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Unit outline_

EDPJ5024: English in Academic Settings

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit is designed for students from non-English speaking backgrounds who wish to improve their English as well as understand better the setting in which it is produced. The unit has two components: the development of personal academic skills, particularly writing, and an in-depth consideration of linguistic and non-linguistic aspects of communication in academic settings.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Education
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
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None
Corequisites
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None
Prohibitions
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None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator David Hirsh, david.hirsh@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Literature Task
Essay
40% -
Due date: 12 Oct 2020 at 23:59

Closing date: 30 Oct 2020
2400 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Research Project
Essay
50% -
Due date: 30 Nov 2020 at 23:59

Closing date: 14 Dec 2020
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Reflective writing
Reflective writing
10% -
Due date: 07 Dec 2020 at 23:59

Closing date: 14 Dec 2020
600 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Assessment summary

See Canvas site

Assessment criteria

High Distinction (HD) 85% and above

Superior analysis, comprehensive research, sophisticated theoretical or methodological understanding, impeccable standard of written English and presentation.

Distinction (D)           75% - 84%     

Thoroughly researched and well argued.  Complex understanding of the subject matter, which is analyzed in depth.  Superior standard of written English and presentation.

Credit (Cr)                 65% - 74%     

Average or better than average work, with solid research, perceptive analysis, effective preparation and presentation.

Pass (P)                       50% - 64%                 

Completion of key tasks at an adequate level in argumentation, documentation and expression.

Fail (F)                       49% and below          

Not satisfactory

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

See Canvas site

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction: What is academic writing? Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 02 Using electronic databases Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 03 Citations and referencing Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Integrating theory into your writing Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Reading and writing Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Academic expectations Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Vocabulary: Academic and technical Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Genre & Rhetorical moves Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Making claims Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Students as ethnographers: Researching your community Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Culture: East & West Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Characteristics of effective academic writing Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

See Canvas site

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

See Canvas site

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. As a result of successfully completing this unit of study, you should be able to reflect on the role of literature in your academic writing.
  • LO2. As a result of successfully completing this unit of study, you should be able to introduce literature effectively within your academic writing.
  • LO3. As a result of successfully completing this unit of study, you should be able to reflect on your writing in terms of theory and practice underlying academic writing.
  • LO4. As a result of successfully completing this unit of study, you should be able to investigate context and apply it to a written assessment task.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

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Disclaimer

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