Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Tutorial | 10 x 1 Hour Tutorials |
| Lecture | 10 x 1 Hour Lectures |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | 2,500 words Portfolio - Essay | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | 20 minutes presentation | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Resubmit or resit failed elements and/or make good any missing elements | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. recognize and evaluate reliable on-line resources both in language and content
2. select reference sources and critically evaluate unreliable sources
3. plan effectively for oral presentations in Spanish
4. plan effectively for written essays both in English and Spanish
5. use digital archives effectively
6. compile an effective bibliographical corpus for a given topic
7. use specialized dictionaries proficiently
8. use in-text citation and different reference systems
9. write/present a clear and well-structured argument both orally and in essay writing in response to an essay question
10. engage in research in Spanish
11. practice your presentation skills effectively using modern IT techniques
12. use quotations, paraphrasing and reference systems following the established conventions
13. read critically journal abstracts to evaluate the importance of a piece of research in peer-reviewed publications
14. demonstrate awareness of approaches and techniques that are commonly used in language
Aims
The module will help students develop the study and research skills necessary to be successful in their first year Language UG degree, tackling common areas of difficulty. Direct teaching of these skills is crucial to students’ success due to a lack of preparation in these core elements prior to University and also to the complexity of both on-line resources and on-line databases and digital archives available.
Brief description
This module will provide students with the necessary skills to write brief and extended pieces of work; to present a coherent argument, to organize and support your ideas and the necessary techniques to communicate orally in Spanish. You will also be provided with the necessary skills to use on-line sources and archives proficiently within academic conventions. Through problem-solving and oral and written tasks, students will gain confidence in time management, developing planning, analytical, interpretive, persuasive and critical skills. To achieve this goal this module will also teach students how to become a proficient reader when researching on a topic. Also central will be the use of databases and tips on how to source the best possible information both on language and content from Spanish and Latin America.
Content
During the first hour students will cover the main theoretical aspects of the course as well as learning advanced written and oral techniques which will enable them to start solving the most frequent problems first year UGs will face.
During the second hour (practical part) students will practice accessing the main archival and on-line resources available in Spanish in order to prepare them both linguistically and intellectually for the demands of essay writing and oral presentation.
As a thick module, it is expected that students will move rapidly to an advanced knowledge of bibliographical techniques, on-line research, use of archives, time management, essay writing and oral skills, developing their confidence and academic skills.
Development of the skills needed for writing assignments
- time management;
- assessment of essay topics;
- evaluation of essay titles;
- development of ideas;
- planning and writing an introduction;
- assessing resources on-line;
- using bibliographical corpuses;
- effective reading;
- summarising and quotation;
- how to use referencing systems (in-text citation)
- avoiding plagiarism
Development of the skills needed for language
- using on-line language resources
- using archives of linguistic variations /accents
- using specialised monolingual dictionaries in Spanish
- preparing for oral presentations
- diction, time and oral arguments
- preparing oral exams in the target language
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | n/a |
| Communication | Students will be able to communicate ideas and to practice presentation skills both recorded and live. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Students will present a step by step portfolio of research methods, techniques and sources they have used in response to an essay question. They will also reflect on their oral presentation performance both in Spanish and in English. |
| Information Technology | Students will have to use accurately all forms of software available in the LRC and to use proficiently on-line databases and research resources |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Students will work independently, developing their written skills both in English and in the target language, practice oral presentations and evaluate their own performance techniques; |
| Problem solving | This module is designed to confront the most common problems that all UG students will have to solve when studying Spanish and interpreting Spanish and Latin American texts intellectually and to equip them with a knowledge of the tools available to them. |
| Research skills | To prepare for weekly classes, students will read and research a variety of topics and use sources to evaluate their benefits and disadvantages when writing essays or making oral presentations. They will also prepare specific exercises for the practical classes, enriching their literacy and comprehension. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Inter-personal and communication skills; Spanish language skills; knowledge of culture and diversity; debating and public speaking; on-line resources |
| Team work | none |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4