Academic English

This book features five theme-based units on crossdisciplinary academic English skills, focusing on the needs of first-year undergraduate students. Each unit covers academic writing, reading, and speaking skills. The units progressively take students through the steps needed to complete three common academic assignments: the essay, report, and tutorial discussion. These steps include searching for quality sources, note-taking, establishing a critical stance, formulating evidence-based arguments, synthesizing information from multiple sources, and structuring academic texts. Each unit also provides opportunities for students to analyse texts, apply their critical thinking skills, practise what they have learnt in productive tasks, and reflect upon their progress.

This book is aimed at first-time university students. Many of the readings are related to China and a broader Asian context. As such, it appeals to firstyear university students in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Taiwan.

Miranda Legg was formerly a principal lecturer in the Centre for Applied English Studies at the University of Hong Kong. Parco Wong is a senior lecturer in the Centre for Applied English Studies at the University of Hong Kong. Alice Yau is a lecturer in the Centre for Applied English Studies at the University of Hong Kong. Natalie Fong is a senior lecturer in the Centre for Applied English Studies at the University of Hong Kong. Kevin Pat is a lecturer in the Centre for Applied English Studies at the University of Hong Kong. Steve Roberts was formerly an instructional designer in the Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (later renamed the Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre) at the University of Hong Kong. Rebecca Welland was formerly a lecturer in the Centre for Applied English Studies at the University of Hong Kong. Letty Chan is a lecturer in the Centre for Applied English Studies at the University of Hong Kong. Louisa Chan is a lecturer in the Centre for Applied English Studies at the University of Hong Kong. She is also the author of A Paradise of Sparrows: Poetry and Paintings. Wai Lan Tsang is Programme Director of the Graduate School at the University of Hong Kong.