LS1TAL: Techniques and Skills for Applied Linguistics

Module code: LS1TAL

Module provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Natalia Kampakli, email: a.n.kampakli@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE LS1ELS AND TAKE LS1SG (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 aims at supporting students with their transition from school to University study. It aims to prepare students to deal with the demands of University-level work and helps them develop knowledge and skills essential for their Part 1 modules. It provides them with the opportunity to enhance their reading, writing, critical thinking, presentation and library skills. The module equips students with the skills of researching information, reading critically, planning and developing an argument, writing critically in response to specific tasks and learning how to use feedback effectively. Students learn more about utilising technology, for example, Blackboard, Turnitin, online resources, databases, in the process of completing such tasks.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Research, plan and write an extended essay independently;
2. Identify academic sources in English Language and Applied Linguistics and integrate them effectively through paraphrasing, summarising, quotation and synthesising;
3. Analyse academic conventions and expectations of the academic community;
4. Apply genre and academic register effectively.

Module content

Transition from school to university; using Blackboard; basic library skills; critical reading e.g. selecting relevant information, recognising new and familiar information, identifying relevance and bias; appropriate use of academic convention e.g. in-text referencing, avoiding plagiarism, use of Turnitin, compiling lists of references; planning tasks and organising information; writing an extended essay independently; synthesis of ideas from literature; understanding theories and how to integrate them into writing; effective development of argument and evaluation; appropriate choice and use of language for rhetorical effect; use of graphics, tables and other visual input; editing and redrafting; learning to work with journal articles; learning transferable skills, such as presentation skills.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is delivered through weekly interactive lectures involving content delivery, individual and group activities. Seminars are offered biweekly and build on previous lectures in order to offer more support with practical activities.

Study hours

At least 27 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

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

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.

Short formative practical activities assessing students’ academic writing skills such as referencing, paraphrasing, synthesising, summarising.

Reassessment

Additional costs