LANG 0034 Essential Skills for Academic Success (WSTC Prep)

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 700280

Coordinator Elizabeth Casey Opens in new window

Description This subject is designed to equip students with the communication skills necessary to succeed in an academic context. In particular, the subject focus' on academic arguments, reasoning and evidence; as well as on register and the ways in which ideas are structured and presented in academic texts and speech. The subject assists students to comprehend academic texts, identify key ideas and evidence, and identify and use certain rhetorical moves which are common in academic communication. It also aims to help students compare and contrast ideas across texts, improve grammatical skills that relate to academic writing, summarise and synthesise information, and understand why, when and how to cite information.

School Western Sydney The College

Discipline English Language

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 1 10cp

Check your fees via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 0 Preparatory subject

Equivalent Subjects LANG 0030 - English for Tertiary Study 1 (WSTC Prep) LANG 0036 - Introduction to Academic Communication 1 (WSTC Prep) LANG 0006 - Academic English 1 (WSTC) LANG 0001 - Academic Communication 1 (WSTC Prep) LANG 0037 - Introduction to Academic Communication 1 (WSTC) LANG 0019 - Communication Skills for Construction Management (WSTC Prep) LANG 0042 - Professional Communication Skills for Engineering (WSTC Prep) LANG 0012 - Academic and Professional Communication (WSTC Prep)

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled at Western Sydney University, The College.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  1. Understand modes of academic argument including reasoning and the nature and role of evidence
  2. Produce writing that effectively summarises and paraphrases the work of others
  3. Employ effective listening strategies to identify main ideas and supporting evidence
  4. Communicate information in the appropriate spoken mode according to purpose and audience
  5. Demonstrate a command of academic English, including grammar, phrasing, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation in a variety of written and spoken contexts
  6. Use appropriate reading strategies to comprehend academic texts
  7. Source and cite evidence using the conventions of academic research
  8. Produce well structured, logical, coherent and cohesive responses to writing tasks

Subject Content

1. Understanding academic culture as a culture of argument, reasoning and evidence
2. Listening in an academic context: active listening and note-taking skills
3. Reading in an academic context: the development of ideas
4. Reading in an academic context: the relative importance of ideas
5. Reading in an academic context: identifying arguments
6. Writing in an academic context: academic language skills and grammar
7. Writing in an academic context: paraphrasing/summarising and synthesising skills
8. Writing in an academic context: comparing and contrasting ideas across multiple texts
9. Writing in an academic context: research and referencing
10. Speaking in an academic context: the structure of presenting ideas
11. Speaking in an academic context: tutorial/presentation skills
1. Understanding academic culture as a culture of argument, reasoning and evidence
2. Listening in an academic context: active listening and note-taking skills
3. Reading in an academic context: the development of ideas
4. Reading in an academic context: the relative importance of ideas
5. Reading in an academic context: identifying arguments
6. Writing in an academic context: academic language skills and grammar
7. Writing in an academic context: paraphrasing/summarising and synthesising skills
8. Writing in an academic context: comparing and contrasting ideas across multiple texts
9. Writing in an academic context: research and referencing
10. Speaking in an academic context: the structure of presenting ideas
11. Speaking in an academic context: tutorial/presentation skills

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Type Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task Mandatory
Summary 1000 words 15 N Individual N
Essay (a) 300 words (b) 1000 words 40 N Individual N
Presentation 4 minutes 15 N Individual N
Final Exam 2 hours 30 N Individual N

Prescribed Texts

  • Essential Skills in Academic Success Workbook

Teaching Periods

Term 1 (2024)

Bankstown City

On-site

Subject Contact Elizabeth Casey Opens in new window

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Nirimba Education Precinct

On-site

Subject Contact Elizabeth Casey Opens in new window

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Term 3 (2024)

Bankstown City

On-site

Subject Contact Elizabeth Casey Opens in new window

View timetable Opens in new window

Nirimba Education Precinct

On-site

Subject Contact Elizabeth Casey Opens in new window

View timetable Opens in new window