Course Title: Use critical reading and writing skills for further study

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2017

Course Code: LANG5802

Course Title: Use critical reading and writing skills for further study

School: 360T Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4344 - Certificate IV in EAL (Further Study)

Course Contact: Baia Tsakouridou, Bloss Robertson

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4488

Course Contact Email: baia.tsakouridou@rmit.edu.au, bloss.robertson@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Jennifer Chamberlain 51.2    jennifer.chamberlain@rmit.edu.au 

Angela Borrelli  51.2  angela.borrelli@rmit.edu.au 

Wendy Joseph 51.2  wendy.joseph@rmit.edu.au 

Nominal Hours: 40

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit of competency describes speaking and listening performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required by adult learners with language background other than English. In this unit you will focus on advanced listening and speaking skills in English to participate in further study contexts, focusing on responding to a wide range of complex verbal instructions, interpreting and discussing ideas and opinions with others in informal contexts and negotiating a complex exchange.
This unit is delivered as part of an integrated academic preparation program.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VU21513 Use critical reading and writing skills for further study

Element:

1 Critically analyse formal instructional and/or advisory texts

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Determine the purpose of a range of further study texts containing instructions or advice
1.2 Locate the key information and supporting details
1.3 Paraphrase the requirements of the instructions or advice
1.4 Assess the importance and appropriateness of the requirements expressed
1.5 Indicate an appropriate response

Element:

2 Analyse and apply information from non-continuous texts found in study contexts

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Outline the purposes, design and conventions of a range of non-continuous formatted documents required in a further study context
2.2 Locate and sort information and draw conclusions relevant to purpose
2.3 Use the analysed information in a written or spoken text

Element:

3 Construct non-continuous texts for study purposes
 

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Clarify the purposes of the non-continuous texts and the information required
3.2 Design a process for collecting required information
3.3 Locate, record and synthesise complex information and ideas from required sources to meet purpose
3.4 Determine format for presentation of information
3.5 Use language and formatting conventions appropriate to the document and the context
3.6 Review and amend final draft


Learning Outcomes


 

The outcomes described in this unit relate to:

• The ISLPR (International Second Language Proficiency Ratings) descriptors for Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing. They contribute directly to the achievement of ISLPR Speaking 3 / 3+ and Listening 3 / 3+, Reading 3/3+ and Writing 3/3+

and

• the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) They contribute directly to the achievement of ACSF indicators of competence for Reading and Writing and Oral Communication at Level 4


Details of Learning Activities

This unit is part of Certificate IV in EAL (Further Study) which is an integrated program. This means that you will study this unit with another unit on the same day. Your program consists of Face to Face teaching and Directed Study. Your program will have a minimum of 8 hours Directed Study per week. You are not required to attend to complete Directed Study, however you are expected to complete all work given and will at times be required to show evidence that the work has been completed in this unit. An outline of your Directed Study is published each week in the Weekly Program Delivery Plan

 

The Weekly Program Delivery Plan is a detailed outline of what activities you will be undertaking in each session on a weekly basis. You can access this via Blackboard (Mystudies) on the first day of each teaching week.

This unit in part covers the reading and writing macro skills addressed in the certificate.

Examples of how you will practice and study the units:

READING
You are encouraged to read a wide range of texts relevant to the study context. You will:
• read, analyse and review complex texts for research purposes  
 

WRITING
In a variety of writing activities, you will improve your sentence structure and learn how to use different writing styles. This will include course applications, essays, and reports. You will:
• learn to plan, draft and proofread your work.
• construct formatted texts for study purposes
• become familiar with academic discourse
The revision of important grammatical structures will be incorporated into each activity.


Teaching Schedule

Course dates:

6th February to 9th June 2017

Public Holidays:

Labour Day Holiday - Monday 13th March 2017

Anzac Day Holiday - Tuesday 25th April 2017

Mid-Semester Break:

Thursday 13th April 2017 - Wednesday 19th April 2017

 

This unit of competency is taught within an integrated program.This unit is clustered with  VU21514 (LANG5798) Use Language Analysis Skills to Review Own Texts. It is Cluster 3 - Critical Reading and Writing, and Language Analysis. The assessment tasks will also cover other units within the course.

