Study Guide

Objective

On completion of the course the student will be able to:
- apply the conventions of technical and academic English writing style in his or her own texts, considering different language registers
- plan, structure and write different project reports and academic papers
- include and refer to tables, figures, mathematical expressions and other data appropriately in reports and oral presentations
- communicate professionally in project-related situations
- prepare and deliver professional presentations of the different stages of a project and of an academic paper
- acquire information for academic and project-related purposes from relevant English source material
- critically evaluate and compare source information and incorporate it into his or her own texts
- paraphrase, document and reference source material in reports and presentations appropriately

Content

- Writing conventions in project reports and academic papers
- Principles of planning, structuring and writing a project report and an academic paper
- Differences between writing an introduction, conclusion and abstract
- Appropriate use of language register in project reports and academic papers
- Use of mathematical expressions, numerical data and source code in texts and presentations
- Oral project communication skills: project progress presentations, teamwork, consultations
- Meetings and negotiations and related documents
- Location, critical evaluation and use of relevant source material in project reports and academic theses
- Paraphrasing source material and incorporating the information into one’s own texts
- Documentation and referencing of data and source material in texts
- Development of advanced writing and presentation skills

Prerequisites

Engineering English and Communication Skills

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student is able to communicate in a satisfactory way in the common working life situations both orally and in writing. The student is able to write clear, detailed texts about various topics but the text is partially disconnected, the style and register are not always appropriate, some word choices are poor and some mistakes occur. Mistakes do not cause misunderstandings. The student is able to summarise, use paraphrases and document source material in a satisfactory way. The student has a sufficient vocabulary for use in the field and working environment and is able to use substituting expressions in most cases. The student speaks relatively clearly though mistakes occur, and he or she understands another person’s speech. The student is able to construct and write a short report using source material and give an oral presentation on a given topic.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student is able to communicate well in complex working life situations both orally and in writing. The student is able to write clear, detailed texts about various topics. The text is well structured and uses the correct style and register but some occasional mistakes may occur.
Mistakes do not distract communication. The student is able to summarise texts, use paraphrases and document source material well though some occasional mistakes occur. The student is able to
evaluate data and justifications drawn from several sources. The student has a fairly extensive vocabulary for use in the field and working environment and is able to use substituting expressions
well. The student speaks fluently and clearly though some occasional mistakes may occur, and he or she understands another person’s speech. The student is able to construct and write a short report using source material and give an oral presentation on a given topic.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student is able to communicate effectively and purposefully in diverse and challenging working life situations both orally and in writing. The student is able to write clear, detailed texts about diverse professional topics. The text is well structured and precise and the correct style and register are used with confidence. The student is able to summarise texts, use paraphrases and document source material in an excellent way. The student is able to evaluate data and justifications drawn from several sources. The student has an extensive vocabulary for use in the field and working environment, and is able to find substituting expressions or idiomatic expressions with ease. Some occasional lapses in the vocabulary may occur. The student speaks fluently and clearly and is able to express him/herself spontaneously and without hesitation even in complex situations, and understands another person’s speech. The student is able to construct and write a
short report using source material and give an oral presentation on a given topic.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The student is able to communicate in a satisfactory way in the common working life situations both orally and in writing. The student is able to write clear, detailed texts about various topics but the text is partially disconnected, the style and register are not always appropriate, some word choices are poor and some mistakes occur. Mistakes do not cause misunderstandings. The student is able to summarise, use paraphrases and document source material in a satisfactory way. The student has a sufficient vocabulary for use in the field and working environment and is able to use substituting expressions in most cases. The student speaks relatively clearly though mistakes occur, and he or she understands another person’s speech. The student is able to construct and write a short report using source material and give an oral presentation on a given topic.