In conclusion, given the importance of academic-literacy development as a criterion for successful
achievement at the tertiary level, this paper has argued that all students are likely to benefit from
having a literacy component embedded within their discipline-specific courses, particularly at
foundation level. This paper began by outlining the theoretical rationale for embedding academic
literacy skills in subject-specific courses. Then, arising from a review of the literature and from
the authors’ practical experience with embedding, it proposed a best-practice model. The model is
presented in the spirit of a multiple-approaches philosophy, with each intervention being tailored
to the unique demands of the specific assignment, the course in which it is located and its wider
discipline-specific discourse community. Consonant with a constructivist approach to education,
the model gives pre-eminence to the learner and takes the assignment as the point of departure. At
a practical level, the model is conceived as a useful guide to embedding literacy initiatives and as a
point of reference for addressing institutional concerns, given the explicit need for institution-wide
support.