Autumn 17 EAPA3004 EAP 1 Portfolio: Academic Writing and Skills

This EAP 1 portfolio assignment, completed by a student, encompasses various tasks designed to enhance academic writing skills. The portfolio includes a self-evaluation checklist, summarising exercises comparing university fees in England and Kenya, an outline for a compare and contrast essay, and a paragraph structure exercise focusing on the quality of higher education. The assignment requires students to analyze and synthesise information, develop clear arguments, and structure their writing effectively. The written task involves a 750-word essay comparing and contrasting the higher education systems of England and Kenya, focusing on funding and quality. The portfolio aims to develop essential academic skills, such as summarising, outlining, paragraphing and essay writing, and to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the higher education landscape in different countries. The document is a valuable resource for students seeking to improve their writing and analytical abilities in an academic context.

Autumn 17
English for Academic Purposes 1 (EAP 1) Portfolio (EAPA3004)
Name:
Student Number:
Tutor name:
This is your EAP 1Portfolio. Please save a copy on your computer and back it up regularly (e.g. by saving it on
your computer / in the cloud (e.g. Google Drive) / emailing it to yourself. You will receive a printed copy which
you should bring to all lectures and tutorials. However, at the end of the course, you need to submit a
completed electronic copy. Please refer to suggested word counts for each task included within this portfolio.
Assessed Learning Outcomes (LOs):
1. Produce cohesive and coherent elements of academic writing.
2. Read, compare and summarise written academic texts.
Week Contents Page Learning
Outcome
Section 1: Portfolio Evidence

(These tasks will often be drafted in class and are designed to inform the written task in section
2. Suggested word counts are included are in brackets.)
1 Portfolio evidence I: Self-evaluation checklist 3 LO 1 & 2
4 Portfolio evidence II: Summarising
(recommended word count: 100)
4 LO 1 & 2
4-5 Portfolio evidence III: Outline
(recommended word count: 100)
6 LO 2
6 Portfolio evidence IV: Paragraph structure
(recommended word count: 250)
7 LO 2
9 Portfolio evidence V: Self-assessment
(recommended word count: at least 100)
8 LO 1 & 2
Section 2: Written Task
(The written task should be developed throughout the semester but completed in weeks 7-10.)
1 - 10 Academic writing [compare and contrast essay relevant to higher
education]
(word count: 750 words)
10 LO 1 & 2
Total word count: Written Task (750 words) + Evidence (Approx. 850 words)
(+/- 10%)
Section 1: Portfolio Evidence I
Self-evaluation checklist
Below is a list of the skills you will need when working on extended pieces of writing during your university
career. The work you do on the EAP 1 course will help you develop these skills.
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Tick the appropriate box for each skill, according to how well you think you can do this at
the beginning of this course. Look again at the checklist throughout the course in order to
identify areas for independent study.
Skills Do not know
about this
Find this
difficult/ can’t
do this
Can partially
do this
Can do this
well
Looking for information
Identify which books/journals/websites to use ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Select relevant parts of a text ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Using sources
Acknowledge sources of information ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Avoid plagiarism ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Planning/ writing
Brainstorm ideas ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Plan written work ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Link ideas effectively ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Paraphrase & summarise ideas ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Write an introduction ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Write a conclusion ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Personal study
Work independently ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Manage my time ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Oral presentation
Discuss written work in a tutorial ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
IT
Access the internet ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Use search engines ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Create word documents ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
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Section 1: Portfolio Evidence II
Summarising (recommended word count: 100)
1. Find a text on university fees in the country of your choice (around 200 words) and paste it below, in part
1. Then, read the two texts and highlight the main points.
PART 1:
Text 1:
University fees in England
Text 2 (paste your text below):
University fees in Kenya
“University tuition fees in England will rise to £9,250 per
year from 2017 and the increase could apply to students
who have already started courses. The inflation-linked
rise represents a 2.8% increase and if that continued
would mean fees rising above £10,000 in the next few
years. Universities face the dilemma that under
consumer protection requirements they will need to
announce the £9,250 fee before the beginning of the next
application cycle in early September. However, until
formally changed by Parliament, universities are not
allowed to charge a fee higher than £9,000, which is the
current limit.
