Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Extended Essay or Report 1000-1500 words) | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Reading exam 120 minutes | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Writing exam 120 minutes (400-600 words) | 30% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Reading Learning Outcomes:
Read and comprehend an academic or other reasonably complex text involving the ability to:
• identify and critically evaluate the writer’s stance
• critically analyse the relationships of ideas in the text
• select relevant information for a particular task, take notes and summarise such information
• attempt to understand vocabulary from context
• understand the structure of a text (intro, body & conclusion etc)
Writing Learning Outcomes:
Write an evidence based essay or report in an appropriate academic format following appropriate academic conventions, which makes use of and synthesizes information from two or more sources. Students should be able to:
• Structure an academic essay and report
• Select relevant and appropriate information while avoiding plagiarism by:
-Taking appropriate notes
- Understanding the difference between copying, paraphrasing and quoting
- Understanding and using the Harvard System of citation
- Writing a suitable bibliography
Writing Learning Outcomes:
Use adequate vocabulary to understand and write about concepts in an academic context
Reading & Writing Learning Outcomes:
Apply their academic writing and reading skills sufficiently to be able to deal effectively with the demands of first-year undergraduate study at a UK university
Brief description
This module will develop, extend and consolidate the general & academic reading, writing and study skills needed for successful study at AU.
Aims
2. To develop, extend and consolidate students’ general & academic writing skills for university
3. To give practice in the independent learner study skills required to function effectively in a higher education learning environment
Content
The outline below is indicative of the skills that this module will cover.
Key reading strategies to be developed:
• A range of reading skills both extensive and intensive to enable students to develop specific receptive skills such as reading for gist, reading for specific information, reading for detailed comprehension and reading for inference.
• Active reading skills
• Using the library and online resources appropriately
Key writing strategies to be developed:
• Writing for different purposes & audiences – general & academic (block 2 & 3)
• Understanding of the grammatical & lexical features of a text to promote precision and accuracy
• The process of writing – students will be encouraged to consider the procedure of putting together a good piece of work including: pre-writing phase, planning, editing, re-drafting, and finally producing the finished version of their work
• Note-taking, paraphrasing and referencing techniques
Week 1,2,3,4 Course Introduction
Developing and improving reading skills for example – identifying the main idea, skimming, scanning, understanding vocabulary from context, identifying steps in a sequence, reading and note-taking, identifying lines of argument, how academic arguments are presented etc
Introduction to academic texts: overall structure, citations, bibliographies, identifying paragraph topics, supporting points, summarising paragraphs, analysing essay questions, good academic practice paraphrasing, summarising using direct quotes etc
Week 5,6,7,8
Developing and improving reading skills for example – distinguishing fact from opinion, using questions to be an active reader, using context to provide meaning, developing critical reading skills, distinguishing between reliable and unreliable texts, using the library & electronic resources, introduction to research etc
Developing academic writing for example – essay planning, academic texts, organizing and linking ideas, incorporating sources, synthesising info from several sources; developing own academic voice, writing introductions, body and conclusions, presenting your argument etc
Week 9, 10,11,12 Developing and improving reading skills for example – more of the above with extended texts.
Preparation for writing extended essay.
Submission of first draft in week 10 final submission in week 12
Week 13 Revision and exam preparation
Module assessment
Week 14 Further teaching
Week 15 Module feedback + tutorial support
Individual feedback and targets to be identified & discussed for development in Block 3
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | |
| Communication | This module develops communication and literacy skills through engagement with reading & writing texts and vocabulary extension activities |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | This module incorporates targeted individual learning tutorials to encourage students to assess and analyze their own learning and performance. |
| Information Technology | This module will expect students to submit some of their work in a word processed format. Students will also be encouraged to search the web for sources of information. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | |
| Problem solving | Developing reading and writing sub skills involves problem solving to find and record the key information required to comprehend texts |
| Research skills | This module will involve students actively and independently researching topics for reading and writing practice |
| Subject Specific Skills | Academic English study skills |
| Team work | This module involves students working in pairs and teams to develop their reading and writing skills |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 3