EAP 1 Portfolio: Academic Writing and Summarising Skills

This EAP 1 portfolio assignment, completed in Autumn 2017, focuses on developing academic writing skills. It includes self-evaluation checklists, summarization exercises based on texts about university fees in England and Australia, outlining an essay comparing tuition fees in both countries, and a paragraph structure exercise. The main written task is a compare and contrast essay, addressing the rising costs of higher education and its impact on students. The portfolio requires students to analyze and synthesize information, plan and structure written work effectively, and demonstrate an understanding of academic conventions. The assignment covers key aspects of academic writing, such as identifying sources, avoiding plagiarism, and writing clear and concise arguments. The student's work demonstrates an understanding of the complexities surrounding tuition fees and their effects on students, highlighting both similarities and differences between the educational systems in England and Australia. This portfolio aims to enhance students' ability to produce cohesive and coherent academic writing.

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…………………..
“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
Australians have about 18 months to study for an
undergraduate university degree on current prices before
being slugged at least 30% and as much as 60% more in
fees.
The 30% rise is the bottom end of the scale. This is roughly
the shortfall universities face after the Federal Government
cuts it’s funding, starting in 2016, under Budget measures
announced last month.
The cost of popular courses at some universities, most likely
the prestigious sandstone ones such a Sydney and
Melbourne universities, will likely rise by a lot more than
that.
Australia is one of the most expensive country for overseas
students, according to research by HSBC, with a combined
average cost of university fees and living costs totalling
more than $38,000 per year.
That’s made up of $25,375 in university fees and $13,140
for cost of living. This is higher than even the US where fees
are about the same, $25,226, but the cost of living is
cheaper at $10,479.The cost of a degree will also cost more
to finance. Unless you have the money upfront, the student
loan scheme (HELP) will come with a bigger interest rate
pegged to the 10 year government bond rate (as much as
6%) rather than the Consumer Price Index (currently 2.9%).
So far, the government and the universities have been
reluctant to put numbers on the changes to the fees
charged for degrees in 18 months’ time. However, internal
analysis by two universities – and a review of the
marketplace for degrees – is starting to give a clearer
picture.
Postgraduate degrees won’t charge, at least in the short
term. It’s the undergraduate degrees which will cost more
to those who aren’t enrolled now. Those already enrolled
get a free kick, a freeze on fees, until 2020.
From: Business Insider Australia. (2017). The Cost Of Getting
A University Degree In Australia Is About To Change: Here's
What You Need To Know. [online] Available at:
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-cost-of-getting-a-
university-degree-in-australia-is-about-to-change-heres-
what-you-need-to-know-2014-6 [Accessed 17 Dec. 2017].
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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):
Educational expenses of the colleges in England will
confront a climb. This value rise will proceed with
consistently with a sum up to £9,250 from 2017.
Thinking about the growing increment rate of 2.8%,
the value rise could be over £10,000 in years to come.
£9,000 is the farthest point above which the colleges
are permitted to charge.
This rise in price is likewise pertinent on the students
who have begun their courses. University of Kent is
yet to settle on charging higher expenses and applying
that on the current students. However, University of
Surrey has chosen just to expand charges for new
students from 2017.
Jo Johnson the Minister of Universities has declared
setting out plans to connect higher expenses to better
education. Representative of Liberal Democrat party
Baroness Lorely Burt has expressed that connection
between training quality and expenses cannot be
acknowledged and that, money is not required to
improve the quality of education. The students who
come from rather humble backgrounds are most
likely to suffer as they will face educational debts of
about £50,000 for graduation.
The fees of Australian Universities will face a 30 % to
60 % hike as the Federal Government will no more
provide funds according to the recently updated
budgets measures.
Australia is already an expensive country to pursue
higher studies. Although the fees of the Universities
are moderate and it may vary according to the
choices of degrees, but the ultimate concerns are, the
expenses required for accommodation and food and
other daily expenses.
3. Answer the question in part 3 below, using your notes.
PART 3:
What are the similarities and differences between universities in England and………………………….in
relation to tuition fees? Why are they important?
Similarity between the England universities and the universities in Australia is that both of these countries
have high tuition fees in their universities. The fees structure are being revised and are being increased.
The difference is that the fees of the universities in England arestill higher in England than in
Australia. The cost of accommodation is also higher in England than in Australia.
The importance of the similarities and differences in these two countries are that the students in these both
countries are suffering from the high expenses in these countries and they are instead opting for studying
somewhere else.
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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 Comparison of University fees in England and Australia
INTRODUCTION Background Information:
The fees of the universities of United Kingdom and Australia are being increased by their respective
governments.
Thesis Statement:
The high cost of education is hindering the students to take up higher education degrees in these
countries.
MB Paragraph 1 Paragraph Focus: ……………………………..
Country A: England Country B: ……………………..
The government has proposed the increase in the
fees structure of the Universities by £9,250 per
year. The universities are still trying to decide the
correct way to implement the changes.
The government will reduce budget of subsidy
for the universities resulting in the hike in
prices of tuition fees of universities.
MB Paragraph 2 Paragraph Focus: …………………………………..
Country A: England Country B: ……………………..
