Student Assignment Guidance – Developing Academic Skills [166]
| Assessment Task | Learning Outcomes |
Guidance |
| Task One: Create a timetable of study, covering the duration of the module. You should apply time management techniques and record what time you will spend on studying for the module and assessment writing. You should also include other commitments, such as work, family and leisure time. Your timetable needs to be realistic (nobody works 24/7). Try to be specific (how exactly will you spend your time – what will you do within the given time frame, i.e. research a journal, a book, write task 2, 3, 4 etc). You could also use different colours to show different activities. Following this, produce a written explanation of the time management techniques chosen and how you will use these to complete the module and assessment. (750 words) (25 marks) (LOs:2) |
2 2 | Structure & Format – Task One You need to produce a timetable of study in a weekly format for the duration of the module. In the timetable you should demonstrate time management techniques by allocating time for study, assessment writing and other commitments that you have in order to convey a realistic overview of your schedule. You need to produce a written explanation of time management techniques and how you have used these in planning time within your timetable and how you will use these techniques to manage your time effectively to complete the module/assessment. Core Content & Skills Timetable using ICT creatively using table function. Writing skills and reflection on time management techniques and how you will use them. Citations and referencing. Tips for Higher Marks Your explanation and reflection on time management techniques, how you use have used them and your timetable should be fluent, articulate with little or no spelling, punctuation or grammar issues. Your timetable should be clear and concise and easy to understand with the layout used and should be informative of your commitments and study. Reflection on your awareness of self/self- ability in balancing |
| Task Two: A) Imagine that you had to give advice to future students studying this module. What advice would you give concerning the key resources that can be used to help study and learn about this module? What have you found useful and why? Create a 300 word podcast script, covering this topic. (300 words) B) Write a diary, on how your academic skills have developed over the course of this module (450 words). This diary should be reflective and detailed. In particular, you should describe: • What you have learnt during this module • How you have felt throughout this learning journey • Strengths AND weaknesses of the approach(es) you have taken • Ways forward, i.e. how could you adapt your approach(es) to study in the future • A conclusion (summarising the key points) |
1 1 | other commitments with study and your flexibility to adapt plans, include recreational time. Structure & Format – Task Two You are required to include a podcast script (NOT a podcast, just the script) which identifies a range of resources to help students learn and study. This can include books, journals, search engines, peers, tutors, staff, study skills resources etc. Include explanations of how the resources are used. Diary – this may be inputted here in the portfolio or included in an Appendix at the end. Reflections in Task B should include elements of the diary. Annotated bibliography – You should include a range of sources, and ensure they are all referenced accurately (see the AU Harvard Referencing guide). You need to reflect on these sources, and evaluate them according to their accessibility, scope, currency and credibility. Core Content & Skills Podcast script, ICT, presentation and essay writing. Spelling, punctuation and grammar. Citing and referencing. Diary & reflections. |
| c) Create an annotated bibliography, which documents what resources you have used during the first four weeks on this module. You should utilise AU Harvard Referencing to reference the sources. For each source, discuss how recent the text was written, and evaluate them in terms of their accessibility, their scope, currency and credibility. You should outline how each of these sources have helped you to learn. You can use the diary for reflections in your writing. You can access a template for this from your tutor. (750 words) (25 marks) (Los:1) Task Three: Identify 3 sources of information; one paper based, one freely available online and one from an academic database, that explores the issues of climate change. You should provide a full reference (using AU Harvard Referencing) for each source, summarise the key arguments presented, and evaluate each source in terms of its credibility. (750 words) (25 marks) (LOs: 3) |
3 | Tips for Higher Marks Good presentation of all tasks and clear explanations on how to use resources. Good articulation of learning, and few spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. You should show clear links between your research experience and what you have learnt. You should also reflect on how you would take your learning experience forward in further learning. Structure & Format – Task Three You must find 3 different sources of information that explores climate change. You must use a different note taking technique to summarise each source and identify key points. Include the note taking methods in your submission. You then need to evaluate each source found in terms of its currency, accuracy, scope and credibility (using CAARP). Core Content & Skills Research skills, find 3 relevant sources, reference each source. Examples of 3 different methods of note taking, one applied to each source (3 in total). Written evaluation of each source. |
| Task Four: Produce a poster that provides guidance concerning how to uphold academic integrity, how to avoid plagiarism and how to reference correctly using AU Harvard Referencing. You should ensure that the poster is visually attractive and includes appropriate and meaningful images and examples to highlight your explanations. (750 words) (25 marks) (LOs: 4) |
4 | Tips for Higher Marks You must use 3 different note taking techniques. One for each source. You must use the note taking methods correctly. You should extract relevant information and reference the source using the appropriate referencing format. Your evaluations of each source in the written summary must be concise and clearly explain their currency, accuracy, scope and credibility. Structure & Format – Task Four You should produce a poster that explains how to avoid plagiarism and demonstrates how to reference correctly (how to uphold academic integrity). You should include examples of citations in text/direct quotes and referencing for the reference list. You can be creative in your poster, using text boxes etc to make it visually clear, and incorporate meaningful and appropriate images. Core Content & Skills Application of citing and referencing. Writing skills, poster creation skills and ICT skills. |
| Tips for Higher Marks Your poster must be well presented and include an accurate explanation of academic integrity and plagiarism. You should use a logical layout and have fluency in explanations. Your citations and references must be accurately presented and may include a variety of examples, e.g.) journal, book and website citation/reference. |
Student Checklist – Developing Academic Skills
| Yes | Guidance |
| Does the submission answer the question/deal with the task that was set? Have you: • Completed all four tasks • Submitted each task in the requested format? E.g.) Timetable, podcast script, diary, annotated bibliography, essay, poster etc.? • Used 3 different note taking techniques in task 3 by applying a different method to each of the 3 sources. • Explained fully what plagiarism is and given examples of referencing method when explaining it. • Diary – screen shot, or cut pasted into the assessment or into an Appendix at the end. |
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| Have you demonstrated your critical thinking skills? (Make sure you haven’t just identified key resources (task one) but have gone on to explain them) Have you: • Explained resources in the podcast script? • Accounted for 6 weeks of study for the module for the timetable? • Evaluated each source in task 3 for currency, scope, accuracy etc.? • Included text boxes in your poster? • Used images where appropriate and included references for these images? • Included reflections from your diary in your reflective written piece? |
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| Have you developed and sustained a clear argument throughout the work? (Make sure you haven’t jumped from one idea to another) Have you: • Presented your tasks in chronological order • Provided clear descriptions and explanations in all tasks? • Checked spelling, punctuation and grammar |
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| Have you referenced all your sources, in the main body and in the reference list at the end? (Make sure you haven’t missed any and make sure the in-text references match up with your reference list) Have you: • Followed the AU referencing system • Included one reference list at the end You can access the AU referencing guides here: https://moodle.bl.rdi.co.uk/course/view.php?id=921 |
| Have you used a good range of reading material from reliable, academic sources? (Make sure you have not relied too heavily on single sources or online materials which may be unreliable): • Ensure you have consulted sources for each task in the assessment • Ensure that the sources are up to date |
| Have you checked the grammar, punctuation and spelling and is the English comprehensible? (Ask someone else to read your work or read it to yourself out loud to make sure it makes sense) • Ensure you do not just submit the first completed work as you should read, re- read and modify if needed • Ensure you have plenty of time to do the last checks on spelling, punctuation and grammar etc. • Ensure you are familiar with how to upload your assessment to Turnitin and submit your work • Do not leave uploading your work until the last minute of submitting |
| Is the coursework the correct length and have you included a word count? (Your tutor will notice if it is too long or too short!) |