IL1APSYN-Writing for Undergraduate Psychology

Module Provider: International Study and Language Institute
Number of credits: 0 [0 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Ms Emily Salvesen
Email: e.r.salvesen@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module focuses on the academic language and writing skills needed to more effectively manage coursework assignments on undergraduate Psychology programmes and is primarily designed for part one students in Psychology whose first language is not English. The module is delivered in autumn term and focuses on four key Psychology genres: Reports, Essays, Critical Reviews and Reflective Writing.  

The module is non-credit-bearing and designed to support students’ disciplinary study, the expectation being that students will apply the skills they have learnt on IL1APSYN in their credit-bearing work. Therefore, for the module itself there is no assessment or expectation of independent study hours.

Aims:

By the end of the module, students will be better able to:

• recognise and respond to the expectations of the key written coursework assignment genres in Psychology, the Report, Essay, Critical Review and Reflection.


• accurately interpret coursework assignment instructions/briefs


• employ task-appropriate organisational patterns at paragraph, section and whole-text level


• use a variety of techniques to incorporate and comment on the views of others in their writing


• accurately apply the referencing conventions for their discipline


• employ task-appropriate language (grammar and lexis)


• critically evaluate their own and others’ writing

Assessable learning outcomes:

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Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

Classes will focus on the key coursework assignment genres in Psychology (Report, Essay, Critical Review and Reflection), including:

• expected structural & argumentation patterns and how these differ according to task type 


• genre-related lexical and grammatical features


• reading-to-write and source use and synthesis processes


• how ‘voice’ and ‘stance’ are realised linguistically within target genres

Global context:

This module supports internationalisation at Reading by facilitating successful and equal inclusion of students whose first language is not English in UK degree programme study.  

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will adopt an overall ‘genre’ approach, taking the social purpose of texts as the starting point to explicate organisation/structure and key discourse and language features.

It takes a discipline-specific approach to language and literacy development using example student texts and published Psychology-specific sources in classroom tasks. 

Teaching will be learner-centred, taking a task-based approach to analysis of example t exts from the target genres, guided ‘noticing’ of key organisational and linguistic features in context, and exercises practicing use of relevant lexical/grammatical items.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars	8
Guided independent study:	0	0	0
Total hours by term	8	0	0
Total hours for module	8

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method

Percentage

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

Reassessment arrangements:

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 22 September 2022