Module FOUD0381: Academic Practice in Social Sciences

Department: Foundation Year (Durham)

FOUD0381: Academic Practice in Social Sciences

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• • Extended Research

Excluded Combination of Modules

Aims

• to provide students with a background in academic conventions and expectations 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 an academic voice
• to develop critical analysis.

Content

• Study of academic writing process (note-taking, planning, drafting, proof-reading);
• Study of selection of sources for academic study;
• Study of test techniques;
• Study of referencing and citation styles;
• Study of research methodologies;
• Study of Critical Thinking and Analysis;
• Study of how to use online library catalogue and search tools;
• Practice of oral skills;
• Practice of written communication 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);

• 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 (SS1);
• Be able to use appropriate skills and strategies to avoid plagiarism (SS2);
• Be able to use appropriate sources (SS3);
• Be able to use information resources selectively and appropriately (SS4);
• Be able to construct a bibliography/reference list 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);

• By the end of the module the student will:
• Be able to communicate effectively in writing (KS1);

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.
• Essay will assess: KS1, KS3, SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7, SK1, SK2, SK3.
• Test will assess: KS1, KS3, SS7, SS1

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

• Seminar presentation • annotated bibliography • essay plan • essay draft

■ 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