LW1RWS: Research and Writing Skills

Module code: LW1RWS

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Chang Wang, email: chang.wang@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): This module is only available to LLB students. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

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: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Research and Writing Skills allows a student to undertake work on a set topic, in response to a problem scenario presented to them by a ‘client’. Students who take part in this module will develop the ability to apply legal concepts and rules to ‘real-world’ problems, to formulate an argument and communicate it clearly, and to do so within the specified parameters of a client- centred project.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Conduct independent research on a legal topic, demonstrating the ability to recognise a problem and develop a method of answering it;
2. Apply legal concepts and principles effectively to realistic scenarios and situations, and to respond to changes and developments in the field being researched;
3. Locate, analyse, and evaluate legal and academic sources and materials;
4. Communicate and present legal arguments effectively in written form.

Module content

The substantive content of the module will focus on content of a module taught in Part 1 of the LLB; Contract Law.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

• The module is designed to be an online independent learning experience. Teaching of the module will be by three lectures in the Spring Semester and there will be three workshops in the Spring Semester. Students will be required to complete one piece of written work for the assessment of the module.
• The topic of the assessed work for Research and Writing Skills will be provided at the beginning of the Spring semester, along with a deadline for completion and outline of the project’s timeline and scope.
• Students will be required to interpret and analyse different source materials as the project progresses, including written documents and materials, audio and video podcasts, emails and other sources. These will be released at staged intervals so as to prompt and maintain involvement and interactivity across the duration of the module.
• Students will be required to submit their assessed work piece for this module at the specified time (usually at the end of the Spring Semester).
• Students must comply with the Law School Assessed Work Rules.

Study hours

At least 6 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.

Students will be required to submit a draft of part of the assessment mid-term. This will be subject to peer review and peer marking in the workshop.

Reassessment

Additional costs