BACHELORS
BA Biomedical Sciences
In the first year of their BA programme in Biomedical Sciences, students work on their academic writing and presentation skills (conference presentation) in English, in two modules of 1.5 ec each. These modules have been integrated into two biomedical courses so that students learn their skills in English in the context of the subject content. Students’ work is assessed by both BA and ALP staff, using established assessment schemes. In 2019-2020, the BA programme will also include similar modules for writing and presentation skills in the second year, within the framework of an educational curriculum for academic skills in English.
BA Business analytics
In a module worth 2 ec, integrated into the course Introduction to Business analytics (year 1), students work on their academic writing skills in English. The module introduces them to the characteristics of formal registers of written English and the basic principles of text structure. Attention is also paid to relevant aspects of English grammar. Students receive intensive individual feedback on two short texts (via ELS-online). The knowledge and experience gained in this way helps them to write a successful final paper for the course.
BA Computer Science
The Academic Writing course (year 1, 3 ec) introduces students to the characteristics of formal registers of written English. In their writing assignments, students must demonstrate that they are able to write English texts that meet academic standards in terms of text structuring, style, clarity and linguistic accuracy.
BA Economics and Business Economics
As part of the Academic Skills course within the new English-taught programme, students take a module on English writing skills (1.5 ec). ALP staff provide feedback on students’ first drafts of the final paper for the course, using the ELS-online feedback system.
BA Filosofie
The course Skills: Academic Dutch (year 1, 6 ec) familiarizes students with important aspects of the formal registers of written Dutch, such as text coherence, thematic continuity, complexity of meaning, tone and rhetorical strategies. Students work on a number of writing assignments to master these aspects.
BA Philosophy
The course Skills: Academic English (year 1, 6 ec) aims to develop students' writing skills towards level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference. Attention will be paid to the characteristics of written academic English, the structure of English complex sentences, aspects of English grammar specifically relevant to writers, and punctuation.
BA History
The course Academic English (year 1, 6 ec) consists of a grammar component and a writing component. The grammar component deals with the most important aspects of English grammar, underlining constructions that are often used in academic texts and that raise problems for students writing in the formal registers of English. The writing skills component focuses on the most important characteristics of academic English.
BA Mathematics
In the intensive course Mathematical Modelling of Dynamical Systems (year 1), part of the English-taught programme, students take a module (1.5 ec) Writing in English, in which attention is paid to general characteristics of academic English. Subsequently, in year 2 of their programme, students expand their writing skills in English in a module (1.5 ec) in the course Mathematical Modelling of Stochastic Systems. This module focuses on issues of coherence, information arrangement and clarity in English.
BA Mechanical Engineering
In the first year of their BA programme, students follow a module Writing Skills in English (1ec) integrated into the course Academic Skills. In this module they get an introduction to academic writing in English, with specific attention for the style and structure of an academic text. ALP teachers provide feedback on English in a number of assignments, and assess the quality of English in the final project report. The ALP teachers work closely together in this course with other Academic Skills staff.
BA Media, Arts, Design and Architecture (MADA)
The Academic English course in the MADA programme (year 1, 6 ec) consists of a grammar component and a writing component. The grammar component deals with the most important aspects of English grammar, underlining constructions that are often used in academic texts and that raise problems for students writing in the formal registers of English. the writing skills component focuses on the most important characteristics of academic English .
BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
In the first and second year of their BA programme in PPE, students work on their academic writing and presentation skills (conference presentation, poster presentation) in English, each year in two modules of 1.5 ec each. ALP staff assess students’ work in collaboration with PPE staff, and also contribute to the development of integrated learning outcomes in the field of communication skills. All modules are part of the PPE in Practice programme.
MASTERS
MA Ecology
The course Scientific Writing in English (3 ec) aims to familiarize students with the features of coherent, clear and linguistically accurate academic English. Students work on writing and rewriting assignments and are supported by peer review and intensive individual feedback (using ELS-online). The course aims to help students preparation for writing the internship report, which is why it is concluded with a writing assignment in the form of an Introduction section of an internship report. This text receives detailed feedback on the quality of English.
