Introductory description

Students work in subject-specific groups, and there is a focus on the particular texts and genres of writing that students need to cope with to engage effectively in discipline-based study. During their work on their Written Project they will practise the skills of searching for appropriate source materials, integrating their reading into structures of exposition, argument, and discussion, using the norms of citation for their discipline.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Unit 1

• Selecting and evaluating source material
• Identifying relevant information in a text
• Note taking, summarising and using quotations
• Formal and informal writing styles
• Referencing
• Developing a project plan

Unit 2

• Paraphrasing
• Error correction and editing texts
• Text structures and the organisation of source texts
• Comparing and contrasting data and arguments
• Reporting verbs
• Vocabulary development and dictionary skills

Unit 3

• Writing an introduction
• Writing about contrasting arguments and supporting evidence
• Discipline-specific genre writing development
• Coherence and cohesion in writing
• Effective reading skills for longer texts
• Argumentation and Cause-Effect

Unit 4

• Developing error analysis, correction and text editing skills
• Dealing with difficult vocabulary
• Writing a conclusion
• In-text citations and reference lists
• Using literature reviews
• Discipline-specific genre writing development
• Hedging

Unit 5

• Vocabulary development skills
• Structuring discursive texts
• Discipline-specific genre writing development
• Critical reading
• Developing error analysis, correction and text editing skills
• Proof-reading skills

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Read critically, using a range of techniques to select, extract and analyse relevant information, perspectives and arguments, for the intended purpose.
• Use general and specialised academic language as well as grammar in a controlled manner to write different text types effectively.
• Recognise, apply and use the key features of a wide range of academic texts.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the academic culture, practices and expectations of UK Higher Education Institutions.

Subject specific skills

• Critical engagement with complex texts
• Identifying and using relevant information from academic source texts to incorporate into academic assignments
• Linguistic knowledge of academic texts: vocabulary and academic style; grammar and sentence/paragraph structure
• The writing process: generating ideas, planning, drafting and editing
• Reading strategies and comprehension skills: navigating texts, getting the gist, identifying key points
• Paraphrasing, summarising and synthesising from sources
• Follow conventions of citing and referencing
• Conducting guided research effectively

Transferable skills

• Note-taking
• Library skills (e.g. finding and evaluating sources)
• Referencing
• Academic reflection
• Time-management
• Self-evaluation