Course Catalogue

Module Code and Title:       ACS101          Academic Skills

Programme(s):                      University-wide module

Credit Value:                         12

Module Tutor(s):                   Poonam Chettri

General objective:

The Academic Skills module is designed to support students in their learning and provide generic skills that are required for university study. The focus will be on developing the skills of academic writing, oral presentation, and research skills, which will be delivered through classroom instruction, as well as through course work.

Learning outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

  1. Communicate effectively in both spoken and written academic forms.
  2. Select relevant information from a range of textual formats and synthesize through note taking, summarizing and paraphrasing and reformulate it in written and spoken form.
  3. Read texts at a variety of levels by applying skimming and scanning techniques, and reading for detailed understanding.
  4. Evaluate the credibility of sources (i.e. by author, publisher or website).
  5. Organize writing according to purpose of writing and text types through planning, organizing ideas, structuring, synthesizing, editing and proofreading.
  6. Develop own arguments and integrate these appropriately with source material in written and spoken form in line with the concepts of academic integrity.
  7. Cite sources and create a reference list using APA style.
  8. Deliver a formal academic oral presentation.
  9. Critically reflect on their own learning by organizing their learning and monitoring its progress by maintaining a portfolio.
  10. Appreciate and develop personal skills such as cooperation, negotiation, group work and leadership.
  11. Develop an independent approach to studying.

Learning and Teaching Approaches 

Tutors will employ an interactive, student-centered approach, integrating language and critical thinking skills using the following strategies over the 60 hours of contact time:

  • Demonstrations/Modeling (3 hours)
  • Practical exercises and activities/Task-based learning (18 hours)
  • Individual, pair and group work (e.g. Discussions, problem-solving activities, collaborative and individual tasks, peer feedback, debates, role-plays, etc.) (18 hours)
  • Process learning, with diagnosis, feedback and remediation (e.g., with portfolio tasks) (15 hours)
  • Presentations (6 hours)

Mode of Assessment:

Since this module is entirely assessed through coursework, a student must complete all 4 components of the assessment outlined below (portfolio; 2 class tests; presentation; essay) and get an aggregate mark of 50% in order to pass.

Continuous Assessment:

  • A Portfolio of work done in class and as homework including:    25%
  • Two Class Tests:                                                                          30%
  • An Oral Presentation:                                                                   15%
  • A Researched Assignment (essay):                                             30%
  • TOTAL:                                                                                         100%

Subject Matter:

Unit 1: Academic Standards (5 hours)

  1. Purpose of academic activity
  2. Features of academic writing
  3. academic argument and academic integrity/ethics

Unit 2: Note-taking (6 hours)

  1. Basics of note-taking
  2. Types of notes, strategies and activities
  3. Listening and note-taking

Unit 3: Academic Reading (13 hours)

  1. Identify text features & organization
  2. Reading Techniques (skimming/scanning, SQ3R)
  3. Locating, evaluating and selecting information
  4. Summarising/ paraphrasing academic texts
  5. Critical reading (author viewpoints/biases, reading for detail)

Unit 4: Academic Essay Writing (14 hours)

  1. Introduction to the Writing Process
  1. Pre-writing (gathering information; brainstorming; planning and outlining);
  2. drafting (writing);
  • revising & editing/proofreading
  1. Publishing
  2. Understanding & analysing assigned topics/directions (BUG); using the writing process
  3. Essay Format / Structure
  4. Introduction & Thesis statement
  5. Body paragraphs (topic sentences; supporting sentences with evidence/ examples/ explanation/ etc; concluding sentences / transitions; cohesive devices)
  • Conclusion

Unit 5: Referencing Techniques and APA format (10 hours)

  1. Introduction to using source materials
  1. what are sources?, relevant terms, introduction to paraphrasing source material
  2. Academic integrity and referencing
  3. Locating, Evaluating and Selecting Sources
  4. Using source materials for in-text citation
  5. Making end-text/reference lists
  6. Avoiding plagiarism

Unit 6: Oral Presentations (10 hours)

  1. Introduction to academic argument in oral settings and presentations
  2. Strategies for delivering an effective presentation
  3. structure, signposting

Unit 7: Types of writing (2 hours)

  1. Reflective writing or Report writing
  2. Or any other writing genres relevant to colleges: e.g., proposals/business plans, lab reports, and other technical writing types

Reading List

The “additional reading” list for this module includes books that have been distributed to the constituent colleges of the RUB. Students should be encouraged to use these references to enhance their study of the module.

