COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: DEVELOPING READING AND WRITING SKILLS

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
ENG 109	D	1	2	0	2	4	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	NA
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	M.A. Ada Cara acara@epoka.edu.al
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:
Course Description:	The Development of Reading and Writing Skills in English course is intended for students in the B2 or C levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to build on their prior English skills and foster academic and life-long learning skills in English. The course focuses on providing students with the theoretical or conceptual basis for working in academic English and practical assignments and activities in which to develop their skills. Specific foci include developing strong academic reading strategies and familiarizing students with different types of academic texts, including essays, reports, and scholarly articles. Furthermore, the course familiarizes students with academic vocabulary, phrases, and style in English. The primary focus is on building reading and writing skills, but the development of speaking and listening skills is also an essential component of the course.
Course Objectives:	To enhance English proficiency from low intermediate to high intermediate towards advanced level - To improve speaking. writing, reading and listening skills - To build up confidence in general English and academic English jargon - To make a smooth gradual introduction to academic writing - To comprehend and use sophisticated grammar knowledge accurately - To enrich vocabulary needed for daily, professional and academic usage

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Critiquing the logic and evidence of arguments presented in text.
2	Students will have built up verbal interaction confidence in colorful discussions.
3	Drafting a well refined research paper related to a topic of their interest.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction; Review guideline; Process Writing
2	Writing Strategies and Techniques; Pre-writing
3	Sentence Structure; Paragraph Writing; Unity and Coherence
4	Ethics in Research Paper Writing and Referencing Style
5	Paraphrasing and Argument; Exercises
6	Reading and Comprehension Strategies; The Development of a Paragraph
7	Introduction to Rhetoric; Exercises and Review
8	Midterm Exam
9	Discovery of arguments; Writing Introduction and Conclusion
10	Essay and Report Writing; Exercises
11	Critical thinking in Writing; Exercises
12	Presentation Skills; Debrief Semester
13	Presentation
14	Presentation

Prerequisite(s):	None
Textbook(s):	The Best of Socrates: The Founding Philosophies of Ethics, Virtues & Life. Berg Larry (2014) Dr. John Morley (2017)- The Academic Phrasebank Academic Writing for Graduate Students, 3rd Edition: Essential Skills and Tasks John M. Swales & Christine B. Feak (2012)
Additional Literature:
Laboratory Work:
Computer Usage:
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Students will be able to distinguish and to successfully write formal essays, persuasive writing, reports, professional emails.
2	Students will have improved their critical and analytical reading skills through exposure to authentic materials such as newspapers, magazines, journals, books, leaflets, brochures.
3	Students will strengthen collaborative skills, socialization and group coherence in fulfilling the projects and presentations.
4	Students will overall improve the four skills and possess a better command of grammar structured as applied for academic context.

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years) Program
1	Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources.	2
2	Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches.	2
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.	3
4	Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions.	5
5	Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations.	4
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	2
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.	3
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.	3
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.
10	Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge.
11	Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments.
12	Having consciousness about human rights and environment.
13	Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning.

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)	1	20
Presentation	1	10
Term Paper	1	20
Final Exam	1	40
Other	1	10
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	4	64
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	14	2	28
Mid-terms	1	7	7
Assignments	1	15	15
Final examination	1	11	11
Other			0
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

Students will critically discuss texts and ideas in a seminar format and present their research in an ethical way.