Reading for academic purposes

a.      Reading for Academic Purposes

RPKPS

1.        Course               : Reading for Academic Purposes

2.        Code/Credits     : 3 SKS

3.        Pre-requisite      :

4.        Status                : required

5.      Course Description

This course cultivates skills to improve academic reading performance for non-native speakers of English enrolled in American university classes. Special attention is given to cross-disciplinary academic reading, reading rates and speeds, effective research methods, documentation and essay exams skills. This course is designed to raise students’ reading skills therefore they can participate in academic settings with competencies similar to their native-speaker peers. This course aims to develop students’ strategies to read academic texts, to expand vocabulary and to enhance thinking and critical reading.

6.      Objectives

a.    To enhance students’ active reading strategies to comprehend academic and literacy texts efficiently

b.    To develop vocabulary learning skills

c.    To improve students’ ability to become active thinking readers

7.      Course Learning Outcomes

By the completion of this course, students will be able to

a.    comprehend academic vocabulary, academic texts, and various forms of assessment from exams and exercises to reports and collaborative research

b.    previewing and predicting, activating prior knowledge, questioning, recognizing main ideas, key supporting points, and organization patterns, exploring purposes to academic and literacy texts.

c.    synthesize, quote, summarize and paraphrase academic texts using correct documentation style sheets

d.   organize, develop, revise, and edit during essay exams

e.    Expanding vocabulary repertoire, using linguistics, contextual and visual clues to make meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary used in a variety of academic and literacy texts.

f.     Using word parts (suffixes) and word association (synonym and antonym).

g.    practice and demonstrate effective group interaction skills as they apply to written and oral communication in academic settings.

                                                      

8.      Material

a.     Compiled selected texts available in print and electronic form on moodle and my home page

(you must have the print in class)

b.    Additional reading selection (to be announced)

c.     Access to internet, word processing, and printing

d.    A paperback or electronic dictionary: a paperback or electronic dictionary is also useful for work in class.

9.      Evaluation

a.       Exams and Assignments

The three exams, the final exam, summary and paraphrase exercises and other assignments listed above emphasize academic reading skills. Reading speed, rate and fluency exercises, formal presentations, panel discussions and reports- all aid students achieve communicative competencies and academic literacy skills for work.  

b.      Mid-term Grade

c.       Final Exam Schedule

d.      Projects : weekly project

10.  References and sources of teaching material

-          Mickulecky, Beatrice and Jeffries, Linda (2004) More Reading Power: Reading for Pleasure, Comprehension skills, Thinking Skills, Reading Faster (Second Edition). Pearson: ESL.

-          Mickulecky, Beatrice and Jeffries, Linda (2007) Academic Reading Power. Pearson Education: NY.

-          Pakenham, Kenneth (2005) Making Connections; A Strategic Approach to Academic Reading.(Second Edition) Cambridge University Press: NY

11.  Weekly Lesson Plan

Week	Learning Outcomes	Material	Sub Topics	Learning Method	Students Activities	Lecturer Activities	Teaching Media	Assessment	References
1	mention some aspects related to reading for academic purposes	Introduction to course outline and overview of reading for academic purposes	-     Introduction to the course -     Understanding active reading -     Academic reading	Question and Answer	Prepare all daily reading assignments	Introduce course outline and overview of reading for academic purposes	Infocus Laptop	Question and Answer	Syllabus, Miculecky & Jeffries, 1996- introduction
2-3	comprehend academic vocabulary, academic texts, and various forms of assessment from exams	Fundamentals of Academic reading	-        Modes / types of reading -        Building academic vocabulary -        Thinking skills	-          Interactive -          Discussion -          self-learning & learner-centered approach	-          Discussing material -          Reading activities -          Doing the tasks	-          Explaining material -          Guiding students’ activities -          Giving tasks	Infocus Laptop	-          Exercise -          Surprise quizzes	Miculecky & Jeffries, 1996- part one
4-5	exercises to reports and collaborative research	Fundamentals of Academic reading	-          Basic Bibliographic Information (Library) -          Assignment: Exercise on moodle	-          Interactive -          Discussion -          Guided reading approach	-          Discussing material -          Reading activities -          Doing the tasks	-          Explaining material -          Guiding students’ activities -          Giving tasks	Infocus Laptop	Exercise presentation quiz 1	Miculecky & Jeffries, 1996- part 2 unit 1
6-7	previewing and predicting, activating prior knowledge, questioning to academic and literacy texts	Education	-          The personal qualities of a teacher -          spoon-fed feel lost at the cutting edge	-          Interactive -          Discussion -          active participation: individual, pair and small group work	-          Discussing material -          Reading activities -          Doing the tasks	-          Explaining material -          Guiding students’ activities -          Giving tasks	Infocus Laptop	Exercise presentation	Miculecky & Jeffries, 1996- part 2 unit 2
8		Mid-test
9	recognizing main ideas, key supporting points, and organization patterns, exploring purposes to academic and literacy texts	Politics and Media	-          Israel, Palestine Prisoner Swap in Process -          Human rights	-          Interactive -          Discussion -          Assignment and testing	-          Discussing material -          Reading activities -          Doing the tasks	-          Explaining material -          Guiding students’ activities -          Giving tasks	Infocus Laptop	Presentation quiz 3	Miculecky & Jeffries, 1996- part 2 unit 4
10	synthesize, quote, summarize and paraphrase academic texts using correct documentation style sheets	Health and Medicine	-          breastfeeding mums healthier in old page -          Disability: WHO says one billion people	-          Interactive -          Discussion -          regular in class timed readings and group exercises	-          Discussing material -          Reading activities -          Doing the tasks	-          Explaining material -          Guiding students’ activities -          Giving tasks	Infocus Laptop	Exercise presentation	Miculecky & Jeffries, 1996- part 2 unit 5
11-12	organize, develop, revise, and edit during essay exams	Islam and the west	-          Why British women are turning to Islam	-          Interactive -          Discussion -          Learner independence and cooperation	-          Discussing material -          Reading activities -          Doing the tasks	-          Explaining material -          Guiding students’ activities -          Giving tasks	Infocus Laptop	Exercise presentation	Miculecky & Jeffries, 1996- part 2 unit 6
13	Expanding vocabulary repertoire, using linguistics, contextual and visual clues to make meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary used in a variety of academic and literacy texts	Society and Social Issues	-          Child poverty grows as cities expand -          Parents face fines in new school rules	-          Interactive -          Discussion -          Guided reading approach	-          Discussing material -          Reading activities -          Doing the tasks	-          Explaining material -          Guiding students’ activities -          Giving tasks	Infocus Laptop	Exercise presentation	Miculecky & Jeffries, 1996- part 2 unit 8

14	Using word parts (suffixes) and word association (synonym and antonym)	Reading and Discussing Fiction	“All summer in a Day” ~ Ray Bradbury	-          Interactive -          Discussion -          tasks discussion	-          Discussing material -          Reading activities -          Doing the tasks	-          Explaining material -          Guiding students’ activities -          Giving tasks	Infocus Laptop	Presentation quiz 5	Miculecky & Jeffries, 1996- part 2 unit 9
15	practice and demonstrate effective group interaction skills as they apply to written and oral communication in academic settings	Reading and Discussing Fiction	-          You by Charles Heffner -          Martin Luther King, Jr	-          Interactive -          Discussion -          Exercises in and out of class	-          Discussing material -          Reading activities -          Doing the tasks	-          Explaining material -          Guiding students’ activities -          Giving tasks	Infocus Laptop	presentation	Miculecky & Jeffries, 1996- part 4
16		Final Test						Written test