Module: Reading & Writing Skills

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Reading & Writing Skills
Module Code	ESL1013 (ITS: FC002)
Faculty	SALIS	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	7.5

Description

This module will focus on helping students attain a Lower Advanced level of written English in order to be able to participate in undergraduate courses at university. There will be a focus on general reading and writing skills. In addition, there will be a focus on widening students' vocabulary range and improving their mastery of grammatical structures and functions in English Minimum exit level for this module is B2:2 (CEFR) Compulsory Attendance: Module FC002 requires that students attend at least 80% of lectures. Where a student fails to do so, and in the absence of documentation to support extenuating circumstances, s/he will be required to present for a meeting with the Programme Chair, SALIS Teaching Convenor and/ or Module Coordinator in advance of attempting examinations/ assessments and/ or submitting coursework

Learning Outcomes

1. demonstrate a good command of a wide range of vocabulary so that effective communication can take place in a broad range of situations
2. employ effective reading techniques and strategies in order to fully understand detailed academic reading texts
3. use a good level of linguistic knowledge in order to express themselves coherently in writing
4. students will be able to plan and organise their writing effectively
5. students will be able to write using an appropriate academic style and register
6. students will be able to describe their opinions and critically reflect on the opinions of others

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	48	No Description
Independent Study	139	practising English; reading for assignments; writing assignments
Total Workload: 187

Section Breakdown
CRN	20441	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale		Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category		Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Fiona Gallagher	Module Teacher	Barra O Seaghdha

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	extended piece of academic writing	40%	Week 12
Practical/skills evaluation	class writing tasks	20%	As required
Practical/skills evaluation	reading tasks	40%	As required

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

See below
Using a variety of authentic reading texts and writing tasks, students will be given practice in reading and writing. Strategies to improve their reading skills and to plan and organise their writing effectively will be highlighted. Language points and lexical items will be dealt with as they arise from the texts and tasks. Students can expect to revise, consolidate and extend their command of previously encountered structure and lexis and to broaden their ability to function in a variety of situations, using a broad range of different formats.

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None