Course syllabus

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WSmileelcome to the ACADENG 100 course: Forms in Academic English (15 points)

Semester 2 runs from Monday 18 July – Friday October 21 2016.
You attend the 2-hour class you are enrolled in, two days in a row (Mondays and Tuesdays, or  Thursdays and Fridays).

Check SSO just before the first class to see classroom location.

Course Description
ACADENG 100 focuses on the grammar and academic vocabulary you need in order to read, understand, and write various types of academic texts. The reading focus is on understanding text organisation, main ideas and supporting information, and analysing the specific language used. The writing focus is on producing paragraphs with accurate sentence structures using academic language forms and vocabulary. Academic text-types include; definition and classification, generalisation and exemplification, cause and effect, comparison and contrast, and problem-solution-evaluation.     

Course Aims 
The course aims to equip you with appropriate academic vocabulary and grammar structures so you can edit your academic writing for improvement in content and style.

Programme and Course Advice
Restriction: ACADENG100 is available only to students of non-English speaking backgrounds.

Restriction: May not be taken if ACADENG 201 or ACADENG 210 has previously been passed.

Note: All students must do a grammar and/or writing test at the beginning of this course.
Any student whose results show a higher level of language proficiency than appropriate for this course will not be permitted to take this course.

ACADENG 100 is an approved course for those who need to meet AELR requirements.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course you should be able to:

  1. identify academic vocabulary and understand its use in sentences.
  2. recognize and understand main ideas and supporting information in short academic texts.
  3. understand the text organisation of various types of academic texts.
  4. understand the language used in various types of academic texts.
  5. use appropriate, academic language and style to create meaning in short writing tasks.
  6. use more accurate sentence structures in short writing tasks.
  7. use appropriate paragraph structure in short writing tasks.
  8. write more coherent, cohesive paragraphs on selected academic topics.
  9. edit writing to minimise errors of sentence structure, language form, and vocabulary use.

 Content Outline
Grammar: Academic style; phrases, clauses; verbs; hedging; joining words ... basically, lots of helpful 'academic' language.
Vocabulary: Word forms, word families, meaning of words in context
Reading and Writing: Paragraph structure, main ideas, topic sentences, coherence, unity. 
 Texts types: definition and classification; generalisation and exemplification; cause and effect; comparison and contrast; problem-solution-evaluation.  

Learning and Teaching
The class has up to 30 students. Students complete language tasks in (and out of) class, and work individually, in pairs, and in small groups.The university expects students to spend approximately 10 hours per week, including class time, studying for this course.

Learning Resources
The ACADENG 100 coursebook will be provided to enrolled students - details to come closer to the start of semester..

Attendance
Attendance is very important because the aim is to improve your practical language skills (and we learn best by actively 'doing' something). You are expected to attend all classes. Attendance is noted.

Assessment
Coursework is worth 60% of the final grade and the 2-hour Exam is worth 40% of the final grade.

The 60% coursework consists of:

  • Academic Vocabulary Development quizzes worth 10%
  • Two writing assignments  10%
  • Two tests (held in-class)  40%     (enrolled students can see the Course Outline for more details)

 If you have any questions, feel free to email me, Lizzy Roe, the Course Coordinator. My email is l.roe@auckland.ac.nz

 

Course summary:

Date Details Due