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Faculty of Engineering |
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Critical Thinking and Writing (EG1413)
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Objectives
This course aims to foster the critical thinking, reading and writing skills which engineering students need to be successful in the university and in the engineering profession. Learners are taught the fundamentals of analyzing written ideas/arguments of others and they simultaneously practise writing approaches typical of the academic and professional settings: exposition, evaluation, analysis, argumentation and research.
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Format
EG1413 uses a combination of the following teaching methods.
Lectures : Dissemination of theories and principles of critical reading, thinking and writing;
Tutorials : Discussion/Application/Demonstration of theories outlined in lectures;
Conferences : Review and evaluation of written and oral work; and
Web based activities : Use of the IVLE (Discussion Forum) for posting student responses to and exchanging views on given topics.
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Assessment
Students are given both individual and team assignments. The individual assignment is an academic critique and the team assignment is a position paper on a social issue that the team is required to have done original research on. Students are also required to make an oral defence of their team's position paper. Evaluation is based on continual assessment and a final examination.
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English for Academic Purposes (EG1471)
EG1471 has been specifically designed to help you function more effectively in English academically. The primary focus of this course is on writing academic texts. To help you prepare for your writing tasks, are readings, discussion as well as grammar exercises which you will do in class, via the Integrated Virtual Learning Environment (IVLE) or in CELC's Self Access English Learning Facility (SELF). You are also required to build a portfolio which contains all the work you have done throughout the course to demonstrate your effort in improving language and writing skills..
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Objectives
1. To prepare for your writing tasks, you will develop the ability to:
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extend concepts from reading for organization to your writing
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use ideas from reading to stimulate and support your writing
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comment critically on your own writing and your peers’ writing |
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compose logically-organized and coherent academic texts |
| 2. To understand organization and meaning in reading, you will develop ability
to identify
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wrriter’s thesis |
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paragraph-thesis connection |
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connections between paragraphs |
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paragraph-level main ideas |
| 3. To further enhance your reading skills, you will: |
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build up reading speed |
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improve your general reading comprehension |
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understand vocabulary in context through a Reading Lab |
| 4. To function effectively in English academically, you will develop ability to : |
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understand common grammatical rules |
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apply the rules to identify and correct errors in given texts and your own writing |
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Method of Teaching
This course contains approximately equal time of instruction and writing time. You will do group and individual work in this course. During the instruction time, you will learn and practice the different stages of writing and reading strategies, discuss readings and do some grammar exercises. During writing time, which may be in the classroom or a computer lab, you will practice the stages of writing. In addition, you will have the opportunity to present your ideas orally, give and receive peer feedback, and meet your teacher individually to discuss your writing.
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Assessment
The final course grade is obtained from the final exam (40%) and class activities or continual assessment (60%). The latter will comprise a writing portfolio (15%) and 4 graded writing assignments. For a detailed break-down of the final exam and continual assessment items, please see the information below.
The writing portfolio (15 marks) will consist of ALL your in-class work, your SRA work and any extra work you have done to improve your general language proficiency and academic writing skills this semester. Your writing portfolio will also reflect your course attendance and class participation. A separate handout will be given to you detailing the requirements for the portfolio.
The four graded assignments comprise one paragraph (5 marks), an academic essay (10 marks), a mock exam (15 marks) and a grammar presentation (5 marks). Paragraphs and essays will be written at least twice, that is, you will be given opportunities to revise and edit your work. You will choose which of your paragraph assignments you wish to be graded. |
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