Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
15103:IR18‐BA101 English for International Studies I (High‐intermediate)(RH) § 15104:IR-BAR101 English Ⅰ (H) 2022 Spring Mon4,Thu1 College　Of　International　Relations WATANABE NORIKO 2

Campus

KIC/KIC

Class Venue

RYOYUKAN　RY208/RYOYUKAN　RY208

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

In this course, students will develop their reading and academic skills necessary for academic study in English through a wide range of readings relevant to the area of international studies. Students will learn to read more efficiently, effectively and critically a variety of type of texts such as magazine articles, journal passages and textbook excerpts . In doing so, they will apply vocabulary and reading strategies (e.g. identifying main idea and finding definitions and explanations) and academic skills (e.g. critical thinking skills) as well as increasing both general and academic vocabulary. In addition, students will practice presenting their views and opinions in both oral and written forms. At the end of each unit, students will conduct independent research to give three group presentations (2 poster presentations and 1 longer oral presentation), and then produce three 250-word argumentative essays, which will serve as a term paper.

Student Attainment Objectives

By the end of the course students should:
1. increase their vocabulary in both general and academic contexts;
2. be able to read texts more efficiently, effectively and critically, identifying language features specific to such genres;
3. be able to present a summary of texts with their views and opinions in both oral and written forms;
4. develop communication skills to collaborate with others to complete group assignments.

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Introduction to the course
Let's get to know each other!
Bioethics 1: Active Reading

Skimming to survey a text: ‘DNA: What it is and what it does’

2

Bioethics 2: Active Reading

Scanning to discover specific information: ‘The Human Genome Project’
Annotating to identify key information: Henrietta lacks and her contribution to medical research
21st century skills: Online collaboration

3

Bioethics 3: Active Reading

'How useful is genetic mapping and sequencing?'
21st century skills: Self-directed learning and active learning

4

Bioethics 4: Facts and Opinions

Identifying facts: ‘Performance-enhancing drugs’
Doing well in group projects

5

Bioethics 5: Facts and Opinions

Identifying opinions: ‘Gene therapy’
Fact-checking
Giving quality critical feedback

6

Bioethics 6: Facts and Opinions

Reversing the aging process
Acting on critical feedback

7

Bioethics 7: Right and Wrong

Whole genome sequencing: uses and challenges 1
Successful learners in classroom

8

Bioethics 8: Right and Wrong

Whole genome sequencing: uses and challenges 2
21st century skills: The growing importance of creativity

9

Bioethics 9: Right and Wrong

Review & In-class preparation for group presentation

10

Bioethics 10: Right and Wrong

Group presentation

11

Business and Design 1: Main Ideas and Details

Let's meet your new teammates!
Identifying main ideas: ‘The value of a value proposition’
Talking to professors

12

Business and Design 2: Main Ideas and Details

Identifying supporting details: ‘The importance of a business model’

13

Business and Design 3: Main Ideas and Details

Paraphrasing; ‘The secret to a successful crowd-funding campaign’
Polite organizational behavior in career and classroom

14

Business and Design 4: Inferences and Predictions

Making inferences: ‘Doing good is good for business’
Academic readiness: homework

15

Business and Design 5: Inferences and Predictions

Identifying parts of a lecture: ‘Meeting everyday needs — Unilever’s CSR action’
Predicting: ‘Short but sweet — writing successful mission statements’
Setting education goals: SMART Goals

16

Business and Design 6: Inferences and Predictions

‘Working together for a better world’
Procrastination and time management

17

Business and Design 7: Best Practices

So what is a business model? 1
Internet research

18

Business and Design 8: Best Practices

So what is a business model? 2
Academic readiness: research papers

19

Business and Design 9: Best Practices

Review & In-class preparation for group presentation

20

Business and Design 10: Best Practices

Group presentation

21

History 1: Reading Fluency

Let's meet your new teammates!
Increasing smoothness and pace to build fluency: ‘Understanding Pompeii’
Developing accuracy: ‘Understanding the Rosetta Stone’

22

History 2: Reading Fluency

Reading aloud to build fluency and comprehension
Library research

23

History 3: Reading Fluency

'Who owns the Rosetta Stone?'
Academic readiness: research papers

24

History 4: Specialized Vocabulary

Finding definitions and explanations in a text: ‘Troy: A legend or a city?’
Dealing with specialized vocabulary: ‘Who was King Tutankhamen?’
Plagiarism

25

History 5: Specialized Vocabulary

Responding in an online forum: 'Searching for King Tut's Tomb'
Studying for tests

26

History 6: Specialized Vocabulary

'The influence of history on pop culture'
Short answer tests

27

History 7: Changing History

Changing history by accident: how accidents can uncover important archaeological finds 1
Essay tests

28

History 8: Changing History

Changing history by accident: how accidents can uncover important archaeological finds 2
Communication styles of the world

29

History 9: Changing History

Review & In-class preparation for group presentation

30

History 10: Changing History

Group presentation

Class Format

[BCP Level 1 or 2]
・In principle, all 15 weeks (15 classes for once a week course, 30 classes for twice a week course) will be face-to-face.
・When a student is unable to attend face-to-face classes due to any of the following conditions, web-based follow-up will be provided for all classes. Students who fall under this category should notify their instructor by the first class.

[Conditions for web-based follow-up]
(1) When a student has a pre-existing condition/underlying health condition.
(2) When it is difficult for a student to commute to university due to concerns over putting cohabiting
family members at risk.
(3) When a student is unable to enter Japan due to international travel restrictions.
(4) Other valid reasons when a student has been impacted by COVID-19 and is under an unavoidable situation for which they are not responsible for.


[BCP Level 3 or 4]
・All 15 weeks (15 or 30 classes) will be web-based (Live-Streamed, using ZOOM): 15 or 30 ZOOM live-streamed lectures at the designated class hours/periods (i.e., 15 live-streamed classes for the once-a-week courses; 30 live-streamed classes for the twice-a-week courses).

※For more information on Ritsumeikan University's BCP Level, please refer to the following URL, Point No.1 “Measures to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).”
http://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/news/detail/?id=475

Recommendations for Private Study

Students are required to complete any Student Book activities not completed in class. They are also expected to complete language and skill practice using digital tools.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written) 0

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)		 0

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

- Class participation with sufficient preparation (15%)
- Homework assignments (15%)
- Pop Quizzes (30%)
- Group presentations (25%)
- Term paper (15%)

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

Students are expected to collaborate with and learn from each other through group work. Students must be prepared for active participation and contribution for each session. Simply being physically present in class will not be counted as attendance.

Textbooks

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
University Success Reading, Intermediate to High-Intermedicate Pearson 978-0-13-465322-8

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference Books

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Communication Paper,Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments

【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp//students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html