IF3055 - Foundation Skills for Undergraduate Study 2 (2016/17)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2016/17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Module title | Foundation Skills for Undergraduate Study 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Module level | Foundation (03) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | School of Social Professions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Running in 2016/17(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This module develops students’ academic skills for the effective planning and production of an essay in the Social Sciences and Humanities.
Module aims
This module aims to:
- Improve academic literacy through essay writing and feedback in the context of Social Science and Humanities debates
- Develop critical analysis and evaluation of academic source material
- Select and integrate source material appropriately in academic writing
- Develop students’ voice in academic writing
- Integrate reflective practice throughout the essay writing process
- Further develop organisational, planning and time management skills
- Guide students to constructively use feedback to improve academic work
Syllabus
The syllabus will introduce students to a variety of academic texts and resources relevant to given essay titles in Social Sciences and Humanities. It will guide them in the deconstruction and critical analysis of these sources and help them develop their own arguments in response to the essay questions based on this understanding. Students will learn how to appropriately integrate and reference source material in their essays. Students will be guided through the process of researching, planning, drafting and proofreading their essays. There will also be continuous development of appropriate academic discourse.
Continuous formative feedback and reflection on learning will be a key aspect of the syllabus. This will be structured around guided development of students’ own essay, through which the module will be assessed.
Learning and teaching
The module is delivered through teacher-led classes, class discussions and individual online and face-to-face tutorials. Class work will include group-work and focus on participation. Students will be required to reflect upon progress and develop through formative feedback (60 hrs).
Students will also engage in ongoing self-directed study to enable them to complete required assessment components (90 hrs).
Module information including module booklet, timetable, classnotes, video links, assessment details and learning resources will be available on Weblearn. Students are encouraged to produce drafts and engage with continuous formative feedback.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Produce an effective academic essay in the Social Sciences or Humanities.
2. Critically analyse, evaluate and integrate academic source material in the essay.
3. Use their own voice to communicate and develop their argument in response to the essay question.
4. Communicate appropriately in academic discourse.
5. Plan, draft, edit and improve the academic essay in response to feedback
Assessment strategy
Formative assessment will take place throughout the module.
Summative assessment will consist of:
- An essay-based coursework assignment (100%)
Bibliography
Most resources will be given in class or via Weblearn, but the following will also be of use:
Burns T. and Sinfield S. (2012) Essential Study Skills [Sage Publications: London]
Cottrell S. (2008) The Study Skills Handbook [Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke]
Creme P. and Lea R. (2008) Writing at University [Oxford University Press: Buckingham]
Fava-Verde, A and Manning, A. (2006) Essay Writing [University of Reading: Reading]