Description
Academic English for Biosciences
Module title | Academic English for Biosciences |
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Module code | INT0201 |
Academic year | 2022/3 |
Credits | 30 |
Module staff | Soo Yeon Yim (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 12 | 12 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
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Description - summary of the module content
Module description
This module is designed to enable you to improve your English language proficiency and study skills in the context of science so that you can engage more fully with your academic studies, and maximise the benefits of your studies on the International Year One programme and your subsequent studies. A variety of assessment methods are used including written assignments, seminar discussions and presentations.
This module grade will determine whether you have met the English requirement of your University of Exeter offer, therefore the module is compulsory and non-condonable.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to provide students who already have a degree of proficiency in spoken and written language with the tools to develop and strengthen their skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking in an academic context.
Students will develop their ability to read complex academic texts and to extract and evaluate the relevant information; to produce written assignments in an appropriate format following academic conventions; to develop fluency and confidence in seminar discussions and the delivery of presentations, and to enhance their ability to extract relevant information from lectures.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Control a core of general and subject-specific academic vocabulary
- 2. Express yourself with a degree of fluency and accuracy that enables effective spoken and written communication in an academic setting
- 3. Analyse the content of questions and establish the focus required to answer them
- 4. Present information and written text in a structured way that engages the audience or reader and facilitates understanding
- 5. Select and use source material relevant to your study purpose
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Use in-text citation and reference lists according to the academic conventions of the discipline
- 7. Use spoken and written English language flexibly within your subject area
- 8. Understand and respond to spoken or written texts of different types within your subject area
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Evaluate your performance in the light of feedback and tutorials on formative and summative assessment tasks
- 10. Work co-operatively and effectively in groups
Syllabus plan
Syllabus plan
A holistic, responsive and reflective approach will be taken to support the development of general and subject-specific study and research skills, academic vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking in the context of Bioscience.
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General study and research skills: Understanding of assessment criteria; Time-management; Retaining information; Note-taking for revision; Organisation of information; Self-management and well-being;
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Academic vocabulary: Appropriate use of general and subject-specific vocabulary according to context (written / spoken / audience / text type); Dealing with unfamiliar vocabulary
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Grammar: Precise use of English grammatical structures in writing and speech with a focus on clear and accurate communication
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Reading and Writing: How and where to find relevant texts; Evaluating texts according to reading purpose; Academic reading strategies; Summarising; Note-taking for assignments; Effective synthesis and use of sources to support an argument; Understanding different types of academic writing; Planning to write; Whole-text structure; Paragraph structure and purpose; Improving clarity, cohesion, coherence, concision and criticality in writing
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Listening and Speaking: Awareness of individual differences in speech; Strategies for better comprehension; Asking for clarification; Listening to respond; Pronunciation, fluency, confidence, accuracy and appropriacy in the context of presentations and group work
Learning and teaching
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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144 | 156 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities | 144 | Formal whole-group teaching including teacher-led activities, seminars, student-led tasks and individual tutorials |
Guided Independent Study | 156 | Homework tasks; coursework assessments; materials on ELE |
Assessment
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Weekly/Bi-weekly Quizzes (online) | 15-20 questions | 1, 3, 6 | Generic feedback and spoken feedback to specific questions |
Pair/Small Group Presentations and Interviews | 10-15 minute presentations and 10-15 minute interviews (depending on number of participants) | 1-5, 7, 9, 10 | Spoken and written feedback |
Written assignment | 500 words | 1, 2, 4-9 | Written feedback |
Practice Group Seminar | 15-20 minutes (depending on size of group) | 1-3, 7-10 | Spoken feedback for group |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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80 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Examination | 20 | 2 hours | 1-4, 7 | Generic feedback; Students can review papers by request |
Individual Presentation | 15 | 8 minutes | 1-5, 7 | Generic feedback and written feedback |
Individual Interview | 15 | 10 minutes | 1-4, 7-9 | Generic feedback and written feedback |
Written Assignment | 30 | 1,000 words | 1-9 | Generic feedback and written feedback |
Group Seminar | 20 | 15-20 minutes (depending on size of group) | 1-5, 7-10 | Generic feedback and written feedback |
Re-assessment
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
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Examination | Examination | 1-4, 7 | ASAP |
Individual Presentation Individual Interview Group Seminar | Interview | 1-5, 7-9 | ASAP |
Written Assignment | Resubmission | 1-9 | ASAP |
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 re-sit assessment(s) aligned with those you have failed. Your performance in this assessment(s) will count towards your final module grade along with completed assessments. A maximum grade of 40% will be awarded if the combined assessments are passed.
Resources
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
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Basic reading:
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Campbell, G. 2012. English for Academic Study: Vocabulary. Reading: Garnet.
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Johnson, S. & Scott, J. 2019. Study and Communication Skills for the Biosciences (3rd Edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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Paterson, K. 2013. Oxford Grammar for EAP. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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Further reading:
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Bailey, S, 2011. Academic Writing A Handbook for International Students. Abingdon: Routledge.
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Bottomley, J. 2015. Academic Writing for International Students of Science. Abingdon: Routledge.
Module has an active ELE page
Credit value | 30 |
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Module ECTS | 15 |
Module pre-requisites | None |
Module co-requisites | BIO1332 Biochemistry, BIO1333 Fundamental Principles for Bioscientists, BIO1334 Genetics, BIO1337 Microbiology, BIO 1339 Cells, BIO1338 Plants, BIO 1345 Structure & Reactivity of Organic Compounds I, BIO1331 Animals, BIO1336 Ecology (dependent on potential progression pathway) |
NQF level (module) | 4 |
Available as distance learning? | No |
Origin date | 31/01/2020 |
Last revision date | 28/06/2022 |