CAES 1001
Academic Communication in English (ACE)
Session 1
Stepping through the academic door:
Introduction to ACE
Objectives
1. Get to know each other
2. Understand the need for academic English
3. Get familiar with the course goals and requirements
4. Complete the diagnostic writing task
Objective 1
Get to know each
other
Activity 1a
Aim: Know your class teacher
• Name: Denise.
• Email:
• Office Hour:
Activity 1b
Aim: Know your classmates
Instructions:
• Find a classmate and introduce yourself
• Choose a topic and discuss with your classmate
o hobbies
o high school life
o weekend activities
o study goals
o faculty/study programme, etc.
o future career/dream job
Objective 2
Understand the
need for academic
English
Activity 2a
Aim: Understand the need for academic English in University
Instructions:
• Brainstorm 1-2 reasons with a partner for the question “Why do we
need academic English in university?”.
• I need academic English in university because…..
Activity 2b
Aim: Reflect on writing expectations between high school and
university
Instructions:
• Discuss with a partner the differences between the English
used in high school and the English used at university.
• Read the two texts (a/v in the Session 1 folder) and try to identify
which one represents high school-level writing and which one
represents university-level writing.
Activity 2b (cont.)
Instructions:
Based on the two texts, discuss with a partner their differences in the following areas:
Areas High School University
Length of Writing 2000 t0 5000
Submission Format
Evidence and Source Use
Author’s Position and
Argument Development
Standards for Academic Integrity
Objective 3
Does academic English
sound difficult?
ACE is here to help you.
Get familiar with the
course goals and
requirements.
Activity 3
Aim: Know the course
CAES1001 ACE – Helping you through this academic English learning journey
This course helps you to:
• Develop your critical reading and information
literacy skills essential for university studies;
• Enhance your abilities in critical thinking,
logical reasoning, and effective argumentation
in academic discourse;
• Foster your academic English language skills
necessary for critical and innovative written,
spoken and visual communication; and
• Cultivate your awareness and skills of using
technology critically and ethically for engaging
with academic discourse.
Attendance & Participation
100% attendance (including the add/drop 20% absence for emergencies or medical
period) reasons with valid proofs
Self-access Academic Integrity Moodle tasks
Course Complete Moodle activities to understand
Completion (P/F)
Assessments: academic honesty and avoid plagiarism
Your Learning
Pathway to Writing Assessment - Individual essay
Success Craft an essay to argue an academic
50% weighting
position on a topic
Speaking Assessment - Individual presentation with visuals
Deliver a concise academic presentation
50% weighting
with effective visuals
1. Course Schedule of Your Class Pattern
Learning [Pathway: Log in HKU Portal > My eLearning > CAES1001
Course Moodle > Under the section of “Course Information”]
Resources 2. Course Textbook
3. Course Moodles
• CAES1001 Academic Communication in English: includes
all course-related information, documents, and submission
links
• CAES1001 Academic Integrity [ASSESSED]: helps you
understand what academic integrity is and develops the skills
you need to achieve it
• CAES1001 STYLE (Scholarly Tone, Your Language
Essentials) [NON-ASSESSED]: helps you improve your
academic writing by mastering style and tone, avoiding errors
and using GenAI tools for academic vocabulary building
[Pathway: Log in HKU Portal > Click on “My eLearning” >
CAES1001 Moodles]
CAES1001 Rules for PASSING the course
✓ Attend classes 100%.
✓ Meet all deadlines*.
✓ Uphold academic integrity in all assignments (i.e., no violations
of academic conduct, no plagiarism, and no inappropriate AI use).
*PASS ALL assessments** = PASS the course
**Assessments include completion of the Academic Integrity
Moodle, writing and speaking assessments
Please read the course and assessment guide very carefully.
15
CAES1001 Attendance Policy
✓ Attend 100% of scheduled classes (including the add/drop
period).
✓ Participate in class actively.
✓ Submit proper documentation for 20% emergencies or sick
leave
➢ Contact your class teacher in a timely manner and before
any assessment deadlines if you have difficulties.
➢ Consult CEDARS for special academic support.
GenAI policy
CAES has a general policy on the
use of GenAI, but each ACE
assessment may have its own
specific rules for using GenAI.
Always read the assessment
instructions carefully to make sure
you are using GenAI appropriately
and as allowed for that particular
assessment.
Overview of
Module 1:
Writing
Module
Overview of
Module 2:
Speaking
Module
To make your ACE experience fun and enriching
• Participating in • Brainstorming
class activities ideas
• Critically • Roundtable
responding to discussions
questions
Explore & Connect &
Engage Collaborate
Critique & Prepare
Reflect & Innovate
• Text analysis • Using AI for
• Peer reviews preparation
• Rehearsals
Assessment Deadlines
Assessment Deadline Weighting
Academic Integrity Moodle [Check your class Completion Required -
schedule] (INCOMPLETION: Fail the
course)
Writing Assessment [Check your class ASSESSED (50%) -
schedule] (Non-submission or Fail:
Fail the course)
Speaking Assessment [Check your class ASSESSED (50%) -
schedule] (Non-submission or Fail:
Fail the course)
PASS ALL assessments = PASS the course
21
Objective 4
Complete the
Diagnostic
Writing Task
Activity 4
Diagnostic writing task [Compulsory]
(Time Allowed: 1hr 30 mins)
▶ You will now complete a Diagnostic Writing Task.
▶ Download the question paper from the “Turnitin Assignment Submissions” on
the Central Course Moodle and time your writing.
▶ This is NOT GRADED and is intended to help you understand your own
strengths and weaknesses in writing.
▶ You will have to write AN ESSAY (One common topic and common sources).
▶ DO NOT USE any AI, translation, or proofreading tools.
▶ Submit your work to the Course Moodle Turnitin.
If you miss this task due to the add/drop period, contact your class teacher as
soon as possible for the submission arrangement. This is a required task.
Key learning points of Session 1
• Get to know your teacher, your
classmates, your own learning needs,
and the details of the ACE course.
• Make sure you fully understand how to
access all learning materials, such as
the textbook, class schedule, and
Moodle sites.
• Take note of all the deadlines and
course policy.
Reminders
• Buy the course textbook
• Check the Central Course Moodle
(“Course Information”) for
instructions on how to get a copy (e-
or hard copy) of the Course
Textbook.
• Complete one unit of Academic
Integrity (AI) Moodle
• PASS the Moodle = PASS the
course
References
• Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority. 2023 HKDSE English
Language Examination Paper 2 Samples.
[Link]
ang/[Link]
• Smith, S. (2021). Features of academic writing.
[Link]
We also acknowledge the use of HKU ChatGPT-4o in the creation of some
content slides for educational and teaching purposes.