Academic Writing and Research Skills Module

The indicative content of the module includes conventions of academic writing, developing effective reading strategies and effective techniques of observation, interpretation, and communication. This module builds upon skills learned in the module Personalised Learning delivered in Semester 1. The module content involves steps to critical reading and thinking in and developing autonomous and independent learning strategies. Students will further develop and apply strategies to write academically, will learn to select and compare sources of reliable evidence, from both primary and secondary material and differentiate between subjective and objective reasoning in areas that are appropriate to their discipline. Students will look at different methods of investigation and how to research and write for them.

Learning outcomes to be assessed

LO1: To construct an argument in an academic context using good quality evidence that thestudent has researched.

LO2: To position themselves within an argument.

LO3: To apply a range of academic skills and techniques related to a discipline specific scenario

In this written assessment you need to present a plan that you will undertake to complete the second assessment which is a report on your chosen topic from your respective sector.

Assessment Briefing:

1. As part of your plan, you need to come up with a working title that you are going to write your report about.
2. Give a short introduction in not more than 150 words.
3. You will discuss the major themes that you are going to cover in your report. (You need to draw a mind map for the same)
4. Present the most relevant reading around the topic. This will include names of books/journals and relevant websites.

Assessment Criteria:

• You need to clearly specify your chosen sector while writing the essay.
• You need to have a clear topic/title.
• Ensure you are evidencing your research with appropriate citation. A complete reference list is provided at the end of the essay.
• Do not exceed the word count which is 500

COMMUNICATION AND PRESENTATION AND HARVARD REFERENCING – 25% Can communicate effectively in a format appropriate to the discipline and report practical procedures in a clear and concise manner with all relevant information in a variety of format. Assessment 2: Report Write a report about a specific industry HEAT covering following points:

• Current trends in the chosen sector/industry HEAT
• Technological integration in the HEAT industry
• Impact of Brexit/Covid-19 in the HEAT industry (Please choose either Brexit or Covid-19)

Assessment Criteria:

• You need to clearly specify your chosen sector while writing the report.
• You need to cover all the given points in your report following report writing structure.
• Follow the academic writing guidelines discussed in the module.
• Ensure you are evidencing your research with appropriate citation. A complete reference list is provided at the end of the essay.
• Do not exceed the word count which is 1500.

Marking Criteria:

• KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING – 30%
• Has a detailed knowledge of major disciplines and an awareness of a variety of ideas/contexts/frameworks which may be applied to this. CONTEXT – 25%
• Simple but unpredictable or complex but predictable contexts demanding application of a wide range of techniques.
• ANALYSIS/ SYNTHESIS – 20% Can reformat a range of ideas/information towards a given purpose.
• COMMUNICATION AND PRESENTATION AND HARVARD REFERENCING – 25% Can communicate effectively in a format appropriate to the discipline and report practical procedures in a clear and concise manner with all relevant information in a variety of format