Contact  

Paul Toft

Email

p.j.toft@staffs.ac.uk

VLE

Start   of Teaching

End of Teaching

Submission date

Jan

April

Total   Learning Hours

150

1. Develop your academic writing skills in your proposed area   of study and produce a novel piece of extended academic writing which follows   the appropriate academic conventions including referencing format, which   demonstrates an awareness of what is meant by plagiarism and how to avoid it.

Enquiry

Knowledge   & Understanding

Problem   Solving

2. Introduce   your chosen academic topic in a short presentation and respond to questions.
 
 

Analysis

Communication

3. Research and plan a presentation.

Application

Learning

4. Reflect on the activities involved in selecting,   researching and planning a presentation.

Reflection

Learning   Strategies

You will be involved in a variety of classroom and   homework activities. You may watch DVDs which explore cultural and social   issues. You will take part in various activities which build on these things,   such as classroom debates and presentations. All of this will feed into your thinking   about choosing your topic and then writing about it.
 
 

Class time will be spent developing the skills that are   needed to produce a competent piece of academic writing.

You will also be spending a lot of time outside the   classroom practising these skills.

  Here are some examples of the sort of activities you'll be doing throughout   the module:

· Discussing possible topics with tutor and fellow students.  

· Doing exercises to help you read more effectively.

· Demonstrating competent note taking techniques.

· Demonstrating a competent academic written style.

· Implementing correct academic referencing practice.
 
 

Your tutor will select suitable materials to help you to   develop these academic writing skills.

Assessment   Details

The assessment for this module comprises two elements that   test all of the Learning outcomes.
 
  1. A written assessment in essay or business report format which demonstrates   academic writing skills by summarising, paraphrasing and analysing   information from given research and academic articles relating to your chosen   academic topic. You will also include an explanation of what is meant by   plagiarism and how to avoid it.

You will use an appropriate referencing format throughout   this written assignment. (1500 words) (80%)

2. A 5 minute PowerPoint presentation (20%).

During   this presentation you will talk about the process of doing your research and   writing up your findings. You will   demonstrate your ability to communicate a topic to others and to respond to   verbal questions.

Resources

Access to the library and IT facilities
  An advanced learner's English dictionary
 
 

Texts

The tutor will be able to recommend useful books to help   you with your work. Another very useful resource is the Internet, where there   are numerous sites which focus on academic writing. As for the material for   your topic itself, you'll find your information largely from the university   library and the Internet.
 
  There are many books which can help you develop your academic writing skills.   Here are some suggested texts:
 
  Cottrell, S. (2013) The Study Skills   Handbook, Basingstoke: Palgrave/Macmillan
 
  Price, G. and P. Maier (2007) Effective   Study Skills: Unlock your Potential Harlow, Pearson

Special   Admission Requirements