Course Outline

LSC 1103 Academic Reading and Writing 1

Fall Semester

Academic Year 2015/16
Semester 1: 23 August - 17 December 2015


Weekly Course Outline



Weeks

Course Content

Assessment

1
23-27 August
Introduction to the course. General Course Outline: course content; course description, objectives and outcomes. Explanation of assessment and assessment criteria. Course materials. Tasks and assignments.



2
30 Aug-3 Sep
Basic research skills. Referencing. APA style. Reading a variety of program-related texts. Learning how to write an academic essay. Structure of an academic essay.  Learning how to select and organize information. Learning how to choose an essay topic. Reading with a purpose: start collecting material for the academic essay.

Referencing (informal assessment)

Extensive reading (informal assessment)
3
6-10 September
Library assignment. Extensive reading. Developing extensive reading skills.
Intensive reading. Reading texts on various academic topics. Reading tasks.
Written assignments. Vocabulary and grammar. Vocabulary expansion exercises.
Note taking tasks.
Extensive reading (informal assessment)

Note taking (informal assessment)
4
13-17 September
Intensive reading. Developing reading skills. Reading texts on various academic topics. Vocabulary and grammar.
Developing writing skills. Paraphrasing. Academic texts,  business letters, memos, e-mails, cover letters and CVs. 

Coursework 1: Vocabulary and basic research skills test (55 marks).

Extensive reading (informal assessment)
5
20-24 September
Academic writing: paraphrasing. Developing paraphrasing skills. 

 Eid Al Adda: 20-24 September

6
27 Sep-1 Oct
Developing academic reading and writing skills. Reading with a purpose. Collecting material for an essay. Note taking. Paraphrasing.
Extensive reading skills.  

Coursework 1: Deadline for submitting home and classroom assignments (25 marks).
7
4-8 October
Reading and paraphrasing.

8
11-15 October
Islamic New Year: 15 Oct (Thursday)

9
18-22 October
Extensive reading (reading on various topics).
Academic reading. Reading with a purpose. Learning how to find information to solve a specific problem.
Coursework 1: Paraphrasing assignment (20 marks).
10
25-29 October
Extensive reading.

11
1-5 November
Description of diagrams and charts. Reading, contextualized vocabulary and paraphrasing. Developing language skills.
Vocabulary and grammar: quizzes and videos.

Coursework 2: Integrated skills test:  vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing & paraphrasing (45 marks)
12
8-12 November
Vocabulary and grammar tests.
Academic research essay: choosing topics.
Informal assessment.
13
15-19 November

Reading on a specific topic area and making detailed, extensive notes that contain references. Preparation for the final assessment: preparing to write an academic essay. 
Extensive reading.
Coursework 3: Note taking - test (45 marks).

Informal assessment: reading with a purpose and making notes. Preparing for the final assessment.

Coursework 2: Deadline for submitting home and classroom assignments (25 marks).

Extensive reading (assessment)
Coursework 2: Deadline for extensive reading; total: 60 pages or 30,000 words; 1 page=500 words (30 marks).
14
22-26 November

Preparation for the final exam. Reading on a specific topic area and making detailed, extensive notes that contain references. Preparation for the final assessment: preparing to write an academic essay. [This is the last week of classes].


Coursework 3: Deadline: intensive reading - summarizing, paraphrasing and referencing (55 marks)
15
29 Nov-1 Dec

National Holiday: 2-3 Dec (Wed-Thu)

16
6-10 December
Self-study (independent learning): preparation for the final exam.

17
12-17 December
Final assessment period:
12-17 Dec (Sat-Thu)
Final exam (100 marks).

