ELIT100 Academic English and Effective Communication
ELIT100 Academic English and Effective Communication
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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English Language and Literature
Nadira Puškar Mustafić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course is designed to help students achieve success in their academic and professional lives by developing fundamental skills necessary for effective communication. The course deals with organizing academic presentations, writing essays, incorporating different types of sources into speeches and writings, and utilizing various communication strategies in formal and informal settings. Students will develop their skills and techniques through frequent assignments and class activities.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
ELIT100 Reader (selected excerpts from Refining Composition Skills, Rhetoric and Grammar, Heinle & Heinle, 2012; Market Leader Advanced, Iwonna Dubicka-Margaret O'Keeffe-Bill Mascull, Pearson, 2011; Introduction to academic writing Alice Oshima, Ann Hogue, Longman, 2007; Koerner, A. F., & Fitzpatrick, M. A. (2006). Family communication patterns theory: A social cognitive approach. Engaging theories in family communication: Multiple perspectives, 50-65., etc.)
Additional Literature
Ready to Write More From Paragraph to Essay, Second edition, Karen Blanchard & Christine Root, Longman 2004Teaching Methods
Lectures
Class discussions
In-class activities/assignments/quizzes
Take-home assignments/quizzes
And presentations.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course; Syllabus; Essential academic skills (note-taking) | Syllabus/Presentation |
| 2 | Subjective vs. objective language; Paragraph construction | ELIT100 reader/Presentation |
| 3 | Strong paragraph + in-class practice | ELIT100 reader/Presentation |
| 4 | QUIZ 1 - Paragraph (IN CLASS) 30' ; Norms in academic English ; Email writing | ELIT100 reader/Presentation |
| 5 | Essential academic skills (summarizing and paraphrasing comparing with AI tools) | ELIT100 reader/Presentation |
| 6 | Academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism | ELIT100 reader/Presentation |
| 7 | Midterm Exam Revision | ELIT100 reader/Presentation |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
| 9 | Dynamic Presentation + Presentation Info | ELIT100 reader/Presentation |
| 10 | Essay organization; Compare and Contrast Essay+ in class practice | ELIT100 reader/Presentation |
| 11 | QUIZ 2 - Compare and Contrast Essay (IN CLASS) 90' | ELIT100 reader/Presentation |
| 12 | Research data collection; Analyzing and reporting graphs | ELIT100 reader/Presentation |
| 13 | Referencing Styles | |
| 14 | Students' presentations | |
| 15 | Students' presentations + Final Exam revision |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELIT100.1 | Course | Wednesday 12:00 - 14:50 | A F1.17 | - | - |
| ELIT100.2 | Course | Tuesday 14:00 - 16:50 | B F1.8 | - | - |
| ELIT100.3 | Course | Monday 12:00 - 14:50 | B F2.8 | - | - |
| ELIT100.4 | Course | Wednesday 12:00 - 14:50 | B F2.6 | - | - |
| ELIT100.5 | Course | Friday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F2.6 | - | - |
| ELIT100.6 | Course | Wednesday 12:00 - 14:50 | A F2.8 - Classroom | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00 - 12:00 | A F3.25 | |
| Wednesday | 08:00 - 12:00 | A F3.25 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Project and Presentation
AI: AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 3 4
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 5
Quizzes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Attending the Lectures
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Presentation
20 hours ⏳ (4 week × 5 h)
Assignments
25 hours ⏳ (5 week × 5 h)
Home study/Revision
12 hours ⏳ (12 week × 1 h)
Studying for the midterm exam
24 hours ⏳ (3 week × 8 h)
Studying for the final exam
24 hours ⏳ (3 week × 8 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [ELIT100] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| ELIT100 | Academic English and Effective Communication | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | ELIT200 | |||||||
| Lecturer | Nadira Puškar Mustafić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 8:30-12:00 Wednesday: 8:30-12:00 |
|||||||
| npuskar-mustafic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course is designed to help students achieve success in their academic and professional lives by developing fundamental skills necessary for effective communication. The course deals with organizing academic presentations, writing essays, incorporating different types of sources into speeches and writings, and utilizing various communication strategies in formal and informal settings. Students will develop their skills and techniques through frequent assignments and class activities. | |||||||||
| Textbook | ELIT100 Reader (selected excerpts from Refining Composition Skills, Rhetoric and Grammar, Heinle & Heinle, 2012; Market Leader Advanced, Iwonna Dubicka-Margaret O'Keeffe-Bill Mascull, Pearson, 2011; Introduction to academic writing Alice Oshima, Ann Hogue, Longman, 2007; Koerner, A. F., & Fitzpatrick, M. A. (2006). Family communication patterns theory: A social cognitive approach. Engaging theories in family communication: Multiple perspectives, 50-65., etc.) | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures, class discussions, in-class activities/assignments/quizzes, take-home assignments/quizzes, and presentations. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the course; Syllabus; Essential academic skills (note-taking) | Syllabus/Presentation | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Subjective vs. objective language; Paragraph construction | ELIT100 reader/Presentation | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Strong paragraph + in-class practice | ELIT100 reader/Presentation | ||||||||
| Week 4 | QUIZ 1 - Paragraph (IN CLASS) 30' ; Norms in academic English ; Email writing | ELIT100 reader/Presentation | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Essential academic skills (summarizing and paraphrasing comparing with AI tools) | ELIT100 reader/Presentation | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism | ELIT100 reader/Presentation | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Midterm Exam Revision | ELIT100 reader/Presentation | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Dynamic Presentation + Presentation Info | ELIT100 reader/Presentation | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Essay organization; Compare and Contrast Essay+ in class practice | ELIT100 reader/Presentation | ||||||||
| Week 11 | QUIZ 2 - Compare and Contrast Essay (IN CLASS) 90' | ELIT100 reader/Presentation | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Research data collection; Analyzing and reporting graphs | ELIT100 reader/Presentation | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Referencing Styles | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Students' presentations | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Students' presentations + Final Exam revision | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Project and Presentation | 1 | 20 | 1,3,4 | Allowed | |
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Quizzes | 3 | 20 | 1,2,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Attending the Lectures | 3 | 15 | 45 | Presentation | 5 | 4 | 20 | |||
| Assignments | 5 | 5 | 25 | Home study/Revision | 1 | 12 | 12 | |||
| Studying for the midterm exam | 8 | 3 | 24 | Studying for the final exam | 8 | 3 | 24 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 20/02/2026 | |||||||||