https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/W_BA_ACENThe aim of the course is to develop students’ writing skills in the direction of the C1 level of the Common European Frame of Reference [CEFR]. Here are the main specific learning outcomes for students who successfully complete the course. Course objectives are:You have knowledge of and insight into the most important areas of English grammar, particularly those which typically cause students problems when writing formal English.You have insight into your own strengths and weaknesses in grammatical terms, and know how to go about resolving the weaknesses.You have knowledge of the structure and register of academic texts in your discipline.You have insight into the most important stylistic and rhetorical aspects of formal written texts in English.You have insight into the strengths and weaknesses in your own English writing skills, and know how you can go about expanding the strengths and reducing the weaknesses.You can write a well-structured English text in a formal style about a subject related to your own degree. The text is free of serious lexical and grammatical mistakes that have a negative effect on the readability of your text.The lectures in the course cover the following topics: the nature of written academic English and English usage; the patterned structure of complex sentences in English; selected aspects of English grammar relevant for writing [relating to types of construction, verb phrases and noun phrases]; the essentials of English punctuation. The seminars in the course will involve discussion and reworking of submitted text plans, as well as discussion of exercises relation to grammar, punctuation and sentence constructionLectures and seminars each weekThe grammar component is assessed by means of an online multiple-choice test (50% of the final grade; assessment of learning objectives 1, 2) The writing component is assessed by a series of writing assignments about a topic in your field (50% of the final grade; assessment of learning objectives 3, 4, 5, 6). In order to pass the course, you need a minimum of 5.5 for both components.Obligatory literature: the contents of the ELS-online website: www.vu.nl/fgw/els-online Recommended literature: Hannay, M. & J.L. Mackenzie (2017). Effective writing in English: a sourcebook. Third edition. Bussum: Coutinho.This course is only available to first year Philosophy students following the English language track.For this module is from 2020-2021 following and passing the English Language Test (VU_ELT) a prerequisite for awarding the obtained credits.The course manual and other course materials will all be made available on Canvas.