Money cannot be connected with the quality of
education, which is being provided by the
institutions.
Although cost of the fees will rise but the cost
of accommodations in Australia is quite
affordable.
CONCLUSION
Summary of main points
 A hike in the fees of the universities will adversely affect the poor students.
 The undergraduate degrees will cost more than the postgraduate ones.
Recommendations/suggestions/predictions
The students will suffer a lot due to these rise in prices and the education system will suffer
Section 1: Portfolio Evidence IV
Paragraph structure (recommended word count: 300, including notes)
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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.
Hike in the university tuition fees in England and Australia.
Educational cost expenses in the Universities of England will face a rise and the range is up to £9,250 every
year from 2017. As far as possible on the educational cost expenses is £9000. The administration has not
distributed any demonstration of expanding the point of confinement, but rather the colleges are to charge
higher than £9000. Considering the swelling rate of 2.8%, the educational cost expenses are set to reach
£10,000 every year (Marginson, 2013). This value climb has caused nervousness in understudies in wording
bearing the college way of life. It has been expressed that keeping in mind the end goal to build up the
showing nature of the colleges, value climb is advocated. Nevertheless, Mr. Jo Johnson the Minister of
Universities displayed an opposing articulation. He expressed that creating showing quality never needs such
value climb (Schoettle and Sivak, 2014). This value climb has likewise made a perplexity with respect to its
application. A few colleges like Kent University has not yet chosen whether to apply this value ascend on new
understudies just or the present students as well.
The university tuition fees will be increasing in Australia by 30% to 60%.(Chubb, Watermeyer and Wakeling,
2017)
The 30% hike is the minimum rise (Gale and Parker, 2013). This is naturally the amount colleges look after the
Federal Government will stop subsidizing, from the beginning of 2016, as it was declared in Budget measures a
month ago.
The fees of favoured courses at a few colleges, probably the renowned ones like Sydney and Melbourne
colleges, maybe will ascend by a lot more than that. Up until this point, the administration and the colleges
have been hesitant to put numbers on the progressions to the expenses needed for degrees in year and a
half's time.
The fees in England as well as in Australia will face a certain amount of hike in the future as proposed by their
respective governments.
References:
Chubb, J., Watermeyer, R. and Wakeling, P., 2017. Fear and loathing in the academy? The role of emotion in
response to an impact agenda in the UK and Australia. Higher Education Research & Development, 36(3),
pp.555-568.
Gale, T. and Parker, S., 2013. Widening participation in Australia in higher education.
Marginson, S., 2013. The impossibility of capitalist markets in higher education. Journal of Education
Policy, 28(3), pp.353-370.
Schoettle, B. and Sivak, M., 2014. A survey of public opinion about autonomous and self-driving vehicles in the
US, the UK, and Australia.
Stephenson, J. and Yorke, M. eds., 2013. Capability and quality in higher education. Routledge.
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Section 1: Portfolio Evidence V
Essay self-assessment form (recommended word count: 100)
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 essay structure has been written in a proper format-
containing introduction, body paragraphs conclusion and
bibliography.
B. Has a clear thesis statement that states
the sub-topics and position.
The essay has a clear thesis statement.
C. Has clear topic sentences in each main
body paragraph.
The topic sentences align with the main body paragraph.
D. Has features of an essay not a report,
i.e. no headings, no bullet points etc.
There are no headings and bullet points in the essay.
CONTENT
E. Has compared directly between the two
countries in each paragraph.
The comparison has been done between the two countries in
each paragraph.
F. Has commented on what we learn from
the comparisons.
The answer has been provided after analyzing the similarities
and differences between the two countries.
G. Has included suitable background
information in the introduction.
Proper background information has been provided.
H. Has included a suitable summary and
position in the conclusion.
Proper summary of the entire analysis has been provided in
the conclusion.
I. Has written 750 words (+/- 10%). The word count has been maintained.
USE OF SOURCES AND REFERENCING
J. Has a minimum of 2 sources per
paragraph.
Two sources has been given per paragraph
K. Has in-text citations which follow
Harvard style. E.g. (Coughlan, 2014).
The Harvard style as shown in the example has been
followed.
M. Has avoided plagiarism. Plagiarism has been avoided.
USE OF ENGLISH
N. Writes accurate sentences. The sentences are grammatically correct.
O. Spells and punctuates accurately. The spellings and punctuations are correct.
P. Uses a range of language. Particular range of language has been used.
Q. Writes in an appropriate academic
style.
Academic style of writing has been maintained.
Things you feel competent at (approx. 50 words):
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Appropriate information has been gathered from the internet to complete this assignment. The
administration and outcome records have been assessed in detail. The data gathered from the net
has been properly analyzed and explained in paragraphs. Sources has been properly chosen and
adequately used in the paragraphs.
Things you need to work on (approx. 50 words):
The structure of the essay needs to be worked upon to make it more informative. Proper analysis of the data
gathered from the internet is another point, which needs to be worked on. Using proper format and bringing
clarity in the writing style is also another aspect to work on.
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Section 2: Written Task
Academic Writing (750 words)
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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
Australia in terms of funding and quality. Which system is preferable?
