Project: Co-Authoring an Academic Literacy and Presentation Skills Textbook

Objective: To design and co-author a comprehensive English textbook that systematically equips students with the foundational skills for academic success. The book aimed to demystify the process of scholarly communication by breaking down complex tasks like research writing and formal presentations into manageable, masterable components.

My Role: Co-Author & Curriculum Architect

I partnered in the end-to-end creation of this publication, with a primary focus on structuring the pedagogical content and ensuring the material was logically sequenced for maximum student comprehension and skill acquisition.

Key Contributions & Strategic Approach:

• Curriculum Design & Chapter Structuring:

  • Spearheaded the curriculum mapping for the book, establishing a scaffolded learning progression that guides students from foundational concepts to advanced application.

  • For Academic Writing: Deconstructed the writing process into its core components, developing dedicated modules on:

    • Paragraph Architecture: Teaching topic sentences, supporting evidence, and concluding statements.

    • Research Proficiency: Guiding students through source evaluation, ethical citation, and integration of evidence.

    • Strategic Note-Taking: Outlining methods for synthesizing information from academic sources.

    • Editing and Revision: Establishing a clear process for moving from drafts to polished prose.

• Skill-Based Learning Design:

  • For Presentation Skills: Developed a step-by-step framework to build student confidence and competence, covering:

    • Content Structuring: Organizing a presentation with a clear narrative arc.

    • Visual Aid Design: Principles for creating effective and supportive slides.

    • Delivery Techniques: Strategies for managing pace, tone, and body language.

    • Audience Engagement: Methods for fielding questions and facilitating discussion.

• Collaborative Authoring:

  • Worked closely with a co-author to ensure a consistent voice, pedagogical approach, and a seamless flow between chapters, resulting in a cohesive and professional final product.

Outcome: The published textbook serves as a practical and accessible guide, empowering students to navigate the demands of academic writing and presentation with greater confidence and skill.