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.Sc. Sümeyra Uyurca suyurca@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 Business Informatics (3 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	75%
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 , analyse 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	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; My first essay, Process writing Understanding process writing, the writing method used in most English-speaking university classes. Source:,Dorothy E. Zemach, Lisa A. Rumisek (2005 ) 1-5
2	Pre-writing: Getting ready to write, Learn how to choose and narrow a topic, gather ideas, and edit ideas. Source:,Dorothy E. Zemach, Lisa A. Rumisek (2005) 5-11
3	Grammar: Tenses, Conditionals - source:Mark F., Diane H. (2003)
4	The structure of a paragraph, The development of a paragraph, Learn the definition of a paragraph, the parts of a paragraph, how to identify and write topic sentences. Source:,Dorothy E. Zemach, Lisa A. Rumisek (2005) 11-24
5	Grammar, Reported speech, Relative clauses. Source: Mark F., Diane H. (2003)
6	Descriptive and process paragraphs, Learn about descriptive paragraphs and reasons for writing them, organization, and writing a descriptive paragraph using adjectives and prepositions. Source:,Dorothy E. Zemach, Lisa A. Rumisek (2005) 25-32
7	Opinion paragraphs, Learn how to distinguish between fact and opinion, organize and write a paragraph that expresses opinions and arguments, use transitive words to express causation, use modal expressions to make recommendations. Source:,Dorothy E. Zemach, Lisa A. Rumisek (2005) 33-39
8	Midterm Exam
9	Comparison / Contrast paragraphs, Learn about compare/contrast paragraphs and reasons for writing them, how to organize compare/contrast paragraphs, linking words used to compare and contrast topics, how to write about the advantages and disadvantages of a topic. Source:,Dorothy E. Zemach, Lisa A. Rumisek (2005) 40-49
10	Problem / Solution paragraphs, Write about problems and solutions, use real conditionals, write a two-paragraph text with connecting phrases. Source:,Dorothy E. Zemach, Lisa A. Rumisek (2005) 50-55
11	The structure of an essay, Outlining an essay, Introduction and conclusions, Learn the definition of an essay, how to format an essay, how to write a thesis statement. Source:,Dorothy E. Zemach, Lisa A. Rumisek (2005) 56-77
12	Unity and coherence, Learn the importance of unity in essay writing, how to edit an essay for unity, the importance of coherence in essay writing, methods of creating coherence. Source:,Dorothy E. Zemach, Lisa A. Rumisek (2005) 78-87
13	Present essays.
14	Present essays. Review for finals.

Prerequisite(s):	Students enrolling to ENG 109 , Development of Reading and Writing Skills in English course 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):	Dorothy E. Zemach, Lisa A. Rumisek (2005). Academic writing from paragraph to essay; Dr. John Morley (2017)- The Academic Phrasebank Academic Writing for Graduate Students; Mark F., Diane H. (2003). Advanced Learners` Grammar.
Additional Literature:	N/A
Laboratory Work:	N/A
Computer Usage:	N/A
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Students will develop academic vocabulary skills in English
2	Students will be able to academically inform, describe, express their opinion, offer a solution to an issue in spoken and written English, while maintaining unity and coherence.
3	Students will be able to critically read and discuss essays.
4	Students will be able to interact using academic English.

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

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in Business Informatics (3 years) Program
1	Identify activities, tasks, and skills in management, marketing, accounting, finance, and economics.	4
2	Apply key theories to practical problems within the global business context.	4
3	Demonstrate ethical, social, and legal responsibilities in organizations.	4
4	Develop an open minded-attitude through continuous learning and team-work.	5
5	Integrate different skills and approaches to be used in decision making and data management.	4
6	Combine computer skills with managerial skills, in the analysis of large amounts of data.	3
7	Provide solutions to complex information technology problems.	3
8	Recognize, analyze, and suggest various types of information-communication systems/services that are encountered in everyday life and in the business world.	4

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)	16	2.5	40
Mid-terms	1	7	7
Assignments			0
Final examination	1	9	9
Other	2	2.5	5
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

The desire to write/ practice the theory was low in slower students and the changing levels was a reason not to have highly effective classes. In English language classes like this, the classes could be formed according to the English language levels of the students to have better results for all levels.