Course specification for EUS1007

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EUS1007 Reading and Critical Thinking 2

Semester 1, 2020 On-campus Springfield
Short Description: Reading & Critical Thinking 2
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Open Access College
School or Department : Open Access College
Student contribution band : Band 1
ASCED code : 070115 - English as a SecLangTeach
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Rationale

In their discipline subjects university students need to appropriately understand academic and professionally advanced texts at the surface level and also think and reflect at a deeper level of language in order to fully engage with written discourse for a specific purpose. This course develops students' capacity to manage written information, think critically, and build knowledge in English with highly advanced texts, to meet the highly complex demands of tertiary studies in education, benchmarked to a level of at least 73 on the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) C1+ level. It also aims to enable students to prepare to meet future registration requirements of a range of professional disciplines.

Synopsis

In this course, activities in English have been organised for the development of highly advanced independent reading and critical thinking approaches, attitudes, and strategies, using a range of demanding academic texts, including text books, case studies, lecture notes, academic journals, and reports, in both hard copy and digital form.

Objectives

On successful completion of this course students will:

  1. Integrate reading strategies flexibly and autonomously with longer, more demanding academic texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation, in a range of academic situations for comprehension and to complete a range of academic tasks at a near native-like level, benchmarked to at least 73 on the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) C1+ level.
  2. Generate knowledge on a topic both individually and in groups through critical engagement with longer, more demanding academic texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation at a near native-like level, benchmarked to at least 73 on the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) C1+ level.
  3. Evaluate the style of a range of complex academic texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation at a near native-like level, benchmarked to at least 73 on the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) C1+ level.
  4. Paraphrase and summarise a range of complex academic texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation at a near native-like level, benchmarked to at least 73 on the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) C1+ level.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Strategies for vocabulary development - Academic Word List (AWL) - sub lists 1-5 25.00
2. Selective reading strategies and practice with longer sophisticated academic texts 30.00
3. Active and critical reading strategies and practice with longer sophisticated academic texts 30.00
4. Acknowledging and evaluating longer and sophisticated academic sources 15.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=EUS1007)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

Campbell, C 2012, English for academic study: vocabulary study book, Garnet Education, Reading.
McCormack, J & Slaght, J 2012, English for academic study: extended writing and research skills course book, Garnet Education, Reading.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Assessments 6.00
Directed ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 70.00
Private ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 89.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
Mid sem test 1 15 15 26 Mar 2020
Mid sem test 2 15 15 26 Apr 2020
End of sem closed exam 70 70 11 Jun 2020

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures and tutorials) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To complete assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the overall marks available for each item.

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To complete assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the overall marks available for the end of semester exam.

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative items for the course.

  6. Examination information:
    Candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into a closed examination.

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.

  8. ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. Students must familiarise themselves with the USQ Assessment Procedures (.

  2. If electronic submission is specified for a course assessment, students will be notified of this on the Course ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Desk. The due date for an electronically submitted assessment is the date by which a student must electronically submit the assignment irrespective of holidays. The assignment files must be submitted by 11.55pm on the due date using USQ time (as displayed on the clock on the course home page; that is, Australian Eastern Standard Time).

  3. If hardcopy submission is specified for a course assessment students will be notified of this on the Course ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Desk. The due date for a hardcopy assignment is the date by which a student must submit at USQ or despatch the assignment to USQ irrespective of holidays.

  4. USQ will NOT accept submission of assignments by facsimile or email unless expressly requested by the course examiner.

  5. Referencing in Assignments must comply with the Harvard (AGPS) referencing system. This system should be used by students to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (APGS) style to be used is defined by the USQ library's referencing guide. These policies can be found at .

Evaluation and benchmarking

In meeting the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app's aims to establish quality learning and teaching for all programs, this course monitors and ensures quality assurance and improvements in at least two ways. This course:

1. conforms to the USQ Policy on Evaluation of Teaching, Courses and Programs to ensure ongoing monitoring and systematic improvement.

2. forms part of the Diploma in English for ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Studies and is benchmarked against the internal USQ accreditation/reaccreditation processes which include (i) stringent standards in the independent accreditation of its academic programs, (ii) close integration between business and academic planning, and (iii) regular and rigorous review.

Other requirements

  1. Computer, e-mail and Internet access: Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to UConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at .

  2. Students can expect that questions in assessment items in this course may draw upon knowledge and skills that they can reasonably be expected to have acquired before enrolling in this course. This includes knowledge contained in pre-requisite courses and appropriate communication, information literacy, analytical, critical thinking, problem solving or numeracy skills. Students who do not possess such knowledge and skills should not expect the same grades as those students who do possess them.

Date printed 1 July 2020