SFC630 - Pre-Academic Writing in English

ESA offers the SFC630 as an extra-curricular 5 credit course. Please check with your department whether you will get credits for this course or not.

Students whose general English skills are not yet at the level required at TU/e (CEF level B2) and who need to improve their writing skills in English.

In order to participate in this course, you must first do the SFC600 English Placement Test in Canvas to assess your current level of English. The result of the SFC600 test will tell what the right course is for you. 

If you do not complete the SFC600 test, or if you do not receive advice for SFC630, you will be deregistered.

This 5 ECTS course aims to provide participants with training in the skills necessary to write short academic texts, such as a process description, a recommendation report, and an extended definition.
 
To develop these skills, the course focuses on (1) writing skills in general, (2) applying these skills to academic writing tasks, (3) grammar necessary to write such texts, (4) academic vocabulary, and (5) improving readability of your written work.

Throughout the course students are given short writing assignments on which formative feedback is received from classmates (during peer review sessions) and from the course instructor. The course is assessed on the basis of the grades for the writing assignments throughout the course.
The course comprises 8 sessions of 4 hours each. In addition to class time, you will need an additional 4-5 hours per week for self-study and homework.

On completion of this course you will be able to do the following:

1. Write a process description based on the following criteria:
   • Use of appropriate structure for a process description as discussed in Strother, Writing Journal Articles and Technical Reports.
   • Use of linking phrases to connect the steps of the process for the reader to easily follow.
   • Clear and detailed description of all stages of the process and clear explanation of these stages.
   • Use of B2 level English required of a process description as discussed in Strother, Writing Journal Articles and Technical Reports.
   • Use of academic vocabulary from the Academic Word lists 1-3.
2. Write a recommendation report in which you describe a problem and recommend a possible solution based on the following criteria:
   • Use of appropriate structure for a recommendation report as discussed in Strother, Writing Journal Articles and Technical Reports.
   • Use of sufficient supporting detail to explain the problem.
   • Clear and detailed description of the recommended solution for this particular problem.
   • Use of appropriate linking devices to achieve good readability.
   • Use of grammatical structures typical of a recommendation report as discussed in Strother, Writing Journal Articles and Technical Reports.
   • Use of vocabulary from the Academic Word list 1-3.
3. Write an extended definition of a general concept based on the following criteria:
   • Use of appropriate structure for an extended definition as discussed in Strother, Writing Journal Articles and Technical Reports.
   • Use of sufficient detail and examples to explain the concept.
   • Use of  linking devices to achieve good readability.
   • Use of grammatical structures typical of an extended definition as discussed in Strother, Writing Journal Articles and Technical Reports.
   • Use of academic vocabulary from the Academic Word list 1-3.

CEF level B2.

The course is given every quartile. Registration code SFC630 via Osiris.
Before registering for the SFC630, you must first complete the SFC600 English Placement Test on Canvas to assess your current level of English.

Step 1: Register for the SFC600 English Placement Test in Osiris

Step 2: Complete the SFC600 English Placement Test in Canvas.
You can only do the test when you are registered in Osiris.

Step 3: Depending on the advice you receive, you can now register for SFC630 in Osiris

The minimum number of participants for each group is 10. The groups will be cancelled if this number is not reached. 

Want to know more? Contact Language Center at +31 40 - 247 2912 or via the contact form below.