EFL: Writing for academic and professional purposes (5cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

Students successfully completing this course should be able to
-- demonstrate improved knowledge of the structure and usage in English
-- demonstrate extended vocabulary range
-- apply the principles of normative grammar to writing
-- write a properly structured paragraph,  coherent arguments, descriptions, a short story, a summary, a(n) argumentative, comparative, reaction essay
-- demonstrate understanding of academic writing, including the characteristics of the formal writing style, and principles of academic texts organisation, referencing and citation
-- differentiate between formal and informal writing styles
-- apply the principles of academic writing in English in a research essay
-- read critically ELT expository academic texts and respond to such texts by producing a research essay
-- evaluate critically other students’ writing and give peer feedback

Execution methods

Teacher’s presentations, analysing examples of various genres, individual writing, collaborative writing, peer correction, redrafting, group work, grammar and vocabulary exercises, independent work. Some writing will be based on readings selected by the teacher and students.

Contact teaching 50h and 83 h of independent work

Accomplishment methods

Active participation and successful completion of all written assignments (a comparative essay).

The following is a breakdown of credits students earn for the course, for administrative purposes only. So, please note that the course is for 5ects/op. Therefore one cannot write only an essay or a summary or a research essay. All written assignments must be completed and submitted


Active participation and peer review 1 ects    pass/fail
Written assignments: e.g. essays, a summary, a story                 2.5 ects    5-1/fail
Research essay 1.5 ects / 5-1/fail

Content

the first part of the course:
-- analysis of selected types of texts and guidelines for writing them (e.g. comparative essays, argumentative essays, reaction essays, summaries)
-- formal and informal writing style
-- selected aspects of rhetoric and etymology, cultural aspects in writing
-- how cohesion markers help clarify expression of ideas and guide a reader through one’s writing
-- how to improve sentence structure and organize information according to a genre
-- exercises extending vocabulary range
-- general punctuation principles
 
the second part of the course:
-- strategies for reading expository academic texts
-- principles of academic writing in English
-- research writing in EFL, teaching EFL, education ( in journal articles, conference proceedings and academic books)

Materials

Course materials prepared by the lecturer, English corpora, Internet resources, assignments written by students, reading material, resources on EFL writing selected by the lecturer, EFL journal articles (ELT journals,  for example: ELT Journal, TESOL Quarterly, TESOL Journal, The Modern Language Journal, open access journals). 

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

0 - hylätty /fail

Detailed criteria for evaluation of writing different genres will be presented during the course. All writing assignments must be submitted to earn at least grade 1.

Written assignments do not fulfill criteria for writing different genres. One or more written assignments have not been submitted.


1 - välttävä / sufficient

Detailed criteria for evaluation of writing different genres will be presented during the course. All writing assignments must be submitted to earn at least grade 1.
The content and level of writing is sufficient, there are shortcomings but writing meets the minimum criteria.


2 - tyydyttävä / satisfactory

Detailed criteria for evaluation of writing different genres will be presented during the course. All writing assignments must be submitted to earn at least grade 1.

The content and level of writing is satisfactory, there are some shortcomings.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3 - hyvä / good

Detailed criteria for evaluation of writing different genres will be presented during the course. All writing assignments must be submitted to earn at least grade 1. The content and level of writing is good.

4 - kiitettävä / very god

Detailed criteria for evaluation of writing different genres will be presented during the course. All writing assignments must be submitted to earn at least grade 1. The content and level of writing is very good.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5 - erinomainen /excellent

Detailed criteria for evaluation of writing different genres will be presented during the course. All writing assignments must be submitted to earn at least grade 1. The content and level of writing is outstanding.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

approved / pass
Active participation: the student demonstrates cognitive involvement, asks questions, gives relevant comments and peer feedback, and participates in pair work and group discussions.

fail
Active participation: the student does not engage in learning, does not participate in peer feedback, or the feedback does not demonstrate understanding of genre-specific characteristics or the knowledge of the structure and usage of English

Qualifications

CEFR level B2 of English is recommended to follow the classes and complete written assignments. A very general assessment of one’s CEFR level can be found at
http://kaares.ulapland.fi/home/hkunta/ealssen/exss/CEFR.html