AES Handbook Semester 2 2020-2021 1

AES Handbook

Semester 2, 2020/21

AES Handbook Semester 2 2020-2021 2

Contents

Find us 3

Tutorials 4

Tutorials: FAQs 5

Introduction to workshops 6

Workshop timetable 7

Appendix

Self-Correction Codes used in AES tutorials 12

AES Handbook Semester 2 2020-2021 3

Find us

The Academic English Service is located in the

International Education Institute (Kinessburn, Kennedy

Gardens, St Andrews KY16 9DJ)

Email : academicenglish@st-andrews.ac.uk

For IT or admin enquiries: aesadmin@st-andrews.ac.uk

In 2020/2021, all tutorials and workshops will be held online.

You will find links to workshops and the tutorial booking system on AES Moodle.

AES Handbook Semester 2 2020-2021 4

Tutorials

What is an AES tutorial? A tutorial is a type of lesson where you

study one-to-one with a tutor. AES provides English language

support to students at all levels of study. Taught students

(undergraduate/MSc/MLitt) can book one 25-minute tutorial per

week during semester teaching weeks. Research students

(PhD/MPhil/MRes) can arrange one 50-minute tutorial every 3

weeks, and may request tutorials in non-teaching weeks. Our

AES tutorials are very popular and the booking system works on

a first come, first served basis.

Where will the tutorial be held? The tutorial will be on Microsoft Teams. Please make sure that you

are logged into Teams at the time of your tutorial, and your tutor will call you.

What will we do in the tutorial? Students use tutorials for a wide range of activities. However, it is

important to note that we are not a proof-reading service. If you have an essay or report assignment,

you can discuss the task description with a tutor to ensure you have fully understood its requirements.

You can also work on the structure or language accuracy of your essay. If you wish to prepare a

presentation, your tutor can record you giving your presentation and give you feedback on your

organisation, slides, or language accuracy. If you wish, you may work on language skills you have

prioritised e.g. pronunciation, grammar, listening or speaking. If you are applying for a job or internshi p,

you can work on writing a CV/ covering letter, or on your interview skills.

Can I send work in advance? Taught students can send their tutor a Word document of up to 800

words in advance of the tutorial. For research students, the limit is 1,600 words. You should send your

work 2 working days before the tutorial (and please include the assignment instructions). All work

should be submitted to academicenglish@st-andrews.ac.uk, with your tutor’s name and tutorial time in

the subject line. Do not send your work to your tutor’s personal email address. Tutors give feedback on

writing using correction codes, which can be found in the appendix below.

How do I book a tutorial? Undergraduate and taught postgraduate students can book via Moodle, or

http://insessionalprovision.simplybook.me/sheduler/manage. When you book your first tutorial, you

should carefully complete the AES booking form, paying particular attention to your University email

address. If you don’t enter it correctly, you will not receive a booking confirmation. Postgraduate

research students should send an email to academicenglish@st-andrews.ac.uk.

AES Handbook Semester 2 2020-2021 5

Tutorials: FAQs

How many tutorials can I book?

Non-research, taught students (undergraduates, MSc, MLitt) can book ONE tutorial per week. The

booking system will 'allow' you to make more than one booking, but we ask you to be fair to your fellow

students and not to make multiple bookings. Additional bookings will be cancelled.

How far in advance can I book my tutorial?

New tutorials become available on the system on a rolling basis,120 hours (5 days) in advance. For

example, at 09:00 on Monday you will be able to see all available tutorials until 09:00 on Friday (Note

that the system does not distinguish between working days and weekends, so a tutorial at 9:00 on

Monday will become available at 9:00 on Thursday).

What if there are no tutorials available?

As above: tutorials become available on a rolling basis. If you check in the morning and there are no

available tutorials, check again an hour later, and there might be one available.

How do I cancel a tutorial?

If you cannot attend a tutorial, PLEASE cancel it. It will then allow another student to have that tutorial

slot. If you are cancelling 12+ hours in advance, use the cancellation link in your confirmation email.

Click that link and follow the instructions: it is very quick and easy. If you are unable to give 12+ hours

notice, please send an email to academicenglish@st-andrews.ac.uk. If you do not cancel your place,

your future bookings may not be given priority, so it may be more difficult for you to attend.

I haven’t received a confirmation of my tutorial booking – what should I do?

Please check your spam folder. If you find an email from SimplyBook there, please move it back into

your inbox. This will ensure that future booking confirmation emails are not sent to your spam folder.

I want to have my work proofread. Where can I find a proofreader?

AES is not a proofreading service. Your tutor will help you identify what you need to work on to improve

your work and will suggest resources to help you address these issues. Over time, working on your

language in this way will help you to edit and proofread your own work more effectively.

If you would still like a proofreader, then you should check your School handbook to make sure this

type of assistance is permitted. Then, read the university language correction policy: https://www.st-

andrews.ac.uk/media/capod/students/Language_Correction.pdf.

A list of proofreaders is maintained on the CEED website: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/ceed/study-

skills/academicskills/ Workshops

AES Handbook Semester 2 2020-2021 6

The Academic English Service (AES) provides different types of workshops covering a number of different areas such a critical thinking, academic writing, grammar, and exam preparation.

This year we will be offering online workshops.

To access the workshops, you will need to fill in the registration form on AES Moodle. The registration form will take you to the workshop video recording for asynchronous (Panopto) workshops or will

allow you to be added to the workshop Team for synchronous workshops.

Worksheets and further materials will be available under the Workshops tab on Moodle.

Once you have participated in an AES workshop, please fill in the evaluation form.

AES 2020/21 Semester 2 workshops, at a glance:

Week 2 (AES/MScTESOL workshop) Paraphrasing and summarising for academic writing

Week 7 Preparing a conference/article abstract

Week 8 Delivering a conference paper: speaking and presentation skills

Workshop Timetable

Week 2

Paraphrasing and summarising for academic writing

Wednesday, 3rd February

This session will:

help you understand the role played by paraphrasing and summarising skills in good academic practice

AES Handbook Semester 2 2020-2021 7

2.00-3.30pm help you develop more effective paraphrasing and summarising skills in a step-by-step way

Tutors: Meghan Bowling-Johnson, Mairi Canning, Jennifer Cowell Please note that the workshop tutors are current MScTESOL students who have developed this workshop in collaboration with AES tutors. They would warmly appreciate feedback from participants on all aspects of the workshop.

This session will be on Teams. To register for a place, sign up here:

Week 7

Preparing a conference/article abstract

Wednesday 10th March

2.00-3.30pm

This session will:

Help you identify the function, structure and linguistic features of abstracts

Review and evaluate a range of different abstracts

Write an effective abstract

Tutor: Mary Carr

This session will be on Teams. To register for a place, sign up here:

Week 8

Delivering a conference paper: speaking and presentation skills

Wednesday 17th March

2.00-3.00pm

This session will:

help you build your skills as a confident speaker and presenter

help you establish rapport with your audience

help you manage your voice more effectively

help you handle the Q&A stage with confidence

Participants in this workshop will be offered the opportunity for a

follow-up session to get individual feedback on a short presentation. Tutor: Mary Carr

This session will be on Teams. To register for a place, sign up here:

AES Handbook Semester 2 2020-2021 8

Appendix

Self-Correction Codes used in AES tutorials

The AES team uses the correction codes below to give you feedback on language and argumentation

errors in your writing. If you view this document electronically, you can click on links given to online

practice material.

