XENK006 Academic Reading and Writing 1/ Educational Leadership Programme (2 op)

Sisältö

As the students of this international program come from all corners of the globe with very diverse study skills, these courses aim to ensure that every student’s individual needs in learning, practising, and deepening their academic reading and writing skills are met. The student’s skills level both in reading and writing is tested at the beginning of the first semester, and based on the outcome, the course delivery will be individualized to provide every student, regardless of their previous learning context, with an opportunity to gain the competencies that first ensure fluent academic reading skills, and are then followed by appropriate academic writing skills for coursework delivery and writing the master’s thesis.

The classes for all are taught closely connected with research methods courses EDLS611 and EDLS612, and research seminars EDLS901 and EDLS902. Besides academic reading and writing skills per se, the courses provide tailored support from practising “mini theses”, i.e. coursework assignment delivery, to constructing the steps of the master’s thesis writing process. At the end of courses XENK007 and EDLS612 the students present their research plan for the master’s thesis.

The individualized support is realized in the form of a Writing Lab and one-on-one guidance using also the resource of Orientation course EDLS 110, ensuring also the full development of ICT skills, the competence to use the word template and Refworks program in one’s individual research process, and the library facilities efficiently

Suoritustavat

The courses consist of ca 36 hours of contact study in class, as well as of assignments, individual and group feedback sessions based on relevance to the learners, of 72 hours, the total of 108 hours of work, the equivalent of 4 ECTS. The assignments comprise a variety of summarizing, paraphrasing, fluency, versatility and language accuracy exercises of academic writing practice, an annotated bibliography, a literature review, a seminar abstract and presentation and the research plan for the master’s thesis. Active participation and successful completion of all assignments is required.

Arviointiperusteet

Continuous assessment, self-assessment, and peer assessment. The assignments are evaluated focusing on the following criteria: fluency, versatility and accuracy of language; content, organizing and citation, cohesion and coherence of text; presentation.