English Academic Course

3 EC

Semester 1, period 1, 2

5354ENAC3Y

Owner Master Physics and Astronomy (joint degree)
Coordinator S.M. van Dalen
Part of Master Astronomy and Astrophysics, year 1Master Chemistry (joint degree), year 1Master Physics and Astronomy, year 1Pre-master Chemistry (joint degree), year 1

Course manual 2016/2017

Course content

The course focuses on giving presentations, participating in group discussions and understanding academic texts and lectures. Vocabulary development is included. Writing activities include writing academic texts. Grammatical issues are addressed when necessary or appropriate. The topics on which you will write and present are related to relevant topics in the study programmes.

This course also includes attention to reading, listening and (optional) lecture skills. Essential grammar is incorporated into the writing element of the course. Furthermore, although this EAP course focuses on general academic English skills, students will be encouraged to apply these skills to their own subject areas. Participants will give and receive regular feedback on writing and speaking tasks.

The class meets once a week for two hours during 10 weeks. The programme allows for whole-group activities, small-group work and individual study. You receive regular feedback on your performance from your group and the instructor. Attendance: If students miss lessons, they are not permitted to take the final exam.

Study materials

Literature

  • M. Hewings, M. McCarthy, C. Thaine, 'Cambridge Academic English', Advanced Student's Book, ISBN 978-0521-16521-1.

Other

  • Additional resources (handouts, etc.); online resources.

Objectives

English for Academic Purposes is designed to further develop students’ awareness of writing and speaking in English in an academic context. The writing aspect of the course focuses on your own research. Together with the elements and functions necessary to structure and present an academic text, we will examine ways in which information can be distributed efficiently throughout. This includes the following:

  •  text structure
  •  paragraph structure
  • sentence structure
  • connecting word & phrases
  • referring to sources
  • avoiding plagiarism
  • paraphrasing
  • summarising
  • expressing caution
  •  academic style

In addition, students will be given the opportunity to keep and develop an academic Vocabulary Notebook, which includes vocabulary and useful phrases to describe the following:

  • introducing common knowledge
  • supporting and opposing views
  • making claims
  • referring to sources
  • using evidence to back up claims
  • comparing and contrasting
  • etcetera

The spoken aspect of the courses focusefocuses on giving a Presentation on your own area of research. Elements of presenting in English in this context include the following:

  • preparing a presentation
  • clarifying key terms
  • opening and closing a presentation
  • signposting to organise structure
  • preparing slides (PowerPoint)
  • summarising and concluding

 

Teaching methods

  • Lecture

The class meets once a week for two hours during 10 weeks. The classroom language is English. The program allows for whole-group activities, small-group work and individual study. You receive regular feedback on your performance from your group and the instructor. Attendance: If students miss lessons, they are not permitted to take the final exam.

Learning activities

Activity

Number of hours

Werkcollege

20

Zelfstudie

64

Self-study load: Approximately 6 hours per session.

Attendance

The programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).


Additional requirements for this course:

Additional requirements for this course:

The course consists of 10 x 2 hour sessions. Participants must attend all 10 sessions in order to pass the course.

Assessment

Item and weight Details

Final grade

Final grade

Assessment includes one written paper/ article and an oral presentation.

Assignments

Onderstaande opdrachten komen aan bod in deze cursus:

  •    Naam opdracht 1 : beschrijving 2
  •    Naam opdracht 2 : beschrijving 1
  •    ....

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.uva.nl/plagiarism

Course structure

Weeknummer

Onderwerpen
SESSION 1
  • Introduction to course
  • Topics for writing assignment
  • Nominalisation
  • Summarising
SESSION 2
  • Elements of an Introduction
  • Reporting verbs and tenses
  • Writing an Introduction
  • Dos & Don’ts in presentations
SESSION 3
  •  Paragraph structure
  • Claims to plan essays
  • Evidence to support claims
  • Connecting words and phrases
  • Stating aim/purpose
SESSION 4
  • SUBMIT INTRODUCTION OF WRITING ASSIGNMENT
  • Grammar of reporting verbs
  • Organising ideas
  • Topic and content of final presentations
  • Using Power Point
SESSION 5  
  • Main Body of an academic text
  • Paraphrasing
  • Comparing and contrasting ideas
  • Charts and graphical information
  • Opening a presentation
SESSION 6
  •  SUBMIT MAIN BODY OF WRITING ASSIGNMENT
  • Writing a Discussion/ Conclusion
  • Expressing caution
  • Referring backwards and forwards in presentations
SESSION 7
  • Concluding a presentation
  • Mini presentations
  • Peer feedback on parts of presentations
SESSION 8
  • SUBMIT WRITING ASSIGNMENT
  • Debating in English
  • Presentation checklist and marking criteria
  • Survival tactics when giving presentations
SESSION 9
  •  FINAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION 10
  •  FINAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Additional information

Max. participants: 15 per group.

Recommended prior knowledge: Students are required to have Dutch VWO-Ievel English.

Additional reading:
Academic Vocabulary in Use, McCarthy & O’Dell: Cambridge University Press, 2008
Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students; Stephen Bailey: Routledge, 2012
Effective Scientific Writing: An Advanced Learner’s Guide to Better English; Bolt & Bruins: VU University Press, 2013
How to Deliver a Great TED Talk: Presentation Secrets of the World's Best Speakers, Akash Karia: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013
Presenting in English: How to Give Successful Presentations; Mark Powell: Thomson Heinle, 2002
Successful Scientific Writing: A Step-by-Step Guide for the Biological and Medical Sciences; Matthews & Matthew, Cambridge University Press, 2007
The Little Brown Handbook, Ramsey Fowler & Aaron: Pearson Longman, 2013

Useful resources:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/
http://wps.ablongman.com/long_fowler_lbh_12/
http://oxforddictionary.so8848.com/
http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
http://owll.massey.ac.nz/main/academic-writing.php
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/

 

Contact information

Coordinator

  • S.M. van Dalen