'Unlock' is an academic skills course book that combines thought-provoking video from Discovery Education with carefully scaffolded exercises and a fresh approach to critical thinking skills.

The documentary-style videos from Discovery Education provide a powerful introduction to a range of academic subjects by activating students’ awareness of the topic and adding interest and authenticity to the lesson. Based on a principled approach to critical thinking skills, 'Unlock' provides learners with a set of building blocks, which enable them to effectively develop these skills. The unique research from the Cambridge English Corpus also means that Unlock can guarantee that the language presented to learners is both up-to-date and relevant.

ENG101 academic reading and writing course focuses on reading and writing as integrally related skills. Students study and practise reading comprehension, the writing process and critical thinking. Students create clear and correct sentences as they develop the skills necessary to write a variety of focused, developed, organized paragraphs and/or short essays. The Critical Thinking skills also give students the tools they need to formulate their own opinions and express themselves effectively.

• Review short simple texts, including short, simple personal letters and emails.
  
• Deduce high frequency everyday or job-related language.
  

• Identify specific information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, websites, brochures, menus, reference lists and timetables.
  
• Develop short paragraphs, basic descriptions of events, past activities and personal experiences.
  
• Practice simple structures correctly.
  

• Create mind maps for organization and critical analysis of information.
  
• Infer the meaning of unfamiliar words in short texts and utterances from the context.
  

• Express ideas clearly in a variety of formats and contexts; read and interpret accurately; and use appropriate technology to do so.
  
• Work with others with respect, honesty, responsibility, and collaborative synergy. They can also manage conflict and advocate for themselves and others with integrity.
  
• Demonstrate critical thinking through decision-making, problem-solving, analysis of information, and creative thinking across the disciplines.
  

• Attend all classes, be on time, and be ready to begin work.
  
• Show respect to the instructor and other students.
  
• Do not cause any disruption in class.
  
• Turn off your cell phone.
  
• Do not eat or drink in the classroom.
  
• Speak only English in the classroom.
  
• Bring your own textbooks. Failure to do so may result in exclusion from the classroom.
  

A student may withdraw from the program if he or she is absent for up to 25 percent of the course provided he/she does so within the time permitted for withdrawal which is during the first twelve weeks of the academic semester. If the absence exceeds 25 percent, a student will not be allowed to withdraw from the course and will not be permitted to attend lectures or sit the final examination and will receive a failing grade of 'F' on the course. The student shall be given at least one warning before being placed on the excluded list.

Students must receive a minimum of 50 percent pass overall to go to the next level.

• Classroom-based and Home-based assessment
  
• Participation
  
• Midterm Assessment
  
• Final