The government says the increase can apply to students who
have already begun courses - but this will depend on the terms
of student contracts in individual universities. The fees will
increase in subsequent years. Royal Holloway and the
University of Kent have to still to decide on whether to charge
higher fees for current students, but expect to apply them to
new students starting in 2017, if the fee limit increase goes
ahead. The University of Surrey will not increase fees for its
current undergraduates, but fees will increase each year for
students starting in 2017.
Universities minister Jo Johnson has published a statement
setting out plans to link higher fees to better teaching. Liberal
Democrat university spokeswoman Baroness Lorely Burt said:
"Linking fees to teaching quality in this way is unacceptable.
Enabling any university that scrapes a 'meet expectations'
rating to increase fees by 2.8% shows that this isn't about
teaching quality at all. If universities need further support then
let's have a proper discussion about where that money comes
from, rather than pretending that this is somehow a quid pro
quo for providing the quality of teaching students should
already be able to expect". Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the
Sutton Trust education charity, said the fee increase will add to
student debts that we have shown to be by far the highest in
the English-speaking world. A real concern is that the removal
of maintenance grants will almost certainly deter poorer
students, who now face debts of over £50,000 on graduation”.
From: Coughlan, S. (2017). University tuition fees rise to £9,250
for current students –BBC News. [online] BBC News. Available
at:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-36856026 [Accessed
In Kenya, the university fees were free and based on
the public money. The need for increase the skilled
and qualified manpower in the country the
government surrendered the financial help from the
universities in order to cope with the economical
instability in the country (Munene 2013). The higher
education system in the country is depended on users.
However, the government helps the student by
providing financial help to the students through the
student loan (Gudo 2014). The budget deduction n the
in the context of higher education by the government
creating negative impact to the entire education
system of Kenya as the whole.
Reference:
Munene, I.I., 2013. Our university: Ethnicity, higher
education and the quest for state legitimacy in
Kenya. Higher education policy, 26(1), pp.43-63.
Gudo, C., 2014. Financing higher education in Kenya:
Public-private partnership approach. International
Journal of Educational Policy Research and
Review, 1(1), pp.1-5.
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19 Jan. 2017].
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2.Make some notes of the most important points, using your own words, in part 2 below.
PART 2:
Notes (Text 1): Notes (Text 2):
The higher education system in England is well
structured. The government supports the higher
educational institute, although those belong to the
private sectors. At the same time, the standards and
quality of the education is also taken care by the
government. On the other hand, there are separate
council for providing funds to the universities, which
is used in providing teaching fees for the teachers
and tuition fees for the students. Moreover, the
funding council helps the universities in improving
the infrastructure and research work.
The higher education system of Kenya does not
receive any help and support from the government.
All the street side branches of the universities are
aided by the money of users. The universities have
no permanent source of financial support. The
higher education sector of Kenya is in apparent
financial crisis.
3. Answer the question in part 3 below, using your notes.
PART 3:
What are the similarities and differences between universities in England and Kenya in relation
to tuition fees? Why are they important?
The distinction is massive in the universities of the two countries in terms of the tuition fees of the students.
In one hand, the government of England is supportive and provide financial help to the students for the
arrangement of tuition fees. Moreover, the government has decided to increase the financial aid for the
tuition fees of the students and for better teaching. On the other hand, the government of Kenya is not
supportive at all in terms of the tuition fees of the students for the higher education. The higher education
system of Kenya is unlike that of England, and wholly user dependent.
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Section 1: Portfolio Evidence III
Outline (recommended word count: 200)
Complete your essay outline below. An outline is a map of the main ideas included in your essay. You should
not write full sentences, just notes of the main points that you are going to write in each paragraph of your
essay, along with in-text referencing details (MB=Main Body).
TITLE Contrast and Comparison between Higher Education System of England and Kenya in the Context
of Quality and Funding
INTRODUCTION Background Information:
 Brief overview of higher education Higher education instructionPurpose of the higher
education Function of the higher education
Thesis Statement:
The need for higher education refers to the enhancement of the personal and professional skills
and qualification. The requirement of proper funding and maintenance of quality is required for
fulfilling the needs of the higher education for the students.
MB Paragraph 1 Paragraph Focus: Funding
Country A: England Country B: Kenya
Source of funding for higher education
universities in England and the way of working of
the same in helping the student and attracting
the international students.
