of the course.
To equip students with the analytical/critical reading and writing skills needed to carry out academic endowments in Brussels as well as in any other professional or academic English speaking environment . - to Acquire an awareness of and ability to use effectively the discourse patterns of academic English - to improve the reading and learning styles of students enabling them to think, read, reflect , analyze and write more effectively and coherently - To have the opportunity to develop writing process through generating ideas, drafting, peer evaluation and team work assessment - to sharpen reading, writing and public speaking skills through defending the written work convincingly through argument in verbal manner.
| Week | Topics |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to academic reading /writing (John Slaght, pp13-22; Cassutto 1-34/ The primal scene of academic writing and reading. why academic reading and writing is different from other reading and writing tasks? Youtube lecture EAP series UK. |
| 2 | Development of effective reading styles Slaght and Pallant, pp 1-11- effective reading styles theory and practical sessions in class. |
| 3 | Logic, language and functions of organizing paragraphs; Cassutto pp 39-65. Lecturers Note. - Internet based lecture EAP series and argumentation |
| 4 | Planning an Essay/ writing first draft ( Anne Pallant, pp 16-25_. Cassutto pp 60-86 |
| 5 | Organizing/supportive ideas and incorporating/referencing sources- lecturer's note (John Slaght, pp31-42); Cassutto pp 86-109/ when and how to cite; what should you cite? Footnotes and endnotes. |
| 6 | The SPSIE (situation-problems-solutions-implications-evaluation) approach |
| 7 | Midterm exam week- case study form of exam |
| 8 | Online guest speaker, Academic writing norms and skills for future publication. Editor of Oxford Journal of Applied Linguistics. Other practical peer evaluations from students' group tasks |
| 9 | Paragraph development; types of paragraphs, writing extended definitions, intro and conclusions (Anne Pallant ,52-63. Cassutto , pp 86-98 the geometry of paragraphs |
| 10 | Developing your ideas into writing: Analyzing the question ( A. Pallant, pp 64-77)/ Cassutto pp 123-151 Jargon and Judgment; tone , style jargon issues |
| 11 | Paragraph development: coherence and cohesion- practical session . peer evaluation |
| 12 | Online Keynote guest speaker ; Editor of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes -University of NIS, Serbia/ Other Writing about Cause and Effect, Lecturer's not. practical session |
| 13 | Writing to compare and contrast- Lecturer's note. practical exercises/ |
| 14 | Practical Academic reading and writing illustrations /lecturer and peer feedback prior to final exam. |
| Method | Qty | % Each |
|---|---|---|
| Homework | 5 | 5 |
| Case Study | 1 | 15 |
| Final Exam | 1 | 60 |
Mandatory Course books: Leonard Cassutto, Academic Writing as if readers matter, Princeton University Press, 2024 John Slaght, English for Academic Study: Reading, Garnet Education, UK First Edition 2021 Anne Pallant, English for Academic Study: Writing, Garnet Education, UK, 2021