England and Australia, both the countries are equally popular among the international students for pursuing
higher studies. Both England and Australia has encouraged a lot of new students to take up higher education in
their countries through various policies, but the higher tuition fees of the universities of both the countries has
been an issue for the students. The two countries have almost similar fees structure as proposed by their
government policies, yet there are certain differences that exist between the two nations, which will be addressed
in the following paragraphs.
The Australian education funding system works with a quite lower level of non-reimbursement of student credits.
(Hazelkorn, 2015). The students have to pay only 25% of the loans in Australia, While in UK it is 45 %
(Unialliance.ac.uk, 2017). This significantly affects bringing the rate of non-reimbursement down in the Australian
framework. It likewise guarantees that most by far of Australian graduates pay off their student loans before the
age of 30 when, commonly, they will begin to purchase houses, get married and/or have kids. In England advance
planning matters; especially for the graduate reimbursement system (Bryson, 2016). Along these same lines,
nobody ought to be shocked that it assumes control 26 years to pay back and that most of the students will never
reimburse their credit in full.
The framework of Australian education incorporates a credit arrangement called FEE-HELP. The undergrad FEE-
HELP credit conveys a 25% extra charge that gets added to the advance and, in actuality, makes an understudy
advance where the cost of non-reimbursement of advances is zero (Wilkins, Shams and Huisman, 2013). This is a
generally little piece of the Australian framework however gives an astounding confirmation of idea that is
conceivable to work an understudy credit that does not convey open endowment. This merits rehashing. The
undergrad FEE-HELP credit demonstrates that it is conceivable to work a non-financed understudy advance
(Chubb and Watermeyer, 2017). Not at all like in England where postgraduate students many of the graduate
students are unable to bear the cost of their education FEE-HELP in Australia guarantees that all students can get
to a charge advance that is reimbursed after graduation. What's more, it shows signs of improvement. Given the
generally low level of credit endowment, they can offer a lifetime advance allotment (around $100,000) giving
everybody most extreme adaptability and decision to empower them to up-aptitude and re-prepare in help of a
differing and quickly developing employment showcase (Hempsall, 2014). The Australian's called it Higher
Education Loan Program – HELP – and created open talk in view of the Government giving help to students to take
care of the expense of examining. In the UK, terms like 'expenses' and 'debts' are used and thus the students
protest against the expensive education system.
In terms of Quality United Kingdom (UK) offers an assorted and adaptable scope of courses in comprehensively
positioned establishments. Courses in the UK training framework are shorter and better than numerous different
nations, so you will graduate sooner without bargaining quality (Wilkins and Balakrishnan, 2013). This will spare
you time and cash in educational cost charges and living expenses. Colleges and universities follow certain
guidelines and they guarantee that they maintain the most astounding guidelines of educating, learning and
research (Moodie, 2015). They likewise strive to guarantee a sheltered, mindful and steady condition for every
single students from different countries. On the other hand Australia has a national administrative and quality
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office for advanced education – the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). It was built up by
the Australian Government to screen quality, and direct college and non-college advanced education suppliers
against an arrangement of models created by the free Higher Education Standards Panel.
It can be concluded that in terms of expenses although both the countries have quite high fee structure and living
standards, but there are various educational funding programs in Australia in comparison with England. Judging
from the qualitative point of view England is a lot ahead of Australia as it has some of the most reputed
educational institutions in the world, which offer intensive quality of higher education. Australia is also a popular
choice for international students as it offers a wide range of degrees. Analysing the higher education systems of
both the countries it can be said that Australia is the better choice in terms of funding and a moderate quality of
education system which can be easily availed by the students in comparison with England.
Click here to enter text.
Reference List:
Bryson, C., 2016. Engagement through partnership: Students as partners in learning and teaching in higher
education.
Chubb, J. and Watermeyer, R., 2017. Artifice or integrity in the marketization of research impact? Investigating the
moral economy of (pathways to) impact statements within research funding proposals in the UK and
Australia. Studies in Higher Education, 42(12), pp.2360-2372.
Hazelkorn, E., 2015. Rankings and the reshaping of higher education: The battle for world-class excellence.
Springer.
Hempsall, K., 2014. Developing leadership in higher education: Perspectives from the USA, the UK and
Australia. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 36(4), pp.383-394.
Moodie, G., 2015. How different are higher education institutions in the UK, US and Australia? The significance of
government involvement. Higher Education Quarterly, 69(1), pp.3-36.
Unialliance.ac.uk. (2017). A comparison of HE funding in England and Australia: what can we learn? | University
Alliance. [online] Available at: https://www.unialliance.ac.uk/2014/04/24/a-comparison-of-he-funding-in-england-
and-australia-what-can-we-learn/ [Accessed 19 Dec. 2017].
Wilkins, S. and Stephens Balakrishnan, M., 2013. Assessing student satisfaction in transnational higher
education. International Journal of Educational Management, 27(2), pp.143-156.
Wilkins, S., Shams, F. and Huisman, J., 2013. The decision-making and changing behavioural dynamics of potential
higher education students: the impacts of increasing tuition fees in England. Educational Studies, 39(2), pp.125-
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141.
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