English and Academic Skills for Higher Education

Overview

Framework:
Access to HE
Level:
Level 2
Unit No:
QU033809
Credits:
9
Guided learning hours:
Not available

Qualification Grading Type

Ungraded

Aim

The purpose of the unit is to equip students with the necessary academic planning, literacy and referencing skills to prepare and produce academically written work in different contexts.

Grade Descriptors

  • Ungraded

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.

Be able to write using standard English with appropriate grammatical conventions.

Indicative content:

  • Learning Outcome 1

Literacy skills – Simple, compound and complex sentences, clearly sequenced, coherent and linked paragraphing. Accurate sentence construction with accurate spelling, punctuation, grammar and accurate use of tenses and proof-reading skills.

Assessment Criteria

  • 1.1

    Construct sentences and paragraphs in a logical and fluent manner.

  • 1.2

    Use accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation in written work.

2.

Be able to use a recognised referencing system appropriate for academic study.

Indicative content:

  • Learning Outcome 2

Acknowledged referencing system, in text citation techniques, reference list skills. Integrating source material into written work.

Assessment Criteria

  • 2.1

    Use accurate in text citations within written work.

  • 2.2

    Produce an accurate reference list.

3.

Be able to effectively use a range of source material to develop critical thinking skills.

Indicative content:

  • Learning Outcome 3

Accessing a range of different academically and professionally recognised sources, source differentiation and selection. Journals, books and websites (deter the use of general access websites and encourage Athens/database sources).

Use of data and information using acknowledged referencing systems and utilising information whilst maintaining the integrity of source material.

Assessment Criteria

  • 3.1

    Use material from each of the following types of sources in an academic piece of writing:

    (a) book

    (b) journal

    (c) professionally recognised or peer reviewed/endorsed website.

  • 3.2

    Draw conclusions from data obtained from academic/professional sources.

4.

Understand how to plan, structure and produce an academically written essay.

Indicative content:

  • Learning Outcome 4

Essay planning techniques, Essay format and structure.

Assessment Criteria

  • 4.1

    Produce an essay plan to aid the development of an academic essay.

  • 4.2

    Write a correctly structured, coherent and substantiated academic essay.

5.

Understand how to plan, structure and produce an academically written report.

Indicative content:

  • Learning Outcome 5

Report plan techniques, report format, headings, sub-headings, sections.

Assessment Criteria

  • 5.1

    Produce a report plan to aid the development of an academic report.

  • 5.2

    Write a correctly structured, coherent and substantiated academic report.

6.

Be able to use word processing software skills to produce academic work.

Indicative content:

  • Learning Outcome 6

Word processing software functions to format academic work; contents pages, title page, page numbers, word counts.

Assessment Criteria

  • 6.1

    Create an electronic contents page with headings and subheadings as appropriate.

  • 6.2

    Create a title page to include the assignment word count.

  • 6.3

    Insert automatic page numbers in text footers.