COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: DEVELOPING READING AND WRITING SKILLS

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
ENG 109	A	1	2	0	2	3	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Dr. Mirela Alhasani malhasani@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Dr. Mirela Alhasani malhasani@epoka.edu.al , Tuesday 13.30 - 15.30
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) 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:	Classroom D-301
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	75% Mandatory
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 equip students with the analytical/critical reading and writing skills needed to carry out academic endowments at Epoka University as well as in any other professional or academic English speaking environment . - to Acquire an awareness of and ability to use effectively the discourse patterns of academic English - to improve the reading and learning styles of students enabling them to think, read, reflect , analyze and write more effectively and coherently - To have the opportunity to develop writing process through generating ideas, drafting, peer evaluation and team work assessment - to sharpen reading, writing and public speaking skills through defending the written work convincingly through argument in verbal manner.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	This EAP class is based on needs assessment analysis.
2	Development of critical reading and writing
3	Learner-centered classroom
4	Self- reflection of abundant academic literature in the domain.
5	To enrich the upper intermediate and advanced English competence in reading, speaking , writing about IT themes
6	Essay and paper structure , style, register , tone , citation
7	To read, analyze, defend and present verbally and orally IT case studies

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to academic reading /writing (John Slaght, pp13-22; Cassutto 1-34/ The primal scene of academic writing and reading. why academic reading and writing is different from other reading and writing tasks? Youtube lecture EAP series UK.
2	Development of effective reading styles Slaght and Pallant, pp 1-11- effective reading styles theory and practical sessions in class.
3	Logic, language and functions of organizing paragraphs; Cassutto pp 39-65. Lecturers Note. - Internet based lecture EAP series and argumentation
4	Planning an Essay/ writing first draft ( Anne Pallant, pp 16-25_. Cassutto pp 60-86
5	Organizing/supportive ideas and incorporating/referencing sources- lecturer's note (John Slaght, pp31-42); Cassutto pp 86-109/ when and how to cite; what should you cite? Footnotes and endnotes.
6	The SPSIE (situation-problems-solutions-implications-evaluation) approach
7	Midterm exam week- case study form of exam
8	Online guest speaker, Academic writing norms and skills for future publication. Editor of Oxford Journal of Applied Linguistics. Other practical peer evaluations from students' group tasks
9	Paragraph development; types of paragraphs, writing extended definitions, intro and conclusions (Anne Pallant ,52-63. Cassutto , pp 86-98 the geometry of paragraphs
10	Developing your ideas into writing: Analyzing the question ( A. Pallant, pp 64-77)/ Cassutto pp 123-151 Jargon and Judgment; tone , style jargon issues
11	Paragraph development: coherence and cohesion- practical session . peer evaluation
12	Online Keynote guest speaker ; Editor of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes -University of NIS, Serbia/ Other Writing about Cause and Effect, Lecturer's not. practical session
13	Writing to compare and contrast- Lecturer's note. practical exercises/
14	Practical Academic reading and writing illustrations /lecturer and peer feedback prior to final exam.

Prerequisite(s):	Students enrolling to ENG 103 Development of Reading and Writing Skills in English should have taken advanced score B2 and/or C1 level at Aptis entry test held at the premises of Epoka University prior to course registration and students' enrollment.
Textbook(s):	Mandatory Course books: Leonard Cassutto, Academic Writing as if readers matter, Princeton University Press, 2024 John Slaght, English for Academic Study: Reading, Garnet Education, UK First Edition 2021 Anne Pallant, English for Academic Study: Writing, Garnet Education, UK, 2021
Additional Literature:	Artificial Intelligence Tools. Podcast on academic writing by EWAA. Invited guest speakers Theoretical Lectures by the professor of the course. Center of Academic Writing at Central European University, Vienna. YouTube open lecturers on Academic English. Purdue University online writing sources.
Laboratory Work:
Computer Usage:	For research, writing, source citation, and presentations
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	At the End of the Academic course students will be able to develop reading and writing skills in an analytical way
2	They will be able to conduct research on a phenomenon. individually and in teams,
3	They will cover Sophisticated literature , be selective on credibility of the information
4	They will be able to gather data, build up convincing arguments and express them effectively both in written and verbal forms
5	Students will be able to enrich and enhance their vocabulary and linguistic patterns on English for Academic Purposes
6	Students will be able to prepare presentation and defend it orally to public in advanced English.

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.	4
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.	3
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.	4
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.	3
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	5
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.
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
Homework	5	5
Case Study	1	15
Final Exam	1	60
	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	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	5	2	10
Mid-terms	0	0	0
Assignments	2	15	30
Final examination	1	12	12
Other			0
Total Work Load:			100
Total Work Load/25(h):			4
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER