IL1PAPGPN-Academic Practices and Genres Postgraduate

Module Provider: International Study and Language Institute
Number of credits: 0 [0 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn and Summer (double presentation)
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Ms Sharon McIlroy
Email: s.e.r.mcilroy@reading.ac.uk

Module Co-convenor: Miss Victoria Collins
Email: v.collins@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module is taught twice to three different cohorts of students, one in the Autumn term, one in the Summer academic term and one in the Summer vacation.  The contact hours are listed for the first iteration of teaching in the Autumn term and these same contact hours are repeated for the second and third iteration of teaching in the Summer academic term and Summer vacation.

As a final - or 'exit' - component of the Pre-sessional English Language Programme (PSE), this module aims to enhance students’ ability to successfully engage with assessed coursework on UK postgraduate degree programmes.

Students will develop understanding of genre expectations and associated academic values, practices and processes, e.g. academic integrity, planning and reading-to-write.  The module will also develop students’ awareness of the characteristics of research texts within their intended disciplinary field and how to critically evaluate published research. Self-awareness and reflection are also integral features of the module. 

Aims:

This module aims to enhance students’ ability to successfully engage with assessed coursework on UK Postgraduate degree programmes through awareness of academic values, expectations (including genre awareness) and associated practices and processes e.g. academic integrity, planning and reading-to-write. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

• Select, understand and appraise academic research critically


• Use genre-appropriate organisational and linguistic features to complete a written Critical Review.


• Use appropriate language to describe, compare and evaluate research


• Apply the correct terminology for describing academic research e.g. empirical vs review research paper, and sections of the research article genre.


• Make connections between academic texts to show how knew knowledge is generated in a disciplinary topic


• Drawing on a range of oracy skills, deliver an individual oral presentation reflecting on
  
  
  
  • own academic practices and implications for future learning
  
  
  • an aspect of learning from the module and its implications for and applications to their degree programme study.
  
  
  
  


• Use appropriate listening and mediation skills to discuss information from video interviews with University of Reading academics within an individual oral presentation.


• Ask and respond appropriately to questions about specific points following a presentation


• Attribute sources accurately within texts they produce using appropriate in-text and end-of-text citation methods

Additional outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

• Use the UoR library tools effectively to search for related academic literature


• Recognise what academic integrity is and the steps to engage with this


• Demonstrate an awareness of common research methods in their academic discipline


• Appreciate disciplinary differences in citation practices


• Exercise autonomy and initiative in time management


• Use a variety of strategies and resources for the purpose of independent language study


• Become a confident user of the university’s VLE [Blackboard], submission and assessment tools e.g. Feedback Studio, and other learning technologies e.g. Office 365


• Reflect on the skills and language needed to continue developing and understand how to use tutor feedback to identify areas for improvement   

Outline content:

The module will help students to acquire the skills and knowledge to engage effectively with tasks common to UK postgraduate degree programmes by:

• Raising students' awareness of the range of coursework genres used for assessment on UK university degree programmes, their social/communicative purposes and related structural and linguistic features. 


• Analysing  the purpose, stages and features of  key  genres  throughsamples by proficient speakers/writers.


• Analysing a sample research article in terms of structure, strengths & weaknesses to replicate this process for their article choices


• Applying given evaluation criteria for analysing research articles/studies


• Selecting appropriate articles from a reading list


• Producing sections of the tasks with guided supported practice i.e. improving the response through tutor feedback on draft work


• Constructing the final response to the tasks independently [of the tutor] for final assessment.


• Practice of language appropriate for the context of the oral (presentation) and written (a Critical Review) genres and topics.

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 take a task-based, contextualised approach which integrates practice and development of receptive (listening, reading) and productive (speaking, writing) academic English communication skills around the students’ intended disciplinary field as well as discussing international student experiences.

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

The Systemic Functional Linguistic (SFL) framework, which links language to purpose and genre, will guide the teaching of linguistic and discoursal features of academic communication.

The module consists of practical classes and guided independent study tasks.  

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	5
Seminars	42
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (directed)	9
Preparation for presentations	9
Preparation for seminars	22
Revision and preparation	18
Reflection	18
Total hours by term	123	0	0
Total hours for module	123

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	50
Oral assessment and presentation	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

For students who have not met the English Language requirements for their University degree programme, re-assessment is through The Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP).

The critical review and individual oral presentation (coursework) are not included in the re-assessment.

Formative assessment methods:

Students will regularly receive formative feedback on language skills tasks completed during the module.

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:

The grades required for successfully completing the Pre sessional English Language course will vary according to the University entry requirement for students’ intended degree programmes.

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-assessment is through the Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP)

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: 17 January 2024