Aims

•       To guide student through the process of writing an analytical report on primary research that they collect via a questionnaire.
•       To improve students’ understanding of written academic discourse
•       To develop an awareness of critical reading and to link academic writing to the critical reading
•       To prepare students to produce work of a sufficiently high standard to meet the requirements of their academic programme
•       To develop self awareness and reflection
While this course is a standalone course, it is designed to offer students who have completed INU1004 a chance to further develop their academic skills and knowledge by focusing on a different academic writing genre.
The class meets once a week for a two-hour session. Additionally, students are required to complete 8 hours of guided independent study per week.

The module is assessed by a coursework task (100%).
•       formulating effective essay structures
•       developing academic writing style
•       using appropriate referencing in academic reports
•       avoiding plagiarism
•       Collating, analysing and reporting primary research data and communicating this analysis in a written report

Outline Of Syllabus

In addition to offering a general introduction to academic writing, this course covers a range of essential academic writing and research skills including:

•       formulating effective essay structures
•       developing academic writing style
•       using appropriate referencing in academic reports
•       avoiding plagiarism
•       Collating, analysing and reporting primary research data and communicating this analysis in a written report

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The small group teaching sessions are designed to guide students through a hybrid product-process approach. The product is a written academic report communicating the analysis and findings of a piece of primary research and the process are the stages required to produce that report. These stages include:

•       Unpacking the task
•       Approaching research
•       Collecting and analysing the primary data
•       Structuring and planning the report
•       Writing a draft
•       Producing a final draft

The sessions will utilise a methodology that combines teacher input and small group/pair work. This allows for the development of complex cognitive processes via participation in collaborative problem-solving tasks.
In addition, several sessions will focus on the development of language skills essential in academic writing and specifically useful for primary research reports, including describing change, data and the language of cause and effect.

Guided independent study is essential to extend and consolidate learning and this is facilitated throughout the course through a comprehensive workbook that the students must complete.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The module is assessed by a coursework task (100% of formal assessment).

The coursework requires students to write a 1,500-word report based on primary research. A workbook is provided which formatively guides students through the process of writing the report. Completing the workbook consolidates the knowledge and skills covered in the classroom sessions and requires students to engage with the process approach adopted in the course, including engagement with the stages of conducting research, collecting primary data, and planning, drafting, editing and redrafting their report.

If a student fails this component of the module, they are required to resubmit the coursework. Students are considered to have failed the module if they score 39 or less.

Additional Module requirements:
(1) Candidates are required to attend 75% of the scheduled classes. If the student falls below 75% attendance, the decision on the final mark for the module will be deferred until successful completion of a bespoke assignment. In the assignment, students will have to demonstrate that they have processed and understood the sessions missed. This will take the form of self-study tasks and reflective writing. If the bespoke assignment is of a satisfactory standard, the student will pass the module, but with their mark capped at 40. If the bespoke assignment is not completed to a satisfactory standard, the student will receive an overall mark of zero for the module.

(2) A student who attends less than 50% of the classes will be judged to have failed the module. In this instance, a re-sit will be required during the normal re-sit period. In addition to the re-sit, the student will still be required to satisfy 'module requirement (1)' outlined above.