Module: Advanced Writing Support for International Students

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Advanced Writing Support for International Students
Module Code	LC602 (ITS) / ESL1017 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	SALIS
Module Co-ordinator	-
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only
n/a

Description

This module will focus on supporting the linguistic needs of Postgraduate by Research students for whom English is not their first language in the HSS faculty. Students should already have attained a high level of expertise in relation to the conventions and stylistic features of written text in academic English. The module will mainly involve 6 cycles of intensive error analysis and language development which will include a series of short one-to-one sessions with the lecturer. These are designed to enable students to identify, target and improve particular problem areas in their own academic writing. The module will take place over the course of two different semesters, the first series of one-to-one sessions to be consolidated by further error analysis in a different semester [not necessarily during the same academic year]. Ideally, this support will take place at a stage in their studies when students are actively engaged in the writing process.

Learning Outcomes

1. outline their individual strengths and weaknesses with regard to their academic writing
2. identify a number of recurring linguistic problem areas in relation to their own academic writing which would benefit from intensive error correction techniques and focus
3. engage in intensive error analysis and correction techniques in order to improve and develop mastery in these areas so that a significantly higher level of academic English is achieved.
4. target particular error types when proofreading their own writing so that submitted work reflects the language development achieved during the module.
5. critically evaluate a range of online and other digital sources to support their language learning

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	4	General focus on features of academic writing
Tutorial	8	Individual meetings with lecturer
Independent Study	58	Students prepare writing for evaluation and feedback
Directed learning	55	Students reflect on and develop their language abilities in relation to particular aspects of Engish language use and style which have been identified by the 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

Lectures
Analysis of key features of academic writing

6 cycles of intensive error analysis and language development which include the following steps:

Writing
Students prepare a piece of writing for evaluation and feedback

Error Analysis
Students are given feedback on their writing. Strengths and weaknesses are identified for students and recurring linguistic and stylistic errors are highlighted

Error Focus and Correction
Students take steps to investigate and improve their skills in relation to a number of particular language points which have been identified to work on by the lecturer

Re-writing
Students re-submit their writing following feedback and error correction strategies

Tutorials
Students meet lecturer on a one-to-one basis in order to discuss their writing, identify (new) points to work on and highlight strategies and resources which will help to improve in these areas

New writing submitted
The cycle of error analysis and language development is repeated three times in each semester (6 times in total)

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	0%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Practical/skills evaluation	Students will submit six pieces of writing for evaluation and feedback.	40%	As required
Practical/skills evaluation	Students will re-submit 6 pieces of writing following feedback and error analysis and correction	40%	As required
Performance evaluation	Assessment is on a PASS / FAIL basis. Students complete all assessment requirements	20%	n/a

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 -

Indicative Reading List

Huntley, H.: 2006, Essential Academic Vocabulary, 1st, Thomson Heinle, Boston,
Swales, John; Feak, Christine B: 2012, Academic writing for graduate students: essential tasks and skills, 3, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor,
Oshima, Alice; Hogue, Ann: 2006, Writing academic English, 4th, Pearson/Longman, White Plains, NY,
Campbell, C.: 2012, English for Academic Study: Vocabulary Study Book, 2, Garnett Eduation,

Other Resources

None