 

Week

VU21513

Use critical reading and writing skills for further study

VU21514

Elements 

VU21513

Elements

1

Diagnostic tasks

Past simple/present continuous

Verb tenses

Introduce editing skills

Introduce portfolio and evidence task requirement

Introduce non-continuous texts

 1,2  1
2

Reading skills

Skimming

Scanning

Practice non-continuous texts

Prepositions and prepositional phrases

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 1,2 1
3

Assessment Task 2: Analyse language in further study texts

Vocabulary in context

Simple and compound sentences/sentence structure and conjunctions

Practice non-continuous texts

Language Analysis Skills Workbook

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 1,2  1
4

 

Reading skills

Implied meaning

Verb phrases and phrasal verbs

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 

 1,2  1
5

Reading skills

Practice non-continuous texts eg. tables

Introduce punctuation

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 1,2  1
6

Reading skills

Locating main ideas, details

Modals with overview of verbs-focus on present perfect

Practice non-continuous texts eg. visuals and graphic information

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 1,2  1,2
7

Reading comprehension

Past perfect

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 1,2  1,2
8

Mid Semester Interviews

Reading comprehension

Transitions

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 1,2  1,2
9

Assessment Task 7: Portfolio of Evidence 1

Reading skills

Inferences

Modals and conditionals

Practice non-continuous texts eg. diagrams and graphic information

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 1,2  1,2
10

Present Perfect & punctuation

Practice non-continuous texts eg. charts

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 1,2

 1,2
11

Reading skills

Editing

Proofreading skills

Passive

Practice non-continuous texts eg. charts

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 1,2  1,2
12

Passive  

Reading skills

Guess meaning from context

Practice non-continuous texts eg. line graphs

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 1,2  1,2
13

Reading skills

Speed reading

Academic texts

Overview of Nominalisation

Revise non-continuous texts

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 1,2  1,2
14

Reading skills

Short answer

Speed reading

Nominalisation

Revise non-continuous texts

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 1,2  1,2
15

Assessment Task 13:  Portfolio of Evidence 2

Reading skills

Error correction

Multiple choice

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

 1,2  1,2
16

Reading skills

Error recognition

Error correction skills and language analysis skills

Summarise non-continuous tasks

 1,2  1,2
17

 

Consolidation

 

 1,2  1,2

  **The teaching schedule maybe subject to change. Students will be advised via Blackboard and in class should changes occur.
 

Your program is made up of:
• Orientation
• Learning activities
• Mid semester review
• Exit review

All students will be inducted. The induction includes:
• Induction Booklet and presentation 
• Explore RMIT
• Orientation to RMIT Libraries

Information about student services, rights and responsibilities is contained in your student diary.
 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

TEXTS AND EQUIPMENT

There are no set texts in this course, but it is recommended that you bring:

• English-English dictionary (we ask that you do not use a translation dictionary)
• Thesaurus
• Display folder with plastic sleeves
• Highlighter pens
• Notebook or loose leaf paper
• Headphones 
• USB (Memory stick) 

  • laptop


Overview of Assessment

This course is part of a full-time integrated program. You must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of the competencies in order to be deemed competent. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks. 

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class both oral and written, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program manager or the Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.

The Student Charter www.rmit.edu.au/about/our-education/supporting-learning-and-teaching/student-charter/ summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT University student as well as the responsibilities of the university.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which can be found on the RMIT University website at: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qwxbqbg739rl1


Assessment Tasks

Summative assessments:

Assessment Task 2: Analyse Language in Further Study Texts

You will locate and analyse an advisory text for further study and then present the text to the class in a short 1-2 minute presentation.

Assessment Task 7: Portfolio of Evidence 1

This assessment task requires you to edit your own work on four separate occasions and analyse your work with support. You will also be required to design a graph documenting your improvement in language skills over the semester. 

Assessment Task 13: Portfolio of Evidence 2

This assessment task requires you to edit your own work on four separate occasions and analyse your work with support. You will also be required to design a graph documenting your improvement in language skills over the semester. 

 

Please note:


Assessments tasks will include other courses (Units of competency) from the program.

All Assessment tasks should be submitted by the deadline.


Assessment Matrix

Each assessment cover sheet clearly outlines the competencies being addressed in the task in relation to performance criteria. The sum of assessment tasks will cover all units and their elements over a range of occasions. You will be given opportunities to demonstrate competency in a variety of ways throughout the program. To sucessfully complete this unit you will need to demonstrate that you are competent in each element of the unit/subject on at least two occasions.


You are encouraged to discuss any problems or concerns with your teacher or student co-ordinator. An assessment matrix will be available on myRMIT

Other Information

Attendance
Your course involves participating in face to face classes. It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to successfully complete this course.

Student Progress

Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential.

Student program policy www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academicprogress
 

You will be asked to attend mid-semester and end of semester interviews with relevant teachers and Program Co-ordinator. The interviews are an important part of giving you feedback and supporting you through your program by monitoring your academic progress
 

Special consideration policy (Late submissions)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension. Extension www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension

Special consideration is an assessment adjustment for unexpected circumstances that are outside your control, which:
• have a significant adverse impact on your performance in assessment or
• prevent you from attempting or submitting the assessment. Special Consideration www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the Academic Integrity and Plagiarism policy
www.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview