Academic English

Session 4

ANNA LOSEVA

anna.loseva@isb.edu.vn
 Today we will...

● Discuss Chapter 5

● PRACTICE active reading, note-taking,

and in-depth source
evaluation
Zoom is easy to use.
It is impossible to focus
during a Zoom class.
Online classes require less
effort from learners.
In 2020, Zoom was provided
to 125,000 schools in 25
countries for free.
It is argued that students feel
it is easier to cheat in an
online class.
Teachers cannot teach
effectively on Zoom.
 Speaking Activity
(see session handout)

1. Round 1: Discuss
questions in small groups,
ask extra Qs for more
details. Add your
discussion notes on your
group’s slide!
2. Back in the main room,
share.

3. Rounds 2-3: Change

partners. Ask & answer
questions. Be ready to
report.
Speaking Activity, ROUND 1
Ask and answer the following questions. Ask for more details.

1. What are your reading habits? How do you organize

your reading process?

2. What strategies can be used for reading difficult texts?

Speaking Activity, ROUND 2
Ask and answer the following questions. Ask for more details.

3. What are the dangers of reading “too much”

research for an assignment? How can you avoid
such dangers?

4. What are your personal most effective strategies

for dealing with unfamiliar vocabulary?
Speaking Activity, ROUND 3
Ask and answer the following questions. Ask for more details.

5. Give examples of “knowledge telling” and “knowledge

transforming” tasks that you have had in high school and
university.

6. Which of the 3 note-taking techniques (3 column notes,

chunking, and mindmapping) looks more attractive to
you? Why?
Reading

What do you read?

Image source: http://www.think-speak.com/

Reading

Why do you read

those texts?

Image source: http://www.think-speak.com/

In your opinion, what makes a good text?

- provides new, original info

- can activate imagination
- easy to visualize
- current
- goes straight to the point!
- illustrations
- clear punctuation so that
sentences make sense
- written and checked by
experts (trustworthy info?)
Image source: http://www.think-speak.com/
Reading Effectively
➔ read selectively (skim and scan)

➔ read actively (engage with the text,

make notes, write questions,
summarize)

➔ read critically (recognize the writer’s

purpose, argument, limitations of
argument; explore alternatives
understand language choices;
recognize assumptions and underlying
values).
 Critical Reading Activity
TOPIC: TEAMWORK
 Materials & instructions:
Session handout + Group Google
doc (see class spreadsheet)

Step 1: Access YOUR group’s

Google doc for this activity
(link in the spreadsheet)

Step 2: Read the article YOU

are assigned. Type your notes
in the document to help you
explain your article to your
groupmates.
 Materials & instructions:
Session handout + Group Google
doc (see class spreadsheet)

Step 3: Work in your

groups in breakout rooms
and explain the two
articles to each other. Use
your notes.

Step 4: Together discuss

and fill out the “Evaluating
the sources” table in the
Group document.
What is the CRAAP test?...
 Be prepared to present
your team’s CRAAP analysis
 Finally…

Which text is
more credible
and why?
Image source: hhttps://blogs.iadb.org/
 Finally…

Which text is
suitable as a
source for an
academic
essay?
Image source: hhttps://blogs.iadb.org/
“You don't have to believe
everything you read, hear,
or see.

Seek confirmation and

disconfirmation from
other sources and your
own thinking.

Don't be deceived by
appearances.”

Harris, R. (2020, October 19). Evaluating Internet

Research Sources. Virtual Salt. Retrieved from
https://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm
Online open-access sources
(newspapers, blogs) do not
use properly formal
ACADEMIC language!
 Beware of...

*** OPINION PIECES

*** UNSUPPORTED CLAIMS

*** LANGUAGE THAT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND → target

audience is general public

*** USE OF EVIDENCE (dig deeper!)

Importantly, CAREFULLY CHECK the sources.

 1. Evaluate the sources

2. Clarify how much

you need to read
READING
3. Narrow your research -
for research
focus on your specific
task!

4. Use note-taking
strategies
2 sessions next week!
Tuesday → Session 5
Thursday → Session 6
HW for Session 5 (individual)
● Unistep Chapters 6-7 (quiz!)

● HW#4 screencast video (link in the class

spreadsheet): Critically evaluate another source
on the topic of your group essay (no repeats for
group members + different from HW3). This time
use the CRAAP test questions to guide your
evaluation (the file is also uploaded on
e-learning). Answer questions in detail!
Some screencasting software:

Screencast-O-Matic
Screencastify
HW for Session 5 (group)

● Group essay first draft - 1 link

per group in the spreadsheet,
open access for commenting
 Preview for Session 6 HW
(there will be more!):

● Unistep Chapter 8 p.196-205 (Academic Argument) →

Quiz

● Group presentation rehearsals (see

assessment criteria for presentations on
e-learning)
 Thank you
and
see you next week!

anna.loseva@isb.edu.vn