Unit information: English for Specific Purposes 1F in 2010/11

Unit name	English for Specific Purposes 1F
Unit code	LANG00031
Credit points	20
Level of study	QCA-3
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Centre for Academic Language and Development
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The ESP1 module covers a number of areas essentially related to two major strands: Research Writing (with supporting reading) and Presentation Skills. Individual project work forms the integrative core which these strands feed into and off. This work issues in a written paper and oral presentation, both of which form the basis of assessment. Text analysis and research methods are further extended from work done on EAP2, a transition being sought from generic short-format academic essays to extended assignment length (2,000 words). Presentation skills are introduced and given focus by the project work. Guidance and support is given in the management of the writing process to ensure the various stages of the project writing process are carried out by specified deadlines.

The unit is a module within the Pathway Certificate (International Foundation Year) programme, designed to prepare international students for undergraduate and postgraduate study in the UK. It is one of a number of complementary units whose overall aim is to improve the language, study skills and subject knowledge required to succeed at a British university. On this unit, the aim is the further development of higher level study skills in English, specifically those required to produce a 2000-word academic essay (based on sources) in a subject related to the student’s future subject(s). The Research writing component targets the language and study skills required to produce appropriate a long-format essay from sources, incorporating reading/text analysis and synthesis of source material. The Presentation Skills strand is aimed at developing the ability to prepare and deliver an effective oral presentation on the chosen topic. To this end, relevant input, practice and feedback are given.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• plan, draft and redraft an extended project-based essay of 2,000 words which is well-organised, relevant, and clearly expressed with appropriate synthesis of other sources, and appropriate referencing

• extend reading sub-skills in application to more subject-specific source texts

• prepare and deliver an effective 15-minute oral presentation on a chosen topic in a relevant academic context.

Teaching Information

Learning is facilitated in small group classroom sessions (average 12, up to 15). Individual and group-based work is integrated as appropriate. Situations will be created which endeavour to replicate the study contexts students might encounter. In addition to a range of textbooks and authentic written texts, use will be made of appropriate e-learning technologies.

Assessment Information

2000-word written project based on research of a topic selected by students from their intended subject areas = 50%

Oral presentation + Q&A session on students’ mini-research project = 50%

Reading and References

• McCormack, J. and J. Slaght (2005) English for Academic Study: Extended Writing & Research Skills. Reading: Garnet.

• McCormack, J. & S. Watkins (2007) English for Academic Study: Speaking. Reading: Garnet

• Anderson, Maclean & Lynch (2004) Study Speaking (Second edition). Cambridge: CUP