The EAP curriculum has three components (Academic Writing Skills, Reading Skills and Seminar Skills).
Each component has its own sub-divisions.
ACADEMIC WRITING SKILLS
a) Sentence/paragraph level
i) Sentence synthesis
Word order (positioning of adverbials); Concord (subject/verb agreement); Balance and contrast (clauses of concession); Connectives; Relative pronouns/clauses; Participle clauses; Using the comma; Using the colon and semi-colon; Using the hyphen; Using the dash; Using the apostrophe.
ii) Language control
Verb patterns (e.g. gerund/infinitive); Verb tenses; The 'unreal' past; The passive voice; Prepositions and prepositional phrases; Modal verbs; Articles.
iii) Accuracy
Spelling rules and patterns (with particular emphasis on prefixes and suffixes); Confusing words (words that look alike or sound the same); Appropriate word formation (noun/verb/adjective/adverb); Appropriate use of vocabulary.
b) Text level / The writing process
i) Organising/structuring an essay
Introduction (+ thesis statement); Body paragraphs (+ topic sentences and supporting details); Conclusion; Drafting; Editing.
ii) Style
Standard/formal/informal (social) English – register; Idiomatic English; Emphatic English (e.g. inversion, cleft); Academic versus literary ('creative') English; American versus British English; Writing articles; Writing reports; Discursive writing.
iii) Researching material
Avoiding plagiarism; Referencing and paraphrasing
Academic reading skills
Vocabulary in context; Skimming and scanning (reading for gist); Recognising topic sentences/main message; Taking effective notes; Summarising.
Seminar skills
a) Discussions (focus groups/whole class)
Developing the skills of co-operation and negotiation; group planning; problem solving; decision making; prioritising; speculating; expressing personal opinions/a balanced argument.
b) Presentations
Effective structuring: coherence and cohesion; effective delivery: pacing, clear articulation, intelligibility; engaging the audience
KEY INFO
Entry:
Students are given a “placement test” prior to commencement and are allocated a class and level according to the result
Qualification:
Cavendish College Certificate
Duration:
Flexible course duration depending on student needs CONTACT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS STAFF FOR MORE DETAILS LEARN@CAVENDISH.AC.UK
Assessment:
Tests (Writing, Reading, Listening and Speaking) which vary depending on the chosen course
Course commencement:
Flexible starting dates CONTACT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS FOR DETAILS LEARN@CAVENDISH.AC.UK
