EPOKA UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF LAW AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
COURSE SYLLABUS
2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR
COURSE INFORMATIONCourse 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 International Marketing and Logistics Management (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 |
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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 |
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COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
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| 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. |
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COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
(Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution) |
| No | Program Competencies | Cont. |
| Bachelor in International Marketing and Logistics Management (3 years) Program | ||
| 1 | Identify activities, tasks, and skills in management, marketing, accounting, finance, and economics. | 2 |
| 2 | Apply key theories to practical problems within the global business context. | 2 |
| 3 | Demonstrate ethical, social, and legal responsibilities in organizations. | 3 |
| 4 | Develop an open minded-attitude through continuous learning and team-work. | 5 |
| 5 | Use technology to enable business growth and sustainability. | 4 |
| 6 | Synthesize creativity needed for marketing notion with scientific method and numerical skills, for achieving business sustainability. | 2 |
| 7 | Apply the concepts and structures of modern marketing in global context at private and public sectors. | 3 |
| 8 | Integrate the management of logistics, supply chain and in total operations with corporate goals and strategies. | 3 |
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COURSE EVALUATION METHOD
|
| Method | Quantity | Percentage |
| Homework |
5
|
5
|
| Case Study |
1
|
15
|
| Final Exam |
1
|
60
|
| Total Percent: | 100% |
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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
|