Module Information

Module Identifier
IC10310
Module Title
Academic Writing 2
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Reading List
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Assignment 1  Critical summary of relevant reference sources (500 words)  25%
Semester Assessment Assignment 2  Essay or report (1,500 words)  75%
Supplementary Assessment Supplementary  Failed assignments must be retaken if the student's combined final mark falls below 40% (to a maximum of 2,000 words)  100%

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. use a range of critical analysis skills for identifying value of a range of reference sources;
2. apply an appropriate range of linguistic and textual features to a given writing task within their own discourse communities;
3. critically evaluate learning and writing processes in planning and drafting essays;
4. identify how observation and discussion of their own writing processes and those of other students can be used to inform critical writing styles.

Brief description

This module covers aspects of planning, drafting and process writing in relation to critical review of identified academic literature. Week by week students engage in classroom activities and discussion through which they identify critical features, strengths and weaknesses of published papers in their own subject fields. Through processes of adaptation and individualization students inform development of their own writing styles into the critical requirements of writing in their academic fields.

Aims

This module aims to develop a critical perspective on academic literature resources in the students own fields. It works towards identification of sources, strategies for critical review, perspectives on published literature and implications for students own arguments and more detailed aspects of citation and referencing skills. It uses self-reflection on learning and writing styles as a tool for more advanced writing development.

Content

Seminar 1 Introduction to course

Criteria for case studies
Critical review: structure and functions
Writing a critical review

Seminar 2 Reviewing published work and identifying different citation styles

Integral citations
Non-integral citations
Grammar review of tense, aspect and voice and how it relates to critical review

Seminar 3 From critical review to critical perspective. Identifying other resources towards planning for an essay.

Seminar 4 Establishing focus in a literature review.

Class team work is based on ideas for proposed essays and identification of the relative values of identified reference sources.

Seminar 5 Styles of writing for critical reflection.

Seminar 6 Creating a critical stance in a literature review. Identifying ways to develop critical stance through case study, application of ideas or critical analysis.

Seminar 7 Peer review and critical reflection:

Identifying strengths and weaknesses in the work of others.
Evaluating quality of academic practice (techniques for avoiding bad practice and plagiarism)

Seminar 8 Peer review and critical reflection.

Review of essay structures.

Bridging the gap between review, application and analysis of an identified issue.

Seminar 9 Peer review and critical reflection

Language review
Transition between paragraphs and sections
Cohesion and coherence
Editing and signposting
Maintaining flow in your writing

Seminar 10 Setting an action plan for writing in year 2.

SMART planning.


Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4