BUS301 ACADEMIC ENGLISH

Unit Guide

TRIMESTER 1 2022
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 BUS301 ACADEMIC ENGLISH
TRIMESTER 1 2022

About BUS301 Academic English

CONTACTS
Below is a list of contacts for this unit. Please liaise directly with your unit instructor regarding
appropriate consultation times. It is usually best to make contact with the staff via email.

Unit Instructor Ms. Anna Loseva

Email: anna.loseva@isb.edu.vn
Student Advisor Dang Thi Phuong Trang
41-43 Vo Van Tan, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, HCMC
Phone: (028) 3920 9999 Ext: 207 Email: trang.dang@isb.edu.vn

UNIT OVERVIEW
In this unit, students will work on developing reading, writing, presentation, debate, and
research skills that can prepare them for academic and employment success. These skills
can be applied in the academic environment and in the workplace. The important part of
developing these skills will involve learning to work collaboratively and productively with
others, as well as critically engaging new ideas and practices. This unit also assists students
to effectively find, read, analyze and reference articles and then write a logical and
well-structured essay.

PRE-REQUISITES
None

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Assessment Information

UNIT LEARNING OUTCOMES

The table below outlines the unit learning outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. Upon completion of
this unit, students will be able to:

1. Critically analyze and assess arguments presented in both scholarly and popular texts.
Formulate coherent arguments and present evidence based on analysis of information
2.
to develop and support a position.
3. Develop a comprehensive understanding of the academic research process.
4. Use sources to support an argument as well as avoid plagiarism in writing.
Write an academic essay using appropriate academic writing style, citations, and
5.
bibliographies based on internationally-recognized formats (APA).

ASSESSMENT SUMMARY

VALUE LEARNING
ASSESSMENT ITEM DUE DATE
(%) OUTCOMES
Quiz (individual)
1. Session 1-12 10% ULO 3-4}
In class
Group essay
On e-learning
Session 3: Submit online (in-class workshop)
2. Session 5: Submit final draft (in-class Session 7 15% ULO 1-5
workshop)
Session 6: Submit second draft (in-class
workshop)
Poster presentation (individual)
3. Session 10 15% ULO 1-4
In class
Debate (Group)
4. Session 11 15% ULO 1-2, 4
In class
Capstone project presentation (individual) 3 days after
5. 15% ULO 1-5
On e-learning Session 12
Essay (individual)
On e-learning
Session 7: Submit topic and outline (in-class
10 days after
6. workshop) 30% ULO 1-5
Session 12
Session 8: Submit 3-column research notes
(in-class workshop)
Session 12: Submit draft (in-class workshop)

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Final marks and grades are subject to confirmation by the School Assessment Committees
which may scale, modify or otherwise amend the marks and grades for the unit, as may be
required by the University’s policies.
🛈 Note: To successfully complete this unit, students must:
▪ Achieve a minimum of 50 marks;
▪ Complete all assessment items; and
▪ Attend 80 percent of class time.

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Assessment 1: Quiz (10%)

Overview
Quizzes aim to check students’ level of knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and
applied content of the subject. Questions will cover all material in the Readings assigned
before the session.
Details
Format: multiple-choice or open-ended questions
Length: 5-10 minutes
Submission: in class

Assessment 2: Group essay (15%)

Overview
Students will work in groups of 4-5 to deliver a 1000-1200 word group essay citing at least 5
references from reliable academic sources. Three in-class workshops will be held in
preparation for the essay submission. Essay topics and group members will be decided in
Session 2. The group assignment cover sheet should be used in the submission file (see
e-learning).
Details
Format: strictly a .doc file
Length: 1000-1200 words (+/-10%), excluding reference list
Submission: by Session 7, on e-learning

Assessment 3: Poster presentation (15%)

Overview
Students will work individually to present the content of their individual essay assignments in
the format of a poster. In Session 10, students will hold 30-40 minute poster sessions,
explaining their research and answering questions from their peers and the teacher.
Details
Format: (1) poster presentation and discussion in class; (2) link to the poster file on
e-learning
Length: 30-40 minutes
Submission: Session 10, in class and on e-learning

Assessment 4: Debate (15%)

Overview
There will be three debating sessions throughout the course with the purpose to introduce
students to this type of formal communication. During the sessions, students will debate on
the assigned topics in teams and receive group scores for the final debates in Session 11.

