The aim of the course is for students to acquire knowledge and understanding of various types of academic language; furthermore, they should develop the ability and assurance to communicate, both in writing and orally, and observe established genre conventions.

The course focuses on the distinctive features of academic genres (both written and oral). The aim is for students to recognize the structures underpinning these genres and to understand their rationale. Furthermore, the students are trained to communicate both orally and in writing in an academic context, and also to reflect on their own and others’ written and oral production. Learning activities include lectures, seminars, group work, independent written work and self-study. The teaching is based on active scholarship, which implies that students have a large responsibility for their own learning.

On completion of the course, the student:

1. demonstrates a basic understanding of argumentation, style and structure in different academic genres, both written and oral;

2. can apply an understanding of the basic elements of rhetoric to the construction of short, genre-specific, academic texts,

3. demonstrates an ability to carry out oral academic presentations;

4. demonstrates a basic ability to analyse, describe and assess academic language, and

5. demonstrates an analytical and reflective approach to his or her own use of academic language and to academic language in general.

Writing Tasks:

Via submission of pieces of written work, each as a separate task, students will submit the various stages of essay writing for informal evaluation and feedback. These task submissions will then be compiled and perfected to provide the basis of the graded assignment. This series of tasks aims at developing different crucial aspects of the writing process.

Presentation Tasks:

Non-graded Presentation Task: students will receive instruction, via lectures and practical workshops, in rhetorical presentation skills. As preparation for the graded presentation, students will be given a Non-graded Presentation Task for practical evaluation and feedback on individual presentation skills.

The course is examined through four written assignments (1, 2, 2, and 6 credits respectively) and through oral assignments (4 credits in total):

Written Assignment 1 (A1), 1 credit Assesses learning outcomes 1, 2, and 4.

Written Assignment 2 (A2), 2 credits Assesses learning outcomes 1, 2, 4, and 5.

Written Assignment 3 (A3), 2 credits Assesses learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 5.

Written Assignment 4 (A4), 6 credits Assesses learning outcomes 1, 2, 4, and 5.

Oral Presentation (OP), 4 credits Assesses learning outcomes, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Grades for the written assignments are A, B, C, D, E, U (Fail); grades for the oral presentation are PASS/FAIL

Mapels, W. and Redman, P. (2017). Good Essay Writing: A Social Sciences Guide. 5th Edition. SAGE Publications Ltd Digital Comp: London.

Van Emden, J. and Becker, L. (2016). Presentation Skills for Students. 3rd edition. London: Macmillian Study Skills.

Other course material may be provided by the course tutor as appropriate, up to a maximum of 200 pages consisting of both electronic material and hard copy.

The University provides students who participate in or who have completed a course with the opportunity to make known their experiences and viewpoints with regards to the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The

University will compile and summarize the results of course evaluations as well as informing participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures initiated in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

If a course is no longer offered or has undergone major changes, students will be offered two re-take sessions based on the syllabus in force at registration during a period of one year from the date of the implementation of the changes.

Language of instruction: English