Module: English for Academic Purposes

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	English for Academic Purposes
Module Code	ESL1016 (ITS: LC600)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	SALIS
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5

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	12 lectures take place during Semester 2. Students will be required to participate in short oral discussions on a range of topics during lectures.
Independent Study	50	Students prepare a short piece of written work and a short oral presentation for evaluation and feedback
Directed learning	47	Students work on particular language points and stylistic features identified by lecturer
Tutorial	4	Students prepare for and participate in one to one tutorial with lecturer
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	21332	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Fiona Gallagher	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment 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 and deliver a short oral presentation related to their PhD studies. Students reflect on the effectiveness of their own and other students' presentation style and language use.	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

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 and question and answer sessions
Small group discussions on a range of topics; discourse features of academic English in an oral context;

Analysing skills involved and language used in oral presentations
Language and style of oral presentations; reflection on effectiveness of own and other students' oral presentations

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Oshima, A & Hogue, A: 2006, Writing Academic English, 4th, Longman,
Brick, J.: 2006, A Student's Guide to Studying at university, Macquarie University Press,
Swales, J.M. & Feak, C. B.: 1994, Academic Writing for Graduate students: Essential Tasks and Skills,
Smalzer, W: 1996, Write To Be Read, CUP,
McCormack, J. & Slaght, J.: 2008, EAS: Extended Writing and Research Skills, Garnet ELT Publishing,
Turley, R.M: 0, Writing Essays, Routledge,
Gardner, Peter S.: 2008, New Directions: Reading, Writing and Critical thinking, 9th, CUP,
Smoke, T.: 2008, A Writer's Workbook, 4th, CUP,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None