INTO University of Exeter

INTO University of ExeterCurrent studentsModule descriptionsDescription

Description

Academic Reading and Writing

Module titleAcademic Reading and Writing
Module codeELC2728
Academic year2022/3
Credits15
Module staff
Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

16

Description - summary of the module content

Module description

This module will focus on reading academic texts and writing in academic English. Students will study and develop reading strategies for academic material, including notetaking, and identifying key and subsidiary points. Students will expand their academic writing ability, focusing on structure, vocabulary and grammar, as well as how to effectively engage with sources and incorporate them into their work. The module will emphasise critical engagement and the development of a response and/or argument. The language skills and critical focus of this module should complement and enhance students’ performance in their other university modules. Part of the assessment will include a ‘process writing’ element, which means that students will have the opportunity to revise and develop drafts following feedback from the course tutor and their peers.  

 

There are no prerequisites for this module, and it is suitable for students from all subject areas with an English level from B2 to C2 on the CEFR framework (IELTS 6.5 to 8). Students wishing to take this module will need to complete a short task to ensure appropriate language level and should email insessional@exeter.ac.uk before registering. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to enhance and develop students’ reading and writing abilities in an academic context, including the ability to deal with complex academic reading material; take notes effectively; reflect on and respond to ideas in texts; plan, structure, draft and edit pieces of writing; develop an argument; and incorporate sources into writing. Developing a critical mindset and the ability to engage with a varied range of topics and material will also be emphasised, and these are all skills that are highly transferable to diverse workplace settings or further study.  

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Develop a critical response to diverse topics and viewpoints in reading texts
  • 2. Expand and support positions with subsidiary arguments, reasons and relevant examples
  • 3. Read and critically interpret lengthy, complex texts in English, whether or not they relate to your own discipline
  • 4. Write clear well-structured texts on complex subjects in English

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 5. Understand and use advanced grammatical structures and vocabulary in your writing
  • 6. Employ a formal, academic writing style

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 7. Engage with a range of research materials/texts to find relevant evidence and examples
  • 8. Interact effectively within a team or learning group, giving and receiving information and ideas and modifying your own responses
  • 9. Read and reflect on the ideas and writing of your peers to provide feedback and suggestions, and respond to feedback and suggestions from your peers and tutor in your own work
  • 10. Take responsibility, where appropriate, for your own learning, and reflect on the process

Syllabus plan

Syllabus plan

  • Stages of the writing process (e.g. generating ideas; planning and organisation; drafting; editing) 

  • The language of academic texts (grammar and sentence structure; academic style; vocabulary) 

  • Reading comprehension; reading critically; reading strategies 

  • Note-taking 

  • Identifying key and subsidiary points 

  • Using sources (paraphrasing; summarising; quotation) 

  • Selecting and using reference sources; writing a bibliography/ list of references 

  • Conducting a small-scale research task 

Learning and teaching

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
44106

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 44Seminars consisting of whole class, individual, pair and group activities in which students interact with the teacher and each other. Students will be required to participate cooperatively in class activities, which include the construction of texts, language tasks, and giving feedback to others.
Guided independent study 36Topic-based reading. Students will be required to keep a Reading Response Journal.
Guided independent study 40Planning, research, drafting and redrafting of Process Writing Essay taking account of tutor and peer feedback. The provision of feedback to peers may also take place outside of scheduled learning and teaching time
Guided independent study 30Reading and preparation for seminars and for assessed work, language tasks and other homework tasks.

Assessment

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Reading Response Paper 350 words1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 Tutor written feedback
Process Writing Essay Draft 1000 words1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Tutor and peer feedback (written and oral)

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
6040

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Process Writing Portfolio 401000 words (final draft of essay) and process writing documentation 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10Tutor written feedback
Reading Response Journal 201400 – 1600 words (4 entries of 350-400 words each) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10Tutor written feedback
Writing Exam (online) 402 hours – to write approximately 400 words 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10

Re-assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Process Writing Portfolio Re-submission of Process Writing Portfolio including revised final draft (1000 words) and process writing documentation 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 August/September assessment period
Reading Response Journal Re-submission of Reading Response Journal, 1400 – 1600 words (4 entries of 350-400 words each) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 August/September assessment period
Writing Exam (online) Exam (2 hours) – to write approximately 400 words 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 August/September assessment period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for reasons judged legitimate by the Mitigation Committee, the applicable assessment will normally be deferred. See ‘Details of reassessment’ for the form that assessment usually takes. When deferral occurs there is ordinarily no change to the overall weighting of that assessment. 

 

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to take a re-sit exam. Only your performance in this exam will count towards your final module grade. A grade of 40% will be awarded if the examination is passed. 

 

Resources

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading: 

 

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Web-based and electronic resources:  

 

Module has an active ELE page

Key words search

Academic English, English for Academic Purposes, Academic Reading, Academic Writing, Academic Style, Referencing, Criticality, Critical Thinking, Grammar, Vocabulary

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

5

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

16/3/2022