Essential Reading

  1. Teacher materials for the Academic Skills module (January 2013).
  2. Student Materials for the Academic Skills module (January, 2013).

Suggested Reading

  1. American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
  2. Anderson, K., Macclean, J., & Lynch, T. (2007). Study speaking: A course in spoken English for academic purposes (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  3. Bailey, S. (2011). Academic writing: A handbook for international students (3rd). Abingdon, Oxford: Routledge.
  4. Blerkom, D.L. V. (2011). College study skills: Becoming a strategic learner. (7th ). Boston, MA: Wadsworth.
  5. Butler, L. (2007). Fundamentals of academic writing. New York: Pearson Longman.
  6. Cottrell, S. (2008). The study skills handbook (3rd ed.). New York: Palgrave
  8. Cottrell, S. (2011). Critical thinking skills: Developing effective analysis and argument. (2nd ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
  9. Cox, K., & David, H. (2007). EAP now!: Preliminary student book. N.S.W., Australia: Pearson Longman.
  10. Cox, K., & David, H. (2010). EAP now!: English for academic purposes. Teacher’s book. (2nd ed.). N.S.W., Australia: Pearson Longman.
  11. Cox, K., & David, H. (2011). EAP now!: Preliminary teacher’s book. N.S.W.,
  12. Australia: Pearson Longman.
  13. Cox, K., & David, H. (2011). EAP now!: English for academic purposes. Student’s book. N.S.W., Australia: Pearson Longman.
  14. Craven, M. (2008). Cambridge English skills real listening and speaking 3 with answers and audio CD. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  15. Eastwood, J. (2005). The Oxford Guide to English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  16. Gillet, A., Hammond, A., & Martala, M. (2009). Inside track successful academic writing. England: Pearson Education.
  17. Gillet, A. (2013, January 15). UEFAP (Using English for academic purposes): A guide for students in higher education. Retrieved from http://www.uefap.com
  18. Groarke, L.A., & Tindale, C.W. (2008). Good reasoning Matters!: A constructive approach to critical thinking. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  19. Hogue, A. (2007). First steps in academic writing. New York: Pearson Education ESL
  20. Open University (2011, July 15). Learning to change: 1.4 Study skills, other skills. Retrieved from http://www.open.edu/openlearn/education/learning-hange/contentsection-1.4
  21. Oshima, A., & Hogue, A. (2005). Writing academic English (4th ed.). White
  22. Plains, NY: Pearson Education.
  23. Oshima, A., & Hogue, A. (2006). Introduction to academic writing. (3rd ed.).
  24. New York: Pearson Longman
  25. OWL at Purdue (2013). Online writing lab: APA style. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/
  26. OWL at Purdue (2013). Online writing lab: General writing resources.
  27. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/
  28. Pears, R., & Shields, G. (2010). Cite them right: The essential referencing guide. (8th ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
  29. Philpot, S., & Curnick, L. (2007). New headway academic skills: Student's book
  30. Level 3: Reading, Writing, and Study Skills. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  31. Ramsey-Fowler, H., & Aaron, J.E. (2010). The little brown handbook. (11th ed.).
  32. New York: Pearson Longman.
  33. Renn, D. (2005). Strategies for college success: A study skills guide. Ann
  34. Arbor: University of Michigan.
  35. Royal University of Bhutan. (2010). Guidelines for teaching academic skills.
  36. (Electronic Version Available)
  37. Sebranek, P., Meyer, V., & Kemper, D. (2007). Write for college: A student handbook. Wilmington, Mass: Write Source, Great Source Education Group.
  38. Thomson, A.J., & Martinet, A.V. (2007). A practical English grammar Exercises
  39. New Delhi: Oxford University Press
  40. Thomson, A.J., & Martinet, A.V. (2009). A practical English grammar. (4th ed.).
  41. New Delhi: Oxford University Press
  42. Thomson, A.J., & Martinet, A.V. (2009). A practical English grammar Exercises I. New Delhi: Oxford University Press
  43. Turtor, N.D., & Heaton, J.B. (2011). Longman dictionary of common errors.
  44. New Delhi: Pearson Education.
  45. University of New South Wales (2012, June 19). Online academic skills resources. http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/olib.html
  46. University of Southampton (2009, November 6). Academic Skills. Retrieved from http://www.studyskills.soton.ac.uk.
  47. Waters, M., & Waters, A. (2010). Study tasks in English: Student’s book.
  48. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  49. Waters, M., & Waters, A. (2010). Study tasks in English CDs (2). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  50. http://www.owl.purdue.edu

Date last updated: January, 2013
Royal Thimphu College