IL1PPATN-Processing Academic Texts

Module Provider: International Study and Language Institute
Number of credits: 0 [0 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Mrs Sarah Harford
Email: s.k.harford@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

As a component of the Pre-sessional English Language Programme (PSE), this module aims to help students develop their receptive and productive academic language skills (listening and reading and writing) for successful engagement with their university degree programme study. Alongside Communicating Academic Ideas (IL1PCAIN), it prepares students for entry onto the next PSE module, Integrated Academic Language Skills 1 (N.B. the final six weeks of the PSE consist of the exit modules, Integrated Academic Language Skills 4 (IL1PIALS4N) and Academic Practices and Genres (IL1PAPGPN/IL1PAPGUN ) which summatively assess students' readiness to start their degree programmes.)

Aims:

The module aims to help students develop their receptive academic language skills for successful engagement with their university degree programme study.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Because this module is delivered early within in a Pre-sessional English programme, Learning Outcomes measure progress towards, rather than programme exit levels of, academic language proficiency and skill.

By the end of the module it is expected that students will be better able to:

LO 1	Demonstrate critical awareness of development and progress, in skills and language by collecting, selecting and reflecting on an appropriate range of completed written and spoken artefacts presented as a portfolio of the term’s work.
LO 2	Exercise control and integration of appropriate text type grammatical structures into their writing e.g. using subordinate clauses for a cause/effect paragraph.
LO 3	Demonstrate a developing range of appropriate vocabulary e.g. differentiating everyday usage and more formal academic vocabulary, to express ideas comprehensively in their written texts.
LO 4	Organise writing into paragraphs with a main idea, connecting supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence.
LO 5	Mediate written information by synthesisingand commenting on ideas from multiple sources into their own spoken or written communication, utilising emerging summary and paraphrasing skills.
LO 6	Demonstrate an awareness of text organisation and features in different genres of text and use this understanding to locate key information
LO 7	Read for different purposes, adapting approach to different texts.

Additional outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be better able to:

LO8	Exercise autonomy and initiative in time management.
LO9	Use a variety of strategies and resources for the purpose of independent language study.
LO10	Become a confident user of the following features of the university’s VLE [Blackboard], submission and assessment tools e.g. Feedback Studio, and e-portfolios.
LO11	Understand how to use tutor and peer feedback to identify areas for improvement.
LO12	Develop and foster creativity and individuality during their learning journey

Outline content:

Graded and some authentic texts from a number of accessible interdisciplinary academic themes will be used in task-based lessons to develop students' and writing skills and genre knowledge. Themes can include but are not limited to social psychology, business, behavioural science, and environmental science.

Global context:

This module supports internationalisation at Reading by facilitating successful and equal inclusion of students whose first language is not English in UK degree programme study.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will take a task-based, contextualised approach to developing receptive and productive English language skills. Emphasis will be placed on reading and writing, but these skills will be developed within a communicative approach integrating all four skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing.

The module will adopt an overall ‘genre’ approach, taking the social purpose of spoken and written texts as the starting point to explicate organisation/str ucture and key language features.

Academic Reading Circles (ARCs), an intensive learner-centred reading approach aimed at improving learner engagement with and understanding of concepts in non-fiction texts, will be regularly utilised across the module.

The module consists of practical classes and guided independent study tasks. Formative learning through peer and self-assessment is an integral element of this course.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		2,5
Seminars		87
Tutorials		0.5
Guided independent study:
Preparation for seminars		36
Completion of formative assessment tasks		40
Reflection		30
Total hours by term	0	195.5	0
Total hours for module	195.5

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method

Percentage

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:

There is no summative assessment in this module. A portfolio of listening and reading work will be used to develop students' receptive academic language skills and to provide feedback on their progress.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

Reassessment arrangements:

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 4 December 2023