Newcastle University

Aims

This module aims to introduce Stage One students to a range of study skills that are essential for the kind of independent study that university level education demands. The module includes generic study skills, learning how to apply those skills to sociology, and a set of sociology specific study skills.

The teaching for this module is split into four blocks, beginning with some fundamental study skills for learning in higher education, such as how to build a persuasive argument using appropriate academic evidence, and how to use academic references in essay writing.

A second block of sessions focuses on applying those skills to areas of sociological study, such as developing and presenting a persuasive sociological argument, and learning to interpret assessment and feedback on sociological assignments submitted for assessment.

The third block of sessions provides managment, revision strategies and further writing skills.

The final block of sessions involves learning about and applying some aspects of study skills with a sociological focus, such as critical reading and evaluating academic research.

Overall, the module offers an opportunity to think and learn about all the fundamental skills that student need to understand, and study within, the discipline of Sociology.

Specific module aims:
To introduce students to study skills related to the type of independent study associated with University-based learning.
To understand and practice the skills needed for developing and presenting sociological argument.
To introduce study skills related to critical thinking and apply these to the discipline of sociology.
To introduce fundamental concepts in academic research, such as evaluation and ethics.

Outline Of Syllabus

Block I – fundamental skills
Lecture 1 - Learning in Higher Education
Seminar 1 – note taking and small group participation
Seminar 2 – evidence gathering
Seminar 3 – Argument building
Seminar 4 – Referencing and citation
Workshop 1 – learning to critique and essay

Block II – applying the fundamentals to sociology
Lecture 2 – The Sociological Imagination
Seminar 5 – Arguing sociologically
Seminar 6 – Presenting sociological perspectives
Seminar 7 – making the most of assessment and feedback
Seminar 8 - Exam skills
Workshop 2 - Essay planning

Block III – Practical study skills
Lecture 3 – Managing Academic Information
Seminar 9 – Time management
Seminar 10 - Personal / Professional Development and Planning
Seminar 11 – Strategies for revision and multiple deadlines
Seminar 12 – Paragraph structure / writing skills
Workshop 3 – Evaluating bibliographies in academic work

Block IV – Doing Sociology
Lecture 4 – Critical thinking in Sociology
Seminar 13 – Reading with a critical eye
Seminar 14 – Evaluating theory
Seminar 15 – Evaluating empirical data
Seminar 16 – The Sociological Trajectory
Workshop 4 – Thinking about the role of sociological research

In addition, there will be assessment preparation sessions in each block of study.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures will introduce and provide an analytic framework for the different issues being examined in the seminars, and these skills will be consolidated in the workshop for each block of teaching sessions. The focus of the contact time is therefore on the seminars to allow students to work together and practice the different skills being examined with the support of an appropriately experienced staff member or postgraduate teaching assistant. The seminar schedule is supported by the large group teaching sessions (lectures and workshops) to ensure that links between the content and the assessments are made explicit to students.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The variety of assessments are geared to assessing the range of skills taught in the module and to involve students in learning how to make use of feedback on their development within the module.
The resit is a seen exam using appropriate activities relating to the module.

The resit is a portfolio assessment that includes skill based (equates to 4000 words).