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Details
Format: group debate
Submission: Session 11, in class

Assessment 5: Capstone project presentation (15%)

Overview
Capstone project is a collection of “course artifacts” that a student has produced during the
course, each followed by a critical reflection/explanation of how this item relates to the
student’s achievement of the learning outcomes of the course. Course artifacts may include:
any of the weekly homework assignments, class assignments, notes for debate
preparation, individual contributions to group essays, poster presentation or notes in
preparation for it, or any other individually produced evidence of a student’s learning. Format
of the submitted Capstone project: a recording of a screencast presentation accompanied by
a .pdf collection of the artifacts. The guidelines for the video recording content will be
provided by the lecturer.
Details
Format: (1) link to a video recording file stored on Google Drive (enable access for “Anyone
with the link” in the sharing settings); (2) .pdf file of the project
Length: 10-12 minutes
Submission: three days after Session 12, on e-learning

Assessment 6: Individual essay (30%)

Overview
There will be no final exam for this class. Instead, students will submit an individual essay 10
days after the course ends. The essay will contain 1200-1500 words citing at least 6
references from reliable academic sources. Individual essay topics must be related to group
essay topics, and will be chosen individually by each student and confirmed by the lecturer.
The individual assignment cover sheet should be used in the submission file (see e-learning).
Details
Format: .pdf or .doc file
Length: 1200-1500 words (+/-10%), excluding reference list
Submission: ten days after Session 12, on e-learning

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Teaching Activities

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

Required
Session Topic Assignment Due
Readings
INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC
ENGLISH

Introduction to Academic English: What

1 to expect and what will be expected of Chapters 1-2 Quiz due in class
you
Chapter 1 – Beginning university
studies
Chapter 2 – Managing your writing
GROUP WORK IN UNIVERSITY

• Quiz due in class

Group work
Chapters 3, • Form groups and
2 Presentation skill 12 pick topics for
Chapter 3 – Understanding the task group essay
Chapter 12 – Tutorials, oral
presentations, and group work
CRITICAL THINKING • Quiz due in class
• Submit outline of
Critical thinking: Engaging with a group essay
3 source, analysis and evaluation Chapters 4-5 (workshop)
Critical reading and note-taking
Chapter 4 – Thinking critically
Chapter 5 – Reading and note-taking
ACADEMIC ESSAY

Preparing to write: Genre, audience,

purpose
4 Chapters 6-7 Quiz due in class
The academic essay, forming an
argument thesis statement
Chapter 6 – The academic essay
Chapter 7 –The academic genres
ACADEMIC ARGUMENT AND
EVIDENCE, PART 1
• Quiz due in class
Chapter 8 • Submit first draft
5 Academic argument
(pp.196-205) of group essay
Hedging language (workshop)
Chapter 8 – Academic argument and
evidence

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ACADEMIC ARGUMENT AND

EVIDENCE, PART 2 • Quiz due in class
Research and sources: Evaluating, • Submit second
Chapter 8
6 using, and citing a source (focus on draft of group
(pp.205-240)
APA Format) essay
Chapter 8 – Academic argument and (workshop)
evidence
• Quiz due in class
• Submit topic and
DEBATE SESSION #1 outline of
Extra
7 individual essay
materials
Introduction to debate (workshop)
• Group essay due
on e-learning
FEATURES OF ACADEMIC WRITING
STYLE
• Quiz due in class
Grammar and language features of • 3-column
Chapters research notes
8 academic writing
9-10 for the individual
Chapter 9 – Features of academic essay
writing (workshop)
Chapter 10 – Grammar in academic
writing
DEBATE SESSION #2
Extra
9 Quiz due in class
materials
Group debate practice
• Quiz due in class
• Poster
POSTER PRESENTATION Extra
10 presentation due
CONFERENCE materials
in class

• Quiz due in class

Extra
11 FINAL DEBATE • Debate due in
materials
class
EDITING AND ENGAGING WITH
FEEDBACK • Quiz due in class
12 Editing, revision, working with feedback Chapter 11 • Submit draft of
individual essay
Chapter 11 – Editing, proofreading, (workshop)
and receiving feedback

Three days after Session 12: Capstone

project presentation due on
e-learning
Ten days after Session 12: Individual
essay due on e-learning

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Learning Resources

ESSENTIAL READINGS

Prescribed UniStep Academic Skills Guide. University of Western Sydney. 2007

textbook (soft copy-PDF form).
Recommended Selected texts available on E-learning handouts
readings Video clips/ PowerPoint materials

ONLINE RESOURCES

E-library http://search.proquest.com/login
Username: UEHCMC2010
Password: thuvien0810
E-learning https://learn.kfo.edu.vn/