MA Environment and Resource Management
At the start of the master's programme students participate in a 1-hour introductory workshop where they discuss the importance of good writing skills in English. In the second semester of the programme, students take an Academic English writing skills module (1.5 ec) within the framework of the course Research Design. ALP staff provide an assessment of the coherence, clarity and linguistic accuracy of the Introduction and Theoretical framework sections of the final paper.
Research MA Global Health
The course Scientific Writing in English (3 ec) aims to familiarize students with the features of coherent, convincing, concise and linguistically accurate academic English. Students do writing and rewriting assignments and are supported by peer review and intensive individual feedback Students also master these features with the aid of writing and rewriting assignments, peer review and intensive individual feedback (via ELS-online). Course assessment is on the basis of the Introduction and Methods sections of a literature review.
MA Health Sciences
The course Scientific Writing in English (3 ec) starts with a short recap of the characteristics of an academic text in general and in particular of the characteristics of the type of text that students will write: a report of qualitative or quantitative research, or a paper on methodology. Centre stage is then given to aspects of coherent text and to linguistic devices that English uses to express complex ideas. Writing and rewriting assignments, peer review and intensive individual feedback on the intermediate and final version of the paper (via ELS-online) are also used to address individual problems students may have with respect to linguistic accuracy.
MA Management, Policy Analysis and Entrepreneurship in the Health and Life Sciences (MPA)
The course Scientific Writing in English (3 ec) aims to familiarize students with the features of coherent, clear and linguistically accurate academic English. Students do writing and rewriting assignments and are supported by peer review and intensive individual feedback on a text in first version (using ELS-online). The final assessment of the quality of academic English is done through an internship report that students submit later in the year.
MA Mathematics
Within the framework of the Introduction to the Master Mathematics course, students follow a module on writing skills in English (1.5 ec), aimed at writing about mathematical issues for a general audience. Lecturers from the ALP assess the final paper on the quality of English, particularly with regard to coherence, correctness, readability and attractiveness.
Research MA Neurosciences
The course Writing a research proposal (3 ec) focuses on aspects of coherent, convincing and concisely written academic texts. Students will have ample opportunity to improve their skills in applying these aspects, with the help of writing and rewriting assignments, peer review and intensive individual feedback on an intermediate version of their research proposal (via ELS-online). The focus on linguistic accuracy in English (lexical, grammatical and punctuational features) is tailored to the individual needs of the students. The final assessment is a research proposal of 1000 words.
Jump Start (International Office)
As part of the 'Jumpstart' programme for international master's students, the ALP provides a series of three workshops in the field of (academic) English writing skills. With these workshops the newly arrived master students gain insight into the strengths and weaknesses of their own writing, and with the help of targeted feedback (via ELS-online) can to work on their own writing and grammar skills. ALP teachers are also involved in the monthly Language Café of the International Office. In an informal setting, they help students develop their English conversation skills.
PREMASTERS
Premaster's degree in Political Science, Cultural Anthropology and COM (FSS )
As part of their premaster's programme, students follow a series of lectures on the features of academic English. These lectures are supplemented by seminars given by FSS staff.
PHD CANDIDATES
Writing Week (FSS)
For PhD candidates from the Faculty of Social Sciences, the ALP organizes a Writing Week, in which participants can reflect on the way they approach the writing process, work on good writing strategies and get acquainted with the tools that are available to overcome writing blocks. Attention will also be paid to specific aspects of academic English, and to the art of editing a self-written text. The Writing Week is varied with workshops, tutorials, individual feedback and support from fellow PhDs. In combination with the continuous attention for one's own writing process and for one's own texts, the Writing Week creates the opportunity to make significant progress in all areas of (academic) writing in English.
If there is room, PhD candidates from other faculties can also participate in the Writing Week.