Reference no: EM132646872
LCS1088 English for Academic Studies II - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
English Project
Overview
The English Project consists of two related tasks:
• A critical academic article (in essay or report structure) (see textbook pp. 123-124)
- First draft (introduction and 1st body paragraph): 10% (individual task)
- Full final paper: 25% (individual task)
• A seminar discussion task: 25% (group work)
This project is an opportunity for you to demonstrate a range of academic literacy skills covered by LCS1088.
Instructions
» Choose ONE of the topic areas below that interests you:
• Equality and society
• Governments' use of surveillance
• Ethics and business
• Online education
• Multiculturalism
If you have a different topic that you are keen on exploring, please consult your subject lecturer. S/he will discuss with you the possibility of working on it. You MUST get your
lecturer's approval before you can work on a different topic area.
» Form a group of 3-4 people. Choose a topic area that interests you. Work on it together for the seminar discussion in Week 9.
? As a group:
• identify and agree on an appropriate focus within your topic area; and
• then narrow it down to a research question. (e.g. "Who should pay for healthcare?")
This research question will be the title of your entire Project. You will explore this question in BOTH the written and spoken parts of your Project (Task 1A, 1B &1C). All members of a group should work on the same the research question (i.e. the essay title). Please note that Task 1A and 1C are individual tasks, whereas Task 1B is a group task.
What is an appropriate focus?
Your focus can be specifically on Hong Kong, or it can be related but not limited to Hong Kong only. However, please bear in mind the word limit for the writing task and the time limit for the speaking task. Make sure you focus appropriately.
THE TASK
• With your group, you will critically discuss the same research question for the Project. (All three tasks for this Project share the same research question.)
• The target audience is the other members of your group.
• Express your own stance, supported by properly documented academic sources.
• Listen to the stances of others.
• Deepen the discussion by politely challenging other stances, or the sources that other stances are based on.
• If appropriate, change your own stance if you are persuaded by the arguments put forward by others in your group. (It is fine to do this: you will not be penalised. People change their minds as they learn more about an issue. You may be persuaded by a good argument or some data that you have not previously considered.)
• Aim to reach a conclusion at the end of your discussion, but it is certainly not necessary for everyone to agree. (In real life, educated, intelligent people reach different conclusions and hold different opinions about many things. This is normal.)
• You may, of course, express a stance during the discussion task that is different from the stance you have expressed in your finalized argument paper. More information can be found in the Assessment Guide pp. 10-12.
Your essay or report will be assessed on your ability to:
organise a critical argument
• express academic arguments with appropriate evidence
• write grammatically accurately with accurate use of vocabulary
• cite and reference accurately