Developing Academic Writing and Digital Study Skills

EDUC10631 Developing Academic Writing and Digital Study Skills 10 Semester 1 Undergraduate Level 1 Karen Beswick Unit coordinator Education 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' First part HE study/Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 This unit aims to prepare students for academic study, research and assessment through exploring a range of academic conventions for researching, processing and presenting ideas and information, particularly in relation to online and digital sources and tools.  <ul><li>Access and management of digital resources (e.g. research articles, relevant texts, reports)</li><li>Selection, evaluation and critical reading of academic and online sources</li><li>Managing studies and accessing support (e.g. time management, group work, tutorials, research, assessments, academic advisors and tutors)</li><li>Academic writing (e.g. voice, interaction with sources, academic conventions, avoiding plagiarism and other forms of malpractice, presenting an analytical argument)</li><li>Effective approaches to research and writing processes for different purposes</li><li>Effective identification and use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools for information handling and presentation of academic study and research</li></ul> This unit aims to prepare students for academic study, research and assessment through exploring a range of academic conventions for researching, processing and presenting ideas and information, particularly in relation to online and digital sources and tools. <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <thead> <tr> <th style="width:111px;">Category of outcome</th> <th>Upon completion of the unit, students should:</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Knowledge and understanding</td> <td> <ul> <li>have an understanding of effective use of digital resources in learning and research</li> </ul> <ul> <li>have developed their awareness of analysis, criticality, language use and style in academic writing</li> <li>have an understanding of the nature and conventions of different academic assignment modes and purposes</li> <li>understand what plagiarism and malpractice is as well as some ways to avoid them</li> <li>understand how to use sources in academic writing.</li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intellectual skills</td> <td> <ul> <li>be able to demonstrate a heightened awareness of issues relating to the evaluation and use of online sources in academic study</li> <li>be able to identify, use and refer to peer reviewed research articles to support analytical writing</li> <li>be able to construct a critical argument drawing on a range of sources as well as personal knowledge</li> <li>have developed their personal style within academic writing.</li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Practical skills</td> <td> <ul> <li>be able to cite and reference sources appropriately, consistently and correctly</li> <li>have developed autonomy and confidence in undertaking and managing their studies</li> <li>have developed competence in the use of online and digital sources and tools for researching, processing and presenting ideas and information</li> <li>have developed the ability to plan, organise and develop personal responses to a range of assignment types.</li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Transferable skills and personal qualities</td> <td> <ul> <li>have developed skills toward becoming an independent and self-motivating learner, including the organisation of time, information and study materials</li> <li>have developed interpersonal skills in working with tutors and fellow students, in individual and group situations, and using computer mediated communication</li> <li>be able to learn from constructive feedback.</li> </ul> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>   The unit will consist of:<ul><li>Tutor facilitated sessions (whole group)</li></ul>The sessions involve tutor presentations, discussions and group work about study, research and writing skills. Students are expected to be prepared for the sessions, attend all sessions except when emergency prevents, and take an active part in discussions and group work.<ul><li>Group work (online and face-to-face)</li></ul>Students are assigned to random study groups and work together to identify and research a topic related to a specific education policy or practice.  Each week, the groups provide feedback to each other, discuss and develop academic materials exploring an argument related to the topic, discuss their draft with a tutor and then submit an example of work for assessment.<ul><li>Independent study and directed reading</li></ul>To prepare for and review the tutor facilitated sessions, students review the materials provided on the VLE and read from the recommended reading list for the unit and for the sessions. Students also carry out independent study to identify and read materials related to their specific topic.<ul><li>Tutor facilitated workshop and office hours</li></ul>Students attend a workshop and/or office hours and/or book a tutorial to discuss their draft work.<ul><li>Tutorial with Academic Advisor</li></ul>Students book a meeting with their Academic Advisor during the semester to discuss their academic writing and digital study skills.<ul><li>Assessment preparation</li></ul>Guidelines and criteria for assessment will be provided in Session One.<ul><li>Formative assessment tasks: Students prepare draft materials to share and discuss with their group and the tutor(s).</li></ul> 2 Written assignment (inc essay) 40% 7 Oral assessment/presentation 30% 9 Set exercise 30% Online via the VLE. BSc (Hons) Educational Psych BSc (Hons) Educational Psych First Year Mandatory BSc Education BSc Education First Year Mandatory N This is an indicative list of some recommended sources providing guidance on academic and digital study skills. You will need to carry out reading relevant to your own topic. Further advice and guidance for your reading will be provided via the VLE. To access the links, you should be signed into MyManchester.Baratta, Alex (2010) Visual writing. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars.Bowell, Tracy and Kemp, Gary (2009) Critical thinking: a concise guide. 3rd ed. Routledge.Coats, Maggie (2017) ‘Learning How to Learn’ OpenLearn. The Open University <a href="http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3359">http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3359</a>   Gillett, A., Hammond, A. and Martala, M. (2010) Inside Track to Successful Academic Writing. Longman Publishing Group. Available at: <a href="https://www.dawsonera.com/readonline/9780273727361">https://www.dawsonera.com/readonline/9780273727361</a>Hunter, D. (2011) A Practical Guide to Critical Thinking: Deciding What to Do and Believe. John Wiley & Sons. Available at: <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9781118839751">http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9781118839751</a> .Moore, S., Neville, C., Murphy, M. and Connolly, C. (2010) The Ultimate Study Skills Handbook. Open University Press. Available at: <a href="https://www.dawsonera.com/abstract/9780335240074">https://www.dawsonera.com/abstract/9780335240074</a><a href="http://www.librarysearch.manchester.ac.uk/MU_VU1:BLENDED:44MAN_ALMA_DS21191249880001631">Neville, C. (2010). The complete guide to referencing and avoiding plagiarism (2nd ed.). Maidenhead: Open University Press.</a> Available online: <a href="https://www.dawsonera.com/abstract/9780335241040">https://www.dawsonera.com/abstract/9780335241040</a>Sword, H. (2012) Stylish Academic Writing. Harvard University Press. Available at: <a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt2jbw8b">http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt2jbw8b</a>The University of Manchester (2016) My Learning Essentials (study skills support):  <a href="http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/using-the-library/students/training-and-skills-support/my-learning-essentials/">http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/using-the-library/students/training-and-skills-support/my-learning-essentials/</a>University of Manchester Library (2020) Referencing guide at the University of Manchester: Home (online) Jul 7, 2020 11:15 AM. <a href="http://subjects.library.manchester.ac.uk/referencing" target="_blank">http://subjects.library.manchester.ac.uk/referencing</a>University of Manchester (2017) Academic Phrasebank.  Available at: <a href="http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/">http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk</a>University of Manchester: Guidance to students on plagiarism and other forms of malpractice: <a href="http://www.regulations.manchester.ac.uk/guidance-to-students-on-plagiarism-and-other-forms-of-academic-malpractice/" target="_blank">http://www.regulations.manchester.ac.uk/guidance-to-students-on-plagiarism-and-other-forms-of-academic-malpractice/</a>UMSU (2019) Academic Malpractice. (online video): 18 Jan 2019. University of Manchester Students’ Union. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=82&v=rqHXNAmJzqQ&feature=emb_logo" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=82&v=rqHXNAmJzqQ&feature=emb_logo</a> Practical classes & workshops 2 Supervised time in studio/wksp 1 Tutorials 14 Work based learning 13 0 70