IL1PAPGPN: Academic Practices and Genres Postgraduate

Module code: IL1PAPGPN

Module provider: International Study and Language Institute

Credits: 0

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Double Presentation: Semester 1, and Summer

Module convenor: Ms Sharon McIlroy, email: s.e.r.mcilroy@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE IL1PIALS4N (Compulsory)

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is a component of the Pre-sessional English programme (PSE) which is designed to support students who either do not meet the English language requirements for their chosen degree programme or who wish to gain a better understanding of the academic language and literacy practices for university study.  

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 features of research articles within their intended disciplinary field and how to critically evaluate published research. Self-awareness and reflection are also integral features of the module. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Write a critical review of research articles in one discipline showing suitable text selection, organisation, and laguage to describe, compare and evaluate research
2. Drawing on a range of  communication skills, give a clear, logically structured presentation to reflect on an aspect of learning from the Pre-sessional English programme (PSE) and its application to their degree programme study
3. Use appropriate listening skills to discuss information from video interviews with University of Reading academics within an individual oral presentation
4. Ask and respond appropriately to questions about specific points following a presentation
5. Acknowledge sources accurately within texts produced, using appropriate in-text and end-of-text citation methods

Module 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 focusing on their social/communicative purposes, and their structure and language. 
• 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 
• Practice of language appropriate for the context of the oral (presentation) and written (a Critical Review) genres and topics. 

The module will also focus on developing key academic skills such as: 

• Exercising autonomy and initiative in time management for coursework tasks 
• Reflecting on the skills and language needed to continue developing 
• Recognising what academic integrity is and taking steps to engage with this. 
• Becoming a confident user of the university’s VLE (Blackboard), submission and assessment tools e.g., Feedback Studio, and other learning technologies (e.g., Microsoft 365) 

Structure

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’ future disciplines, 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 analyse organisation/structure and key language features.

The module consists of interactive classes, and guided independent study tasks. Guided Independent tasks are completed without a teacher. The tasks include preparation for the next class or a review of material taught.

This module is taught twice to two different cohorts of students - first in Semester 1 and then repeated in the Summer vacation. The 200 contact hours are listed for the first iteration of teaching in Semester 1, and these same contact hours are repeated for the second iteration of teaching in the Summer.

Study hours

At least 55 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

The pass mark for successfully completing the Pre-sessional English programme depend on students’ English language entry requirement for their intended degree programme.

There are two categories of pass marks:

1. A standard pass mark for students with an English language offer of 6.5 overall (6.0 subskill) or below. These students must achieve a minimum of the expected English language level of an overall 6.0 [55%] at the end of the PSE, and no less than 5.5 [45%] in any one sub skill [Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing].
2. A higher pass mark for students with an English language offer of 7.0 overall (6.0 subskill) or above. These students must achieve a minimum of the expected English language level of an overall 6.5 [65%] at the end of the PSE and no less than 6.0 [55%] in any one sub skill [Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing] 

Only two pass marks are therefore set for the programme, differentiated by two categories of English language requirements.

Students meet the pass mark by successfully completing summative coursework from the modules IL1PAPGPN/ IL1PAPGUN and the Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP which is the summative assessment for the module IL1PIALS4N).

Students who do not pass at first attempt are offered reassessment through the in-class test (TEEP) only.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will receive feedback on a draft of a section of the critical review. Students will receive regular feedback on preparation for the presentation.

Reassessment

Additional costs