Learning material:


General Course Outline
First semester BAS course focusing on basic research and academic reading and writing skills. Connects reading to vocabulary acquisition and to the production of academic-style essays containing references. Students will apply techniques such as brainstorming, organizing and planning to generate ideas, as well as drafting, revising, editing and proofreading written work.
  • Additional Information:
The course also equips students to access academic texts more effectively whereby they can produce written academic English which is proficient enough to demonstrate their learning and their understanding. In doing so students need to grasp the basics of research skills outlined below.  
  • Course Learning Outcomes:
    • CLO 1- Use a range of reading strategies and skills to build interactive reading, including identifying different kinds of text structure, identifying main versus supporting detail, and opinion versus fact, drawing conclusions and evaluating, using context and other sources/resources to find and understand words, all with a large degree of independence.
    • CLO 2- Deploy appropriate skills and strategies to further understanding of academic vocabulary in context.
    • CLO 3- Use brainstorming, organizing and planning techniques to generate ideas and narrow down a topic before completing a plan for a piece of writing, and be able to locate and select appropriate sources when needed including the use of library resources.  
    • CLO 4- Use material from relevant reliable sources to develop clear and detailed text acknowledging materials used by citing sources in APA format and using direct quotations correctly so that detailed information is communicated reliably and with appropriate acknowledgement. Understanding the seriousness of plagiarizing and the consequences of doing so.
    • CLO 5- Draft, revise, edit and proofread written work largely independently using appropriate reference materials, tools, software or websites where necessary.  

  • Teaching and Learning Strategies:
The following assessment breakdown is suggested:

Basic research skills 20%: Campus designed and administered test. (Outcomes: 3,4)

Reading portfolio10%: Campus designed and administered. (Outcomes: 1,2,3)

Vocabulary 15%: Campus designed and administered. (Outcomes: 1,2,3)

Writing portfolio 25%: Campus designed and administered. (Outcomes: 3,4,5)

Final, Pre-reading 10% Exam 20%: Campus designed and administered. (Outcomes, 1,2,3,4,5)

All work to be assessed using HCT rubrics schemes. (Outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5)
1.     Basic research skills: You will learn how to reference work using APA style which you will use throughout your Bachelor studies. You will learn the reasons for gaining knowledge and why we need to reference work that we use. Plagiarism is a core element of this assessment with exercises on what is and what is not plagiarism. Your teacher will guide you in sourcing materials to use in learning about specific subject areas. Your assessment will reflect the aforementioned elements in a test format.   

2.     Reading portfolio: You will be guided by your teacher on readings that are suitable for your study. The readings will be connected to acquiring vocabulary and encouraging writing. You will build a creative reading portfolio of readings accompanied by evidence of comprehension. With the help of your teacher through reading activities you will acquire the skills needed to interpret readings and enrich your knowledge. A grade will be given for the portfolio, using HCT’s reading portfolio rubric.

3.     Vocabulary: At this level of study you will acquire new vocabulary that is connected to your readings. This will be assessed in various ways: vocabulary logs, glossary, written usage in context, and quizzes. The main goal of this assessment is to increase your vocabulary and academic word base.

4.     Writing portfolio: This will reflect your readings and demonstrate your writing skills that have been taught over the period of the course. The portfolio will reflect your ability to take notes, brainstorm, summarize and check your own work. Your teacher will guide you in attaining these skills and you will submit completed work into your writing portfolio where it will be graded using the HCT''s rubrics.

5.     Final, reading and essay: You will read on a specific topic area and make detailed notes a week prior to the sit-down exam. These notes will need to be extensive and contain references of your readings. The notes will then be used as a basis for your final exam where you will be asked questions that will prompt an academic style essay. You will need to write 500-600 words for your final essay which will contain referencing and writing skills you have learnt over the course. Grading will be moderated and HCT''s rubrics used.

  • Assessment Strategies:
Coursework - Set Exercises: 20% 
Basic research skills; APA referencing style, in-text direct and indirect citations, essay format, sourcing and plagiarism awareness.
(Outcomes: 3,4)
Coursework - Set Exercises: 25% 
Reading and contextualized vocabulary.
(Outcomes: 1,2,3)
Coursework - Set Exercises: 25% 
Development of writing skills to prepare students for writing an academic style essay.
(Outcomes: 3,4,5)
Final Assessment - Set Exercises: 30% (CSA) 
Reading 10%: Students read extensively on a topic question. Notes are taken. Essay 20%: Students write a timed open book essay under exam conditions using notes from prior reading.
(Outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5)
Total Weight: 100%




Note taking skills

 Paraphrasing  

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