The wretched economic condition is the
responsible factor for the lack in the higher
education system of Kenya. The universities
also lack the financial support from
government.
MB Paragraph 2 Paragraph Focus: Quality
Country A: England Country B: Kenya
The quality and standard maintenance of the
higher education in the universities and the
process of management in for the same.
The poor condition of the higher education
due to the inadequate financial support and
the existence of the condition as the result of
no initiation i the same context.
CONCLUSION
Summary of main points
The condition of the higher education system is summarised in the main points of the essay. The
education system of England is prior to Kenya in terms of funding and quality. All the required
facilities are there in England for higher education, whereas the Kenya is lacking all of it.
Recommendations/suggestions/predictions
The recommendation implies that the economical condition of the nation requires support from
the external bodies as the poor economical factor is the only driving factor for higher educational
sector of Kenya to fall apart.
Section 1: Portfolio Evidence IV
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Paragraph structure (recommended word count: 300, including notes)
Write a MB paragraph for your essay below (funding OR quality).Then, highlight its parts using a different
colour for each one of them. Use the following colour code:
Topic sentence: RED
Country A (England): BLUE
Country B (……………………): GREEN
Concluding sentence: ORANGE
In-text reference: PURPLE
Write your paragraph here. Then, colour the different parts.
Quality of Higher Education in England and Kenya:
There is an independent non-governmental body, Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in England that takes
care of the quality and standard of the higher education in the universities (Qaa.ac.uk. 2017). There are
several policies and process that ensure the providence of the higher education to the students with rich
quality and standard. The covered area of the education that the company is concerned and dealt with are
standard and quality of education, standard of teaching and the educational development aided by the
external assessment, review and report. The universities are provided with guidance, reference points from
the review process. The agency publishes a yearly report as the result of the assessment and the report
provides a set of judgements, guidelines and reference to the teachers regarding the teaching process and
the maintenance of the standard and quality of teaching and recommendations. The agency checks on the
entire process of improving the quality and standard in order to attract the international students (Jarvis
2014).
The educational quality of the higher education is lacking due to the poor financial condition of Kenya. The
universities have branches in the street side which is also depended on the users. These street side
campuses are established for helping the students but these campuses provide education of poor quality
and standard and there are no basic facilities (Odhiambo 2014). The standard o the higher education is
lacking as the result of the minimal funding. Along with this, the educational institutions are contained with
unskilled teachers, insufficient libraries, and overcrowded classrooms and so on (Macharia and Pelser 2014).
The above discourse proves that financial stable condition of the nation is working as an advantage for the
higher educational sector of England. The universities of England are enriched with quality and funding
council in unlike Kenya. On the other hand, the government of England supports and aids the universities of
the country, whereas the government of Kenya has withdrawn the support on that of this country. In
addition, the government of England is promoting the standard and quality of education through innovative
initiatives for attracting the global students, whereas, the universities of Kenya are user dependent.
Section 1: Portfolio Evidence V
Essay self-assessment form (recommended word count: 100)
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Complete this form before you submit your portfolio.
Type a few comments below in relation to how well you have
addressed the following criteria in your essay.
ESSAY STRUCTURE
A. Has a clear structure including an
introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion
& bibliography.
The structure of the essay is clear with the inclusion of
introduction, body paragraphs, conclusions and bibliography.
B. Has a clear thesis statement that states
the sub-topics and position.
The thesis statement of the essay demonstrates the sub topic
clearly.
C. Has clear topic sentences in each main
body paragraph.
The topic sentences are clear in each main body paragraph.
D. Has features of an essay not a report,
i.e. no headings, no bullet points etc.
The written piece is definitely as essay and not a report as this
contains no features of report.
CONTENT
E. Has compared directly between the two
countries in each paragraph.
The contrast and comparison between the two countries are
clearly depicted in each paragraph.
F. Has commented on what we learn from
the comparisons.
The learning outcome of the comparison in the essay
provides clear comment.
G. Has included suitable background
information in the introduction.
There is ample amount of background information available
in the essay.
H. Has included a suitable summary and
position in the conclusion.
The conclusion presents summary of the entire essay.
