Online Preparatory English: Reading and Writing

The Online Preparatory English: Reading and Writing course focuses on key elements of academic English required for writing essays and completing written tasks at the undergraduate level. It covers a range of topics including avoiding plagiarism, academic vocabulary, academic grammar, and various writing structures. Its online activities promote independent, flexible learning and include self-checked, peer-reviewed, and tutor-assessed learning tasks culminating in the production of a short academic essay. During the course, the students learn to identify and select appropriate academic vocabulary, such as using reported speech verbs, and also to exercise greater control of key tenses by recognising the need for tense shifts.

Furthermore, students will acquire important skills in avoiding plagiarism (e.g. paraphrasing, summarising, and referencing) and utilise suitable organisational structures when writing essays for different purposes (e.g. cause and effect and problem-solution). Overall, this course will support students in gaining an insight into academic style in accordance with the formal requirements of university study.