Module: English for Academic Purposes

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

All Module information is indicative, and this portal is an interim interface pending the full upgrade of Coursebuilder and subsequent integration to the new DCU Student Information System (DCU Key).

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	English for Academic Purposes
Module Code	LC600 (ITS) / ESL1016 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	SALIS
Module Co-ordinator	Fiona Gallagher
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only

Description

This module is open to all International students studying for a PhD or Masters by research degree. The module aims to help students develop the language skills necessary to meet the demands of a PhD project in an English speaking academic environment, to raise students’ awareness of the conventions of academic writing in an English speaking context, and to further develop students’ awareness of style, appropriacy and register in relation to their use of English in an academic environment. The module is assessed on a Pass/Fail basis only.

Learning Outcomes

1. structure and organise their writing and oral presentations effectively
2. employ a suitably academic style and register in their oral and written communications
3. use a broad range of linguistic and vocabulary items in order to facilitate the comprehension and production of academic text in English
4. to describe issues relating to citing and referencing, plagiarism and voice in academic texts in an English speaking context
5. participate fully in oral discussions, seminars etc
6. manage, interpret and create meaning using multi-modal texts

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lectures and workshops will take place during Semester 2. Students will participate and engage with tasks and other materials set by the lecturer in relation to these sessions. These will take place on a synchronous basis
Independent Study	50	Students prepare a short piece of written work and material for a short oral presentation and discussion for assessment and feedback
Directed learning	47	Students work on particular language points and stylistic features of English identified by lecturer
Tutorial	4	Students prepare for and participate in group and one to one tutorials with lecturer
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Reading and analysing academic text
Features of academic style in an English speaking environment; strategies and techniques for reading and comprehension of such text

Extension of receptive and productive linguistic range in academic English
A broad range of language points will be addressed including: transitional and linking phrases; language of classifications and definitions; language of cause and effect; language of comparison and contrast; parallelism; participle clauses; use of articles and prepositions in academic English; academic vocabulary; making weak and strong claims; punctuation

Planning and outlining academic text
Techniques for gathering and organising ideas; outlining paragraphs, sections and whole dissertations according to the conventions of academic writing in an English-speaking culture of learning

Writing and rewriting academic text
Plagiarism and voice in academic texts; reflection on strengths and weaknesses of own writing; error correction techniques; proof-reading techniques

Participation in oral discussions, presentations and question and answer sessions
Small group discussions on a range of topics; discourse features of academic English in an oral context; reflection on oral presentation skills and techniques

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Participation	Assessment is on a Pass/Fail basis. Students must attend a minimum of 80% of lectures and complete all assessment components.Students complete a number of 'homework' tasks and exercises relating to particular language points and stylistic features of academic English.	20%	As required
Assignment	Students prepare a piece of writing related to their PhD studies for evaluation and feedback on their use of English. Students reflect on their writing style and language use.	40%	Sem 2 End
Oral Examination	Students prepare material for a short oral presentation and discussion related to their PhD studies. Students reflect on their oral skills and presentation techniques.	40%	As required

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Oshima, A & Hogue, A: 2006, Writing Academic English, 4th, Longman,
Swales, J.M. & Feak, C. B.: 2012, Academic Writing for Graduate students: Essential Tasks and Skills, 3, The University of Michigan Press,
Campbell, C.: 2012, English for Academic Study: Vocabulary Study Book, 2, Garnett Eduation,
Huntley, H.: 2006, Essential Academic Vocabulary: Mastering the Complete Academic Word List, Thomson Heinle Boston / Cengage Learning, Inc,

Other Resources

None