Study Guide

Objectives (course unit)

This course deals with academic communication in sufficient depth and detail to enable students to present research work and write reports in academic style, as may be required for other courses in this degree programm. Most of the topics covered will also be relevant to writing a final thesis, so this course can be considered as a basic introduction to that process.

After completing the course, the students will be able to:

- Demonstrate familiarity with the principles of academic communication.
- Access and critically evaluate relevant source materials.
- Get familiar with the concept of plagiarism and know how to avoid it in their own work.
- Incorporate in-text references to source materials and compile a list of sources, following TAMK requirements.
- Produce academic texts which meet set criteria: clear, accurate and formal English, coherent structure.
- Present constructive and well-justified verbal arguments and feedback in formal, face-to-face academic settings, such as seminars and public lectures.
- Utilize resources and learning strategies to develop their own communication skills independently.

Content (course unit)

What are the key features of academic communication and how does it differ from organizational communication?
What are the roles of verbal and written communication in the academic context?
What norms and standards must academic writing meet?
What stages must a a writer process to produce an academic text?

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The student communicates in comprehensible English overall and shows some awareness of the norms for different types of text. References to source materials are included where appropriate.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The student's English is mainly clear and appropriate. Written work meets the norms for different types of text, including scientific reporting. Oral communication is professional. Requirements regarding participation, meeting deadlines etc. are mainly fulfilled.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student's written English is formal and accurate and displays appropriate variation in style, reports meet the norms for different types of text. He/she shows ability to access and select appropriate information. References to source materials are incorporated accurately and in a variety of ways, source materials are expertly paraphrased. Oral expression is fluent and professional.

Exam schedules

No Exams! Written academic essay is required at the end of the course.

Assessment methods and criteria

This course emphasizes academic writing and the evaluation is based on a 0-5 grading scale where 0 fails and 5 is excellent. Active participation in class and online collaborative platforms are required. To get a minimum pass, students need to get at least know the technicalities in writing, use the report template correctly, and learn how to reference text correctly in accordance with TAMK's requirement. (see the report guide) and a minimum of 6 points accumulated through attending sessions and doing exercises, and, at least one submitted essay.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Lectures, hands-on in-class activities and exercises, and group discussions.

Learning materials

Materials will be provided on TUNI Moodle plus student created materials.

Student workload

Research and writing.

Completion alternatives

Accreditation of previously-written academic text in Hight Education Institute could be considerd.

International connections

Optional for extra 3- 5 credits of work in the Global Virtual Teams project.

Further information

There is a presentation of your final essay after submission.

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student has not attended 80% of the sessions, has not used the report template correctly, and has not written the references correctly as required by TAMK.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Satisfactory (1-2):
The student has attended the minimum lessons of 80%. He/she communicates in comprehensible English on the whole and shows some awareness of the norms for different types of text; references to source materials are included where appropriate. Requirements regarding participation, meeting deadlines etc. are minimally fulfilled.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Good: (3-4)
The student has attained at least, 80% of attendance. His/her English is mainly clear and appropriate. Written work meets norms for different types of text, including scientific reporting. Oral communication is professional. Requirements regarding participation, meeting deadlines etc. are mainly fulfilled. The student has used multiple sources of academic writers in his/her work accurately in accordance with TAMK's report guide.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Excellent (5)
Students’ written English is formal and accurate and displays appropriate variation in style; reports meet norms for different types of text; students show the ability to access and select appropriate information; references to source materials are incorporated accurately and in a variety of ways; source materials are expertly paraphrased. The student has used multiple sources of academic writers in his/her work accurately in accordance with TAMK's report guide. Oral expression is fluent and professional. Requirements regarding participation, meeting deadlines etc. are consistently fulfilled.