I. Has written 750 words (+/- 10%). There are approximately 750 words in the essay
USE OF SOURCES AND REFERENCING
J. Has a minimum of 2 sources per
paragraph.
Minimum two sources are there in each pragrapgh
K. Has in-text citations which follow
Harvard style. E.g. (Coughlan, 2014).
In text citation is followed by Harvard referencing style
M. Has avoided plagiarism. yes
USE OF ENGLISH
N. Writes accurate sentences. yes
O. Spells and punctuates accurately. yes
P. Uses a range of language. yes
Q. Writes in an appropriate academic
style.
yes
Things you feel competent at (approx. 50 words):
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I personally feel that the funding is the major and prior factor for the
improvement of the higher education. The required and adequate
financial support is capable of enhancing the higher education standard.
The improvement of the standard and quality of the education will be
able to approach and attract students from international context.
Things you need to work on (approx. 50 words):
As per my understanding of the economic condition of Kenya, I believe I must invest financial help to the
country to develop the higher educational system. Besides, I also feel that England with sufficient financial
resources should support the Kenyan students who come to England for higher education, by minimizing
the tuition fees.
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Section 2: Written Task
Academic Writing (750 words)
Please type your essay below (750 words).
Make sure that:
 Your essay has an appropriate title, an introduction, two main body paragraphs, a
conclusion and a reference list.
 You have used at least 2 references (in-text citations) in each of your main body
paragraphs (at least 4 references in total).
 You have discussed BOTH countries in EACH of your main body paragraphs (point-by-
point approach).
Title: Compare and contrast the higher education system in England with that of Kenya
in terms of funding and quality. Which system is preferable?
Higher education refers to such a context of education that is depended on the choice of the student. One is
provided with the option for continuing the education after completing the secondary education. This
education system is a course of three years in general or sometimes four. The higher education is provided
by the universities in all over the country. The lecture, regular classes, seminars are some of the ways
through which the higher education is provided to the students. The purpose of higher education is to
enhance and enrich the skills and capabilities of one in terms of professionalism and makes the person
qualify for the advanced research study. It is considered that the higher education is the highest degree in
academic and provides more opportunities in employment. The degree that is provided by the higher
education is recognized and valued throughout the world. The context of the comparison between the
higher education of England and that of Kenya is vast and distinguishable. Among all the distinctions the
economical conditions of the two countries is the remarkable one. Indeed, England is one of the highly
developed countries in terms of economical conditions and therefore, the quality of the higher education
better. Moreover, the higher educational institutes are supported by both the government and the non
governmental bodies for improving the quality of education (Qaa.ac.uk 2017). The engagement of the
international students is resulted by the consistent and constant effort of the internal and external bodies of
the educational organizations involved in the higher education system (Munene 2013). On the other hand,
there is no help and support from any internal or external bodies for the higher education in Kenya. Hence,
the students are lacking the basic facilities from the universities. In regard to the comparison in the context
of funding for higher education, England has gained the higher and prior position to that of Kenya. England
has a separate funding council for financially supporting the higher education system. Whereas, the
universities of Kenya are not supported by any external bodies. Moreover, the Kenyan government has
reduced the financial budged for education and has withdrawn the minimal help recently. Therefore, the
universities are user dependent. It also must be noted that the users are also not financially stable
(Gse.buffalo.edu. 2017). Hence, the higher educational sector of Kenya has been failing to provide proper
and sufficient education to the large number of eligible students as the educational institutes are unable to
minimum required facilities and opportunities to them (Wangenge-Ouma 2012). The aspect of maintaining
the quality of the education, England is undoubtedly better than Kenya. Kenya, presently having 20
universities for higher education lacks the quality education. The insufficient financial help from government
or non-governmental bodies is leading the universities to have poor infrastructures, improper educational
arrangements, low quality staffs and equipments, and unskilled teachers (Wanzala 2013). Consequently, the
quality and standard of the higher education in Kenya is poor. On the other hand, the educational quality is
higher in England due to the existence of the separate quality assessment organization which not only helps
the educational organization to maintain the quality of the education but also guide these institutes to
improve the same (Kahu 2013). In addition, this quality maintenance of processor the higher education
attracts the students from the internal context. Therefore, it can be concluded from the above discourse
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