ENN103F/201/1/2017
Tutorial Letter 201/1/2017
English for Academic Purposes
ENN103F
Semester 1
Department of English Studies
This tutorial letter contains feedback on
Assignments 01 and Exam Guidelines
Bar code
,Dear Student
Feedback for assignment 1, Exam Guidelines and FQAs
This tutorial letter contains reading skills, suggested answers for assignment 1, exam
guidelines and frequently asked questions.
Semester assignments
The questions in this module are based on the learning outcomes formulated for this course.
Several components of academic English, reading and writing were tested in your responses.
Broadly, these comprise an understanding of content, expression and presentation. In your
answers we looked for evidence of, inter alia, critical reading, skimming and scanning skills,
application of understanding, reflexive response, coherence and correctness, grammaticality,
paragraphing and spelling. You need to focus on the length of your responses. We deducted
marks if you did not follow the instructions.
Understanding the question: Task/Process words
It is important to analyse the task/process words before you begin to answer any question.
The ‘process words’ or instruction words identify what you are supposed to do. In your study
guide in Unit 2, page 19 and 20 there is a list of some of the commonly used task words.
Reading strategies
Before you embark on the assignment, you will need to engage and to interact with the text
by applying effective reading skills. These skills will help you to become familiar with the text,
and your mind will start concentrating on the topic and developing thinking skills based on the
text.
There are many academic reading strategies. For the purpose of this Tutorial Letter, we
describe four basic reading strategies you need to develop for successful and meaningful
reading of a text. Please note that each strategy is used for a particular purpose, and you will
often use them in combination to achieve your reading objectives. Remember that a good
reader has the ability to interact meaningfully with the text. This involves linking and relating
what you already know about the topic and what is written by the author. Reading is thus an
interactive process.
The four basic reading strategies are:
• Skimming – When you skim you read fast, deliberately leaving out some parts, and
concentrating on some idea of the content of a text. Skimming helps you learn about
the text before you read it. You can skim a text by previewing, doing a quick reading to
get the global impression of the text or passage.
• Scanning – Scanning is the fastest mode of reading, where you pay attention to
specific items you are looking for. This can be done by doing a quick reading to find
specific or particular information.
2
, ENN103F/201
• Study-reading – This is the slowest, intensive, interactive, thought provoking reading
technique. You need to identify key words, main ideas, topic sentences, supporting
sentences, etc.
• Critical reading – This refers to reading to evaluate information, making comparisons
with other information from other texts. As a reader, you become a critical and
analytical thinker. You need to use your judgment to identify the author’s point of view
and to compare it to those of others, and exploring similarities and differences
between texts for better understanding. Contextualizing the text will help you evaluate
and compare the information in the text.
In addition, you should be able to use the following techniques:
• Summarising: Identifying, outlining and making notes of main points or ideas
presented in the text.
• Paraphrasing: Expressing the author’s ideas in your own words as far as it is
possible. You need to read extensively to acquire more vocabulary, and use your
dictionary as a friend to have a pool or bank of words to choose from.
• Questioning: Asking questions as you read, e.g. What is the main idea of this
paragraph? The questions should be formulated and expressed in your own words.
• Synthesis: A synthesis is a written discussion (combination of ideas) that draws on
two or more sources.
Practice task
Refer to the passages on page 6 of Tutorial letter 101/3/2017. Any of the passages available
as e-reserves from the library or online can be used for self-study and additional practice.
1. Skim the text quickly and write down what you think it is about.
2. What clues did you use to arrive at the decision?
3. Scan quickly and identify the paragraph where the author discusses parental issues or
written work on stereotyping.
4. Which sentence would you underline or highlight as the topic sentence in paragraph
4? Why?
5. Draw a table where you compare the two texts in terms of similarities and differences.
6. Draw a mind map representing the main ideas in one of the passages.
3
Tutorial Letter 201/1/2017
English for Academic Purposes
ENN103F
Semester 1
Department of English Studies
This tutorial letter contains feedback on
Assignments 01 and Exam Guidelines
Bar code
,Dear Student
Feedback for assignment 1, Exam Guidelines and FQAs
This tutorial letter contains reading skills, suggested answers for assignment 1, exam
guidelines and frequently asked questions.
Semester assignments
The questions in this module are based on the learning outcomes formulated for this course.
Several components of academic English, reading and writing were tested in your responses.
Broadly, these comprise an understanding of content, expression and presentation. In your
answers we looked for evidence of, inter alia, critical reading, skimming and scanning skills,
application of understanding, reflexive response, coherence and correctness, grammaticality,
paragraphing and spelling. You need to focus on the length of your responses. We deducted
marks if you did not follow the instructions.
Understanding the question: Task/Process words
It is important to analyse the task/process words before you begin to answer any question.
The ‘process words’ or instruction words identify what you are supposed to do. In your study
guide in Unit 2, page 19 and 20 there is a list of some of the commonly used task words.
Reading strategies
Before you embark on the assignment, you will need to engage and to interact with the text
by applying effective reading skills. These skills will help you to become familiar with the text,
and your mind will start concentrating on the topic and developing thinking skills based on the
text.
There are many academic reading strategies. For the purpose of this Tutorial Letter, we
describe four basic reading strategies you need to develop for successful and meaningful
reading of a text. Please note that each strategy is used for a particular purpose, and you will
often use them in combination to achieve your reading objectives. Remember that a good
reader has the ability to interact meaningfully with the text. This involves linking and relating
what you already know about the topic and what is written by the author. Reading is thus an
interactive process.
The four basic reading strategies are:
• Skimming – When you skim you read fast, deliberately leaving out some parts, and
concentrating on some idea of the content of a text. Skimming helps you learn about
the text before you read it. You can skim a text by previewing, doing a quick reading to
get the global impression of the text or passage.
• Scanning – Scanning is the fastest mode of reading, where you pay attention to
specific items you are looking for. This can be done by doing a quick reading to find
specific or particular information.
2
, ENN103F/201
• Study-reading – This is the slowest, intensive, interactive, thought provoking reading
technique. You need to identify key words, main ideas, topic sentences, supporting
sentences, etc.
• Critical reading – This refers to reading to evaluate information, making comparisons
with other information from other texts. As a reader, you become a critical and
analytical thinker. You need to use your judgment to identify the author’s point of view
and to compare it to those of others, and exploring similarities and differences
between texts for better understanding. Contextualizing the text will help you evaluate
and compare the information in the text.
In addition, you should be able to use the following techniques:
• Summarising: Identifying, outlining and making notes of main points or ideas
presented in the text.
• Paraphrasing: Expressing the author’s ideas in your own words as far as it is
possible. You need to read extensively to acquire more vocabulary, and use your
dictionary as a friend to have a pool or bank of words to choose from.
• Questioning: Asking questions as you read, e.g. What is the main idea of this
paragraph? The questions should be formulated and expressed in your own words.
• Synthesis: A synthesis is a written discussion (combination of ideas) that draws on
two or more sources.
Practice task
Refer to the passages on page 6 of Tutorial letter 101/3/2017. Any of the passages available
as e-reserves from the library or online can be used for self-study and additional practice.
1. Skim the text quickly and write down what you think it is about.
2. What clues did you use to arrive at the decision?
3. Scan quickly and identify the paragraph where the author discusses parental issues or
written work on stereotyping.
4. Which sentence would you underline or highlight as the topic sentence in paragraph
4? Why?
5. Draw a table where you compare the two texts in terms of similarities and differences.
6. Draw a mind map representing the main ideas in one of the passages.
3
