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.

Location and time

B3-27

Exam schedules

There is no exam. To pass the course, a student should:
- Attend 80% of the lessons.
- Complete the exercises on Moodle.
- Submit the required assignments on time.
- Participate in the essay presentation.
- Write a reflective self-evaluation essay.

Assessment methods and criteria

Evaluation is based on completing 80% of attendance and completion of coursework.
Participation and activity in the lessons should be, at least 80%.
Coursework, assignments and self-study make up 20% of the final grade (submitted to the designated folders)

Using TAMK's template correctly
Make sure in-text references follow TAMK's recommended style.
Make sure the List of references has been correctly written, following TAMK's recommended style, it is arranged in alphabetical order and the references have the corresponding in-text references.
Giving feedback and reflective self-evaluation essay 20%
The final essay is 60%. Make sure to acknowledge using artificial intelligence ChatGPT with a score not exceeding 20% of your work.
A minimum of grade 3 will be awarded if all the conditions are fulfilled.
If the references are not written correctly, it is an automatic FAIL

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Lectures, group work, workshops, consultation

Learning materials

Materials will be provided on TUNI-Moodle, in addition to student's materials.

Student workload

Students must:
- search for authentic source materials for their selected or chosen topic for writing the literature-based essay.
- learn how to write in-text citations and bibliography correctly per TAMK's recommendations as in TAMK's report guide.

Content scheduling

Initial theory
Writing processes
Draft and consultation
Proofreading exercises and activities
Presentations and submission of final essays

Completion alternatives

A student can complete this course by accreditation: that is if the student has previously written a thesis for a higher education institute or completed a course with similar content.

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

The students accumulate points from the coursework.
Marks Grade 20 60
90-100 5 20 60
85-89 4 15 55
70-84 3 10 50
<70 Fail