REFERENCING REQUIREMENTS
Student assignments are to contain original content created by the students. Assignments
will be rejected if they include plagiarized content or contain excessive amounts of
quoted/cited material and minimal original content. Students will receive a grade of ZERO
(0%) for any assignments rejected for this reason. Written assignments WILL BE CHECKED
by the lecturer with Turnitin.com, an online plagiarism-checking tool.
Furthermore, your reference to support your statements must be from a reliable source, such
as textbooks, additional reading materials, and reference books. However, many websites
are not reliable sources. Examples are Wikipedia.org, about.com, and ask.com. If you are not
sure if a reference is acceptable or not, please contact the lecturer.
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th ed., will
serve as the primary reference materials for all students. Therefore, all papers must be
submitted in APA format. The mechanics of student papers and work will be evaluated, as
well as the content. It is imperative that guidelines be reviewed before an assignment is
begun. It is also important that the required submission format be followed in compiling the
final paper or assignment.

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General Information & Policy

Submission
Assignment cover sheet
▪ All assignments are required to be submitted with an Assignment Cover Sheet.
▪ Group assignments are to be submitted with a Group Assignment Cover Sheet as well
as a Peer Evaluation Form depending on the request of the unit instructor.
Non-contributing team members can sometimes be an issue with group-work structured
assessment. Individual student group work scores may be adjusted as a result of peer
dissatisfaction with a particular student’s contribution to group work assignments, as reflected
in submissions of the evaluation form.

🛈 NOTE:
▪ Assignment cover sheets and the evaluation form can be located on E-learning system
(https://learn.kfo.edu.vn/)
▪ Students are advised to keep a copy of all assignments submitted for marking.
Submission style
Assignments are expected to achieve a professional standard:
▪ Be typed, one and a half spaced, on A4 paper
▪ Use a simple clear format, suitable for a report to senior management in a commercial
organization.
Submission method
Soft copy: submitted electronically via the E-learning system (https://learn.kfo.edu.vn/)
before the deadline (Suggested title: Student name/Group name_Unitname_Name of
Assignment).
Hard copy: submitted to your lecturer(s) on the due date if required.
Late assignment and make-up policy
All quizzes, the mid-term tests, group assignments, and final exams must be taken on the
assigned dates. No late assignments will be accepted unless prior authorization is granted by
the Unit Coordinator. In case such an authorization is not granted, grade deduction will be
applied. The Unit Coordinator may decide not to accept assignments that are not submitted
within 3 days after the assignment due date. However, if there are extenuating or unforeseen
circumstances, the Unit Coordinator must be contacted before the quiz, midterm, group
assignment or final exam dates to authorize a make-up if required.

Attendance
Class attendance is compulsory and students should provide reasons for the failure to attend
the class on a particular lecture/workshop session. Students are required to attend a
minimum of 80% of all classes in order to secure class participation marks. Please let your
lecturer(s) and/or ISB know AND submit a request for absence form to the Student Advisor
prior to the session if you are unable to attend any session.
Cases equating to an absence:
▪ Arriving at class late by 15 minutes at the beginning,
▪ Arriving late by 5 minutes after the break
▪ Leaving prior to the scheduled end time without the permission of the lecturer

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🛈 IMPORTANT: Students will not be allowed to sit in the final examination if violating the
above absence rule.

Electronic Device Use

▪ Cell phones will be turned off or switched to vibrate mode before class starts.
▪ No phone calls or text messaging are allowed inside the classroom during class
time.
▪ Portable listening and/or music devices may not be operated in the classroom.
▪ Headphones and/or ear buds of any type may not be worn while in the classroom
whether operating or not.
▪ Laptop and other electronic devices are not permitted unless specifically
authorized by the lecturer exclusively for note taking and doing class work.

🛈 IMPORTANT: If you are in violation of these policies, you will be excused from class and
an absence will be assessed.

Email Etiquette
Your lecturers receive many emails each day. In order to enable them to respond to your
emails appropriately and in a timely fashion, students are asked to follow basic requirements
of professional communication.
Your emails should:
▪ Have a concise and descriptive title, including the class and name of the unit you are
enquiring about
▪ Be clear about the intention of their emails
▪ Use appropriate tone and language, and proof-read what is written in the email before
sending it.
Students should also allow 3-4 working days for a response before following up. If the matter
is legitimately urgent, you may indicate “URGENT” in the email subject header.
Make an appointment: If your email request is complex and requires a lengthy response it
may be probably best to make an appointment with your lecturer/instructor to meet in person.

Disability Support Services

Students with disabilities are advised that accommodations and services are available at
UEH-ISB. It is the student's responsibility to contact the UEH-ISB office and submit
appropriate documentation prior to receiving such services.

Additional Information
This unit guide may be revised at the discretion of the Unit Coordinator with approval from
Program Academic Director and School Academic Committee where appropriate.

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