Reading/Writing Advanced Level

Curriculum guideline

Effective Date:
Return to Course
Print Guideline
Course
ENGU 0455
Discontinued
No
Course code
ENGU 0455
Descriptive
Reading/Writing Advanced Level
Department
English Upgrading
Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Credits
6.00
Start date
End term
201520
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
18
Contact hours
8 hours per week
Method(s) of instruction
Seminar
Learning activities

A combination of instructional methods will be used in order to balance instructional efficiency with individual student needs.

These methods will include lecture presentation, large and small group discussion, learning activities, individual assistance (in scheduled appointments), computer-assisted learning, and student-directed learning.

Course description
This is an intensive reading and writing course. It is designed for students who are preparing to do university transfer courses or who need support for the university transfer courses they are presently taking. Students will read academic material such as college-level textbook chapters and scholarly journal articles as well as journalistic sources. Emphasis will be on reading critically, developing a vocabulary to articulate ideas, and handling a college-level volume of reading. Skills covered will include summarizing lengthy academic text, researching databases on academic topics and diverse points of view, and participating in and leading academic discussion. Students will learn how to gather and organize information, avoid plagiarism, and follow conventions of documentation styles. They will produce several research papers, and practice writing essay exams under time restraints. As well, their written expression and editing skills will be an important focus.
Course content

Writing

Throughout the process of producing a range of typical college assignments, students will receive instruction in how to improve their ability at the following core skills:

  1. Pre-writing
    • understanding assignments and academic expectations
    • using strategies for getting started
    • dealing with procrastination and writer's block
    • choosing and narrowing topics
    • composing thesis and topic sentences
    • devising research strategies for collecting information
    • gathering evidence and making notes
  2. Drafting
    • handling time and other constraints
    • constructing beginnings and endings
    • organizing information into different formats
    • making connections and transitions between ideas in a text
    • inserting quotations
    • documenting sources and avoiding plagiarism
    • composing essay-type answers in exam conditions
  3. Revising
    • using feedback to revise drafts
    • editing sentence construction and word choice
    • preparing final documents and using style sheets

Reading

Students will receive instruction in the following skills areas using materials selected from a variety of academic disciplines and reflecting a range of sources, organizational patterns, topics and points of view.

  1. Identifying main ideas and central themes
  2. Differentiating main ideas and themes from supporting details
  3. Distinguishing fact from opinion
  4. Acquiring content-area vocabulary and terminology
  5. Recognizing author's tone, intent, and point of view
  6. Making generalizations
  7. Summarizing
  8. Making comparisons and synthesizing ideas from different sources
  9. Researching and compiling information from a variety of sources
  10. Participating in class discussion
  11. Leading class discussion
  12. Analyzing organization of text structure as an aid to comprehension
  13. Taking an historical perspective
  14. Critically evaluating text
  15. Developing flexibility in reading speed
Learning outcomes

Writing

The aims of the course are for students:

  1. To gain initial experience with handling a variety of typical college writing assignments from scratch;
  2. To gain experience with using peer feedback, instructor comment, and computer technology to assist the revision of drafts and the improvement of editing skills;
  3. To develop skill in analyzing assignments and understanding the tasks involved;
  4. To develop confidence in meeting successfully the requirements and conventions of college assignments and exams;
  5. To demonstrate competence in producing academic texts of an acceptable standard inside deadlines and under pressure.

 

Reading

The aims of this course are for students:

  1. To develop and practice effective strategies, skills and approaches to reading that are directed at the improvement of comprehension of college-level academic text;
  2. To broaden and deepen general as well as content-specific knowledge as a means of improving comprehension;
  3. To demonstrate comprehension of text both orally and in written form;
  4. To participate in class discussion and to work cooperatively in an academic setting.
Means of assessment

Students will receive on-going feedback from the instructor throughout the course.

Students’ success will be graded, in accordance with the College policy and grading system.

Textbook materials

Students may be required to purchase a textbook, course pack and/or computer disks.

Prerequisites

ENGU 0355, ENGU 0356 or ENGU Assessment or Instructor Permission