Self-Correction Code Example & correction Strategies

tns = verb tense I have been tns to London yesterday. I went to London yesterday.

practise using verb tenses even when there is a time expression

e.g. yesterday, in the future the verb should express time

notice verb tenses in your reading

s/v = subject verb agreement

They likes s/v St Andrews. They like St Andrews.

practise subject-verb agreement

wo = word order The car blue wo is mine. The blue car is mine.

remember the most common word order is S + V + O/S + V + C

look for noun clauses e.g. This essay examines how sentences are formed.

check adjective and adverb position

art = article China is art Asian country. China is an Asian country.

find all nouns in your writing and use a decision tree

practise your (un)countable nouns practise your general use of articles, and articles in an academic context

wm = word missing I like wm go the cinema. I like to go to the cinema.

read your text aloud

find the nouns in your text and check if each one needs an article

check there is an ‘and’ between the penultimate and last noun in a list

add a link word to join two complete independent clauses

wf = wrong form

The process of write wf an essay can take a varying amount of time. The process of writing an

essay can take a varying amount of time.

analyse the grammar of your sentence, checking word forms carefully

check if you need an adjective or

adverb

s/pl = singular plural

Dog s/pl tend not to like cat

s/pl.

Dogs tend not to like cats.

revise your knowledge of singulars

and plurals (see section two)

AES Handbook Semester 2 2020-2021 9

U/C = (un)countable

noun

There are many types of pollutions U.

There are many types of pollution.

practise your (un)countable nouns

she = unnecessary word

My friend she speaks Swahili. read your writing aloud

ww = wrong word

My favourite primary school

lecturer ww was Mrs Hook. My favourite primary school

teacher was Mrs Hook.

keep a list of technical vocabulary

found in your reading practise your general academic

English vocabulary

S = style

You S can ask a tutor if you S want.

It is possible to consult a tutor.

revise key points concerning style and practise making formal style

coll = collocation (word partnerships)

The rocket ventured into wide space coll. The rocket ventured into outer

space.

practise your collocations everyday by signing up to this site

P = punctuation

Have you seen my brothers P car.

Have you seen my brother’s car?

revise your knowledge of run ons revise your knowledge of punctuation

practise academic punctuation

coh = cohesion

Dupont (2012) argues that children need routine. It coh is not

agreed with by Voycz (2012). Dupont (2012) argues that

children need routine. This view is disputed by Voycz (2012).

read some advice about cohesion

log = logical error

Because we included a

control group, the results were unreliable. log

Although we included a control group, the results

were unreliable.

read an overview on spotting errors of

logic in essays and practise this skill through a number of practical

exercises

sup = support missing e.g.

evidence which makes your claim

Data visualization involves the

creation of attractive and user-friendly interfaces. sup It is currently a grow area.

read about the components of

argument and practise making sure they are present and correct

AES Handbook Semester 2 2020-2021 10

convincing is not given

str = a mismatch

between the strength of a claim and the evidence

provided

Data visualization involves the creation of attractive and user-friendly interfaces. Yu’s (2016) case study of one two-person business supports this view. str

read about the components of argument and practise making sure they are present and correct

ref = reference needed OR

incorrect/inconsistent referencing style

Studies show that late bedtimes correlate with poor academic outcomes. ref

Studies show that late bedtimes correlate with poor

academic outcomes (Bartholomew, 2013; Higgins,

2015). Other studies have indicated

that this strategy may have serious limitations (John

Brown, 2015; Henderson: 2016). ref Other studies have indicated that this strategy may have serious limitations (Brown, 2015; Henderson, 2016).

check your School handbook to find out which referencing style is preferred in your discipline

review the rules for citations: http://www.citethemrightonline.com/

sp = spelling I like to sea sp the see sp. I like to see the sea.

Practise your spelling

SS = sentence structure

The experimental design was

flawed moreover the results were not consistent with

those of previous studies. SS The experimental design was flawed. Moreover, the results

were not consistent with those of previous studies.

Check the sentence has at least one

independent clause Check the sentence has at least one

conjugated verb Check for parallel structures

// = new paragraph

Check that your paragraphs each have a main point

Check your paragraphs have only one main point

? = unclear Check for patterns of errors and work

on these

AES Handbook Semester 2 2020-2021 11