Essays, seminars and the literature — for students starting a degree taught in English.
| Level | CEFR B2–C1 |
|---|---|
| Guided learning hours | 72 hours |
| Duration | 12 weeks · 2 × 3 hours per week |
| Independent study | 72 hours recommended |
| Delivery | Live online, small group or one to one |
| Entry requirements | CEFR B2 or above, roughly IELTS 6.0. This course develops academic skill, not general fluency. |
| On completion | ELOQUA Certificate in Academic English, with a 2,000-word assessed essay in your portfolio. |
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
| Unit | Focus | Language | Skills | Assessment | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Academic register and expectation | What "academic" actually means: formality, caution, objectivity and the reader you are writing for. | Formality markers; hedging; nominalisation | Reading, Writing | Register conversion task | 6 |
| 2. Reading at volume | Surveying, selective reading, and deciding in ninety seconds whether a paper is worth your afternoon. | Abstract and discussion conventions; signposting in academic prose | Reading | Timed reading of three abstracts | 6 |
| 3. Note-taking and synthesis | Notes you can still use in six weeks. Building a synthesis matrix across several sources. | Reporting verbs and their stance | Reading, Writing | Synthesis matrix from four sources | 6 |
| 4. Argument and essay structure | Thesis statements, paragraph structure, counter-argument and the shape of a whole essay. | Cohesion; topic sentences; concessive structures | Writing | Essay proposal and outline | 6 |
| 5. Citation, paraphrase and integrity | Quoting, paraphrasing, summarising and referencing. Where the plagiarism line sits, and where AI use sits. | Citation conventions (APA, Harvard); attribution language | Writing | Annotated bibliography | 6 |
| 6. Writing the literature review | Organising by theme rather than by source, and showing where your own work fits the gap. | Comparison and contrast; tense choice in reporting research | Writing, Reading | Literature review section, 600 words | 6 |
| 7. Data, figures and description | Presenting and interpreting data honestly; the difference between describing and claiming. | Trend and quantity language; cautious interpretation | Writing | Results paragraph from a dataset | 6 |
| 8. Seminar participation | Entering a discussion, disagreeing with a peer or a tutor, and building on what someone else said. | Turn-taking; polite disagreement; attribution in speech | Speaking, Listening | Assessed seminar contribution | 6 |
| 9. Academic presentations | Conference-style delivery, slide discipline, timing and the question you did not expect. | Signposting; emphasis; handling questions | Speaking | Ten-minute presentation | 6 |
| 10. Drafting and self-editing | The second draft. Cutting 15% without losing content, and finding your own recurring errors. | Individual error profile; concision | Writing | Full essay draft submitted for supervision | 6 |
| 11. Feedback and revision | Reading tutor feedback accurately, peer review, and revising without starting again. | Feedback language; revision strategies | Writing, Reading | Peer review + revision plan | 6 |
| 12. Final submission and viva | Final essay submitted, then defended in a short oral discussion. | Full-course consolidation | Writing, Speaking | Final 2,000-word essay + oral defence | 6 |
| Total contact hours | 72 | ||||
| Format | Package | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Small group | Full course — group of 6 | $1,680 |
| Small group | University partner rate | $1,480 |
| One to one | One to one — per hour | $125 /hr |
| One to one | Thesis and dissertation support — per hour | $145 /hr |
ELOQUA · Level 3, 120 Edward Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 · study@eloqua.edu
This document is generated from the live course record on 2 September 2026 and supersedes earlier versions.