James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2002

LC1000:03

English for Academic Purposes

Townsville, Cairns

HECS Band 1

26 hours lectures, 26 hours tutorials. Semester 1 and 2. Block mode in Semester 1 and 2. Flexible delivery mode, including up to 12 teleconferences. Semester 2. RATEP only.

Available to undergraduate and postgraduate students from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) who have studied in a language other than English to at least year 10 level and Indigenous students as a core subject in the Certificate of Effective Communication.

This subject helps students prepare for and successfully engage in their academic studies in a wide range of disciplines. The focus of the subject, therefore, is on developing English language and study skills required for university study in Australia. The subject consists of five modules – essay writing, report writing, oral presentations, listening and note-taking and academic reading.

Learning Objectives:

  1. develop and practise the language skills and strategies necessary to write university essays, focussing on aspects such as understanding the characteristics, style and grammar of academic writing, analysing essay topics. developing planning strategies, structuring an essay, referencing and avoiding plagiarism;
  2. develop students’ abilities to understand and describe quantitative data within the framework of a written report, focussing on the interpretation and construction of different types of graphs and charts and on understanding the differences between report and essay formats;
  3. develop the strategies and language needed to give effective oral presentations in an academic setting;
  4. develop the strategies and skills required for students to listen and take effective notes in university lectures. Examples of these skills include the ability to recognise main points, subordinate ideas and common ‘signposts’ in lectures;
  5. learn and practise reading strategies and skills which will enable students to read academic texts more rapidly, efficiently and with greater understanding.

Continuous assessment consisting of exercises, short tests, an essay, a written report and an oral presentation. Students will be expected to attend 80% of scheduled classes unless prior approval has been given.