This module is designed to support students in their academic subject disciplines and to strengthen their confidence in key skills areas such as: academic writing, research, academic integrity, collaborative and reflective practices.
The students are supported through the use of subject specific materials tailored to their chosen degrees with some alignment of assessments between academic subject modules and the skills module.
Aims
- To develop students' ability to operate effectively, in both written and spoken language, in a range of academic settings
- To develop students' basic research skills, encouraging a critical approach to source materials and appropriate use of sources as supporting evidence
- To encourage independent learning strategies and develop students' confidence to make judgments and be evaluative
- To equip students with appropriate and effective language and study skills applicable to their various disciplines
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module a student will be expected to be able to:
1. Produce academic writing which is well-structured, relevant and clearly reasoned.
2. Communicate ideas, information and arguments with clarity, both orally and in written form, and which demonstrates the ability to integrate students’ own ideas with those of others.
3. Deliver effective presentations using an appropriate range of visual aids.
4. Comprehend texts on a range of subjects identifying main points from listening and reading material, and demonstrating critical reading skills to assess the usefulness of information.
5. Make full use of academic libraries and a range of appropriate electronic media for independent research purposes
6. Demonstrate knowledge and appropriate use of academic register and referencing conventions.
7. Develop time management strategies, employ self-directed learning and show an ability to work collaboratively with others.
Syllabus
The Autumn Term will focus on the following:
Identify text types and their relevance / appropriateness
Develop basic research techniques
Reading & note-taking skills development
Writing skills development
Editing and redrafting skills
Referencing and how to avoid plagiarism
Language development
The Spring Term will focus on the following:
Listening skills development
Listening & note-taking
Develop further research skills
Summary writing and working with lecture notes
Presentation skills including the effective use of visuals
Graphs and statistical information
Language development
The Summer Term will focus on the following:
Revision and exam strategies
Language development
Assessment
Summative coursework will consist of the following components:
A 750-word summary assignment (25%) to be submitted in the Autumn term
A 750-word summary assignment (25%) to be submitted in the Spring term
A group oral presentation (20%) to take place in week 20
A 1,000-word collaborative writing task (15%) in week 25
One reflective event (15%) in week 31
Weighting of coursework: 100%
The students are supported through the use of subject specific materials tailored to their chosen degrees with some alignment of assessments between academic subject modules and the skills module.
Aims
- To develop students' ability to operate effectively, in both written and spoken language, in a range of academic settings
- To develop students' basic research skills, encouraging a critical approach to source materials and appropriate use of sources as supporting evidence
- To encourage independent learning strategies and develop students' confidence to make judgments and be evaluative
- To equip students with appropriate and effective language and study skills applicable to their various disciplines
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module a student will be expected to be able to:
1. Produce academic writing which is well-structured, relevant and clearly reasoned.
2. Communicate ideas, information and arguments with clarity, both orally and in written form, and which demonstrates the ability to integrate students’ own ideas with those of others.
3. Deliver effective presentations using an appropriate range of visual aids.
4. Comprehend texts on a range of subjects identifying main points from listening and reading material, and demonstrating critical reading skills to assess the usefulness of information.
5. Make full use of academic libraries and a range of appropriate electronic media for independent research purposes
6. Demonstrate knowledge and appropriate use of academic register and referencing conventions.
7. Develop time management strategies, employ self-directed learning and show an ability to work collaboratively with others.
Syllabus
The Autumn Term will focus on the following:
Identify text types and their relevance / appropriateness
Develop basic research techniques
Reading & note-taking skills development
Writing skills development
Editing and redrafting skills
Referencing and how to avoid plagiarism
Language development
The Spring Term will focus on the following:
Listening skills development
Listening & note-taking
Develop further research skills
Summary writing and working with lecture notes
Presentation skills including the effective use of visuals
Graphs and statistical information
Language development
The Summer Term will focus on the following:
Revision and exam strategies
Language development
Assessment
Summative coursework will consist of the following components:
A 750-word summary assignment (25%) to be submitted in the Autumn term
A 750-word summary assignment (25%) to be submitted in the Spring term
A group oral presentation (20%) to take place in week 20
A 1,000-word collaborative writing task (15%) in week 25
One reflective event (15%) in week 31
Weighting of coursework: 100%
- Module Supervisor: Maurice Abbott
- Module Supervisor: Brendan Elsted