Module FOUD0381: Academic Practice in Social Sciences

Department: Foundation Year (Durham)

FOUD0381: Academic Practice in Social Sciences

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• • Social Science Research Project

Excluded Combination of Modules

• • Key Skills and Language for Higher Education • Academic Practice in Arts & Humanities • Preparation for Academic Study in English

Aims

• to provide students with a background in academic conventions and expectations in the Social Sciences to prepare them to join the Community of Practice of their chosen discipline;
• to provide students with a grounding in study skills and their supporting technology;
• to develop reflective practice;
• to develop critical analysis.

Content

• Study of academic writing process (note-taking, planning, drafting, proof-reading);
• Study of selection of sources for academic study in Social Sciences;
• Study of exam techniques;
• Study of referencing and citation styles within Social Sciences;
• Study of research methodologies within Social Sciences;
• Study of Critical Thinking and Analysis;
• Study of how to use online library catalogue and search tools;
• Practice of oral presentation skills;
• Practice of library research tasks;
• Use of standard software packages;
• Use of DUO and associated tools.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this module students will have acquired the knowledge to be able to:
• Understand the concept of academic malpractice and how to avoid it (SK1);
• Use referencing styles appropriate to their future course of study (SK2);
• Select and use a research methodology appropriate to their future course of study (SK3).

• By the end of the module the student will:
• Be able to produce written work in an academic style appropriate to their future course of study in the Faculty of Social Science and Health (SS1);
• Be able to use appropriate skills and strategies to avoid plagiarism (SS2);
• Be able to use the library to perform appropriate research tasks (SS3);
• Be able to use online information resources selectively and appropriately (SS4);
• Be able to construct a bibliography in a style appropriate to their future course of study (SS5);
• Be able to reference a piece of work appropriately (SS6);
• Be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills (SS7);
• Be able to analyse a variety of different types of text (possibly oral/aural as well as written) appropriate to degree subject (SS8).

• By the end of the module the student will:
• Be able to give a presentation using appropriate supporting technology (KS1);
• Be able to communicate effectively in writing (KS2);
• Be able to reflect on their own research design process (KS3).

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Students will develop an awareness of subject-specific academic practice through a range of structured individual, group and whole class activities. Many of these activities will be linked to material on current issues, giving students the opportunity to practise applying their subject knowledge and to develop skills in critical analysis.
• This module provides the majority of the input for the extended project in Social Sciences module.
• Essay will assess: KS2, KS3, SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7, SK1, SK2, SK3.
• Presentation will assess: KS1, KS3, SS3, SS4,
• Exam will assess: KS2, SS5, SS6, SS7, SS8

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

• Seminar presentation • Referencing task • Reflection on a visit to a lecture in the progressing department • Critical Analysis of a text • Literature Review (for Extended Project in Social Sciences)

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University