Academic Skills

The aim of the course is to give 1st-year international students of a taught

MA in Psychology the necessary oral presentation skills and academic

writing skills to structure and present their ideas effectively in English.

The course is designed to present, practise and produce the basic skills

required in an academic environment, with particular attention given to

psychology as the area of students’ interest and study. The oral and visual

presentation skills and the academic writing skills practised during the

course will focus on students being able to communicate a clear, precise

and cohesive message to their audience and will focus on utilising

appropriate register and textual organisation. Students will work with a

variety of texts and be able to identify and summarise the main ideas in

their own work and in others’. Students are expected to be prepared for

lessons, to participate actively in discussions and activities and to

continue learning and improving their skills throughout the course.

Some useful texts for the course:

 Cory, Hugh (1999). Advanced Writing with English in Use:

Advanced (CAE). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 Hewings, Martin (2005). Advanced Grammar in Use. Cambridge:

Cambridge University Press.

 McCarthy M., & O'Dell, F. (2009). Academic Vocabulary in Use.

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

 Random House Handbook (1987). Fifth edition. Random House.

NB: The majority of the texts will come from the instructor’s own

materials or materials specially prepared for the course by the instructor.

Useful online resources:

 https://www.simplypsychology.org/

 http://www.siue.edu/education/psychology/faculty/writingresources.shtml

 https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl

 https://www.psychologytoday.com/

Students will become familiar with and competent in the use of academic

discourse in their particular field of study. After extensive practice, they

will have a clear understanding of academic register, the importance of

academic integrity and the basic rules of APA style. Receptive and

productive skills in English will be enhanced and students will find a more

fluent and effective style for presenting their ideas in the English

language.

Students may not miss more than two classes without a clearly

documented medical justification. Exceeding this limit will result in a

student failing the course.

Points for the course are awarded as follows:

a) Attendance/preparation/participation 30 pts

b) Mini presentation 10 pts (based on an academic article)

c) Main presentation 20 pts (based on academic essay and given

during final class)

d) Academic essay (ca.750 words) 40 pts

Final grades for the course:

5 (85+)

4+ (79-85%)

4 (73-78%)

3+ (67-72%)

3 (60-66%)

2 (below 60%)