Aims and Fit of Module
This module is optional and open to all postgraduate students, although MA TESOL students have a dedicated, program-specific English ALA which may be more appropriate. Students entering the University from the Presessional English Course must already have completed LAN909 Core Academic Writing skills or a dedicated, programme-specific English ALA in Semester 1. Programme Directors may also designate this course as compulsory for students on their programme.
The main aims of this module are:
a) To examine and practice a range of advanced written communication skills beyond the paragraph level in an English-medium academic environment;
b) To deepen and extend students’ understanding of academic English written genres and stylistic conventions.
c) To develop students’ understanding of XJTLU’s Academic Integrity Policy and strategies to avoid plagiarism, collusion and the embellishment of data.
Learning outcomes
A Produce academic writing which synthesizes and evaluates information and arguments from a number of sources
B Understand and use advanced academic language and style in written communications
C Demonstrate competence in strategies to avoid plagiarism, collusion and the embellishment of data
Method of teaching and learning
This module will be offered in Semester 2 of the academic year. As a writing intensive course, where possible classes will be limited to 20 students per section.
The teaching sessions are 1 2-hour seminar and 1 1-hour writing lab each week for 12 weeks. As an hours-based module, students may miss no more than 6 class hours in order to be permitted to submit their summative assessment portfolio.
Students will receive 14 hours of guided self-study to reinforce instruction. This will include completion of quizzes and tasks on ICE, and using a process-writing approach of redrafting and editing to prepare the portfolio assessment.
Throughout this module, tutors will use a variety of communicative language teaching/learning strategies to reach different types of learners.