Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Progression level in relation to degree requirements

The course credits can form part of a degree, but not as a part of English as a major subject.

Course contents

The aim of the course is for the students to develop their skills in critical thinking to increase reading comprehension of English argumentative texts in order to facilitate successful academic studies.

The course includes basic argumentation analysis and identification of rhetorical patterns as well as knowledge of different reading strategies.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

1. explain basic concepts in argumentation analysis and rhetoric;
2. critically analyse texts using argumentation analysis and rhetorical patterns.

Learning activities

The course contains a combination of learning activities such as lectures, seminars and self-study of course literature.

Assessment

Exam 1: Written Take-Home Exam, 3 hp. This exam assesses learning outcome 1.
Exam 2: Written Paper, 4.5 hp. This exam assesses learning outcome 2.

In order to receive the grade VG as the final course grade, the grade VG must be achieved on both the exams.

Grading criteria for the course are announced by the course leader at the start of the course.

For all assessments, the basis must be such that individual performance can be distinguished.

Course literature

Cottrell, Stella (2017). Critical Thinking Skills: Effective Analysis, Argument and Reflection. Third Edition. London: Red Globe Press. (296 pages)

Additional material may be introduced in the course, but no more than 250 pages.

Course evaluation

The university provides all students who are participating in, or have completed, a course to express their experiences and views on the course through a course evaluation which is organized at the end of the course. The university will collate the course evaluations and provide information about their results and any actions prompted by them. The results shall be made available to the students. (HF 1:14).

Interim rules

When a course is no longer given, or the contents have been radically changed, the student has the right to re-take the examination, which will be given twice during a one year period, according to the syllabus which was valid at the time of registration.

Additional information

This English text was translated from the original Swedish syllabus.

If a student has a decision on special educational support, the examiner has the right to give an adapted test or let the student complete the test in an alternative way.