Module overview
This module is non-credit bearing and forms part of Pre-sessional Course A in which you study Academic
Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. You also attend Independent Learning workshops to further
develop critical thinking and study skills necessary to succeed at the University.
The reading module is taught in conjunction with the writing module as these skills often overlap; for
example, the ability to read critically is also an important skill for effective academic writing. As a result, you
will be expected to practise a range of skills in the same class.
The reading module follows the University of Southampton Pre-sessional Course A Reading and Writing
syllabus.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Use appropriate reading strategies for your purposes
- Understand the structure of academic texts at whole text and paragraph level
- Efficiently identify reliable sources appropriate for your discipline
- Understand academic English writing structures and vocabulary at sentence and paragraph level
- Employ critical reading skills
Syllabus
A. FINDING INFORMATION IN A TEXT
1. Reading for gist; identifying general information in a text – skimming techniques.
2. Locating specific information – scanning techniques.
3. Distinguishing between main ideas, subsidiary ideas and supporting information/examples.
4. Reading intensively for detailed understanding and implied information.
5. Understanding the structure of academic texts at whole text and paragraph level.
B. CRITICAL READING
1. Identifying reliable/unreliable sources.
2. Identifying writer, intended audience and purpose.
3. Recognising bias and vested interest.
4. Making judgements about central claims of text and context for text.
5. Evaluating argument presented (reasoning, evidence and conclusions).
C. UNDERSTANDING OF ACADEMIC ENGLISH WRITING STRUCTURES AND VOCABULARY AT SENTENCE
AND PARAGRAPH LEVEL
1. Process sentences with complex noun phrases, clauses and clause markers.
2. Understanding of discourse markers at paragraph and text level.
3. Knowledge of academic word list and verbs of reference.
4. Ability to work out the meaning of unknown vocabulary.
5. Recognising synonyms used in a text.
6. Distinguishing between nuances of meaning (i.e. precise understanding).
7. Understanding meaning referred to by pronouns and other reference phrases in specific
contexts.
D. USING ACADEMIC READING TEXTS FOR ASSIGNMENTS
1. Recognising and recording source details.
2. Using notes to record information from texts, including quotations.
3. Completing summaries based on notes and text information.
4. Recognising acceptable/ non-acceptable paraphrase from a text.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
You will experience a wide variety of teaching and learning methods including: full class teaching; individual,
pair and group work in class; set tasks to be completed outside class; use of authentic reading texts for
exploitation; Independent Learning workshops; self-directed independent study and tutorials (normally in
pairs with your tutor).
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 5 |
| Teaching | 5 |
| Total study time | 10 |
Resources & Reading list
Internet Resources
UEfAP website (Andy Gillet) [online].
University of Portsmouth [online]..
University of Nottingham AWL highlighter [online]..
University of Michigan Press [online].
University of Southampton Harvard Guide.
British Council Learn English Writing for a Purpose.
Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL) [online].
LLAS webpage for exam preparation [online].
University of Toronto [online].
University of Nottingham AWL gapmaker [online].
Anglia Ruskin University [online].
Academic Writing in English (AWE) Finnish Virtual Language Centre [online].
Textbooks
C Sowton (2014). Unlock Level 4 Reading and Writing Skills: Student's Book and Online Workbook. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
R R Jordan (1999). Academic Writing Course. Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd.
J Godfrey (2013a). How to Use Your Reading in Your Essays. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
J Bell and S Walters (2014). Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-Time Researchers. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Open University Press.
J Godfrey (2013b). The Student Phrase Book: Vocabulary for writing at university. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
C Sowton (2012). 50 Steps to Improving your Academic Writing: Study Book. Reading: Garnet Publishing Ltd.
A Gillett, A Hammond and M Martala (2009). Successful Academic Writing (Inside Track Series). Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd.
K Pakenham, J McEntire and J Williams (2013). Making Connections Level 3 Student’s book: Skills and strategies for Academic Reading. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
K McMillan and J Weyers (2013). How to Research & Write a Successful PhD. Harlow: Pearson Education.
D Burnapp (2009). Getting Ahead as an International Student. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press.
N Caplan (2012). Grammar Choices for Graduate and Professional Writers. Michigan: University of Michigan Press.
A Osmond (2013). Academic Writing and Grammar for Students. London: Sage Publications.
A McNair and F Gooch (2013). Language for Study Level 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
S Bailey (2015a). Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students. Abingdon: Routledge.
S Bailey (2015b). Academic Writing for International Students of Business. Abingdon: Routledge.
R Pears and G Shield (2013). Cite them Right. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
T Day (2013). Success in Academic Writing. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
C Fletcher (2013). Skills for Study Level 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
S Cottrell (2011). Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
D Hopkins and P Cullen (2007). Grammar for IELTS with Answers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
H Reinders, N Moore and M Lewis (2008). The International Student Handbook. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
K Paterson, and R Wedge (2013). Oxford Grammar for EAP: English Grammar and Practice for Academic Purposes with answers. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
S McCarter and P Jakes (2009). Uncovering EAP: How to Teach Academic Writing and Reading. Oxford: Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
J Slaght (2012). English for Academic Study: Reading and Writing Source Book. Reading: University of Reading and Garnet Publishing Ltd.
J Swales and C Feak (2012). Academic Writing for Graduate Students. Michigan: The University of Michigan Press.
N Murray and G Hughes (2008). Writing Up Your University Assignments and Research Projects: A Practical Handbook. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Open University Press.
A Wallwork (2012). English for Research: Usage, Style, and Grammar. New York: Springer US.
A Oshima and A Hogue (2006). Writing Academic English. New York: Pearson Education Ltd.
J McCormack and J Slaght (2012). Extended Writing and Research Skills Course Book. Reading: University of Reading.
A Pallant (2012). English for Academic Study: Writing Course Book. Reading: University of Reading and Garnet Publishing Ltd.
S Argent and O Alexander (2014). Access EAP: Frameworks Course Book. Reading: Garnet Publishing Ltd.
Assessment
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Reading taskSummative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Examination | 100% |