5: CERTIFICATE IN RESEARCH SKILLS AND ACADEMIC WRITING DEVELOPMENT
This strand includes 3 Modules leading to the Certificate in Research Skills and Academic Writing Development
- Exploring educational cultural variations between Scotland and Africa
- Understanding the technicalities of study
- Crafting your writing
Advanced Research and Academic Writing Modules (stand alone)
(Student learners can elect to do one or more Modules as required, duration 2 weeks each)
- Writing a proposal
- Writing a project
- Writing a dissertation
- Writing a thesis
- The art of reflective writing
Module 1: EXPLORING CULTURAL EDUCATION VARIATIONS BETWEEN SCOTLAND AND AFRICA
- Defining what the core differences are between studying in Scotland and studying in Africa
- Ethical practices: What are the “do’s” and “don’ts” of studying in Scotland
- Identifying perceived challenges facing African student learners coming to Scotland
Instrument of Assessment
Designing a personal development strategy to help with the transition between two educational cultures.
Outcomes
- Being prepared to succeed
- Being able to settle into a new environment in a positive way
Module 2: UNDERSTANDING THE TECHNICALITIES OF STUDYING
- What is expected of you as a student learner?
- Knowing how to carry out an effective literature search
- Research skills and information record keeping
- Project managing your academic studies
- Ethical practices: avoiding plagiarism
Instrument of Assessment
- A reflective essay
- Develop a record keeping system to use during future studies
Outcomes
- Being in a position of understanding what you as a student learner are expected to achieve during your course
- Being able to do an effective desktop and e-literature search
- Having an existing information record keeping system in place
Module 3: CRAFTING YOUR WRITING
- Learning how to proofread and edit your writing
- What skills do I need to speed read?
- How do I make good notes?
- Writing styles
Instrument of Assessment
- Proofreading exercise
- Note taking exercise
- Short essay
Outcomes
- Being able to take control of your own reading, not taking and writing styles
- Start a course of study already knowing such necessary skills
ADVANCED RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC WRITING MODULES (2 week courses)
Stand alone Modules with the option to select one or more.
Module 1: WRITING A PROPOSAL
- Core skills required in writing a proposal
- Doing a literature review to support your proposal
- Structuring the proposal
Instrument of Assessment
- Production of a proposal
Outcomes
- Completed proposal sent off
- Accumulated skills to help in future studies
OR
Module 2: WRITING A PROJECT
- Project management
- Time management skills development
- Task management (reading, researching, writing and proofreading)
- How to get the best out of your supervisor
- Academic writing skills
- Critical analysis and argument
Instrument of Assessment
- Design the project layout
- Produce a writing schedule for a project
Outcomes
- Being organised from day one of a project
- Saving time for the future
OR
Module 3: WRITING A DISSERTATION
- Project management
- Time management skills development
- Task management (reading, researching, writing and proofreading)
- Critical analysis and argument
- Proofreading
- How to get the best out of your supervisor
- Academic writing skills
Instrument of Assessment
- Production of a detailed time management system
- Production of a detailed project management record system
- Written critique of 4 articles
Outcomes
- Being in control of your dissertation
- Enhanced writing skills
- Enhanced critical analysis skills
- Being “a head of the game”
- Reduced stress levels
OR
Module 4: WRITING A THESIS
- Project management
- Time management skills development
- Task management (reading, researching, writing and proofreading)
- Critical analysis and argument
- Proofreading
- How to get the best out of your supervisor
- Academic writing skills
- Reporting for publication
- Preparing for a conference
- Being able to summarise the thesis in 750 words
Instrument of Assessment
- Production of time management system
- Production of project management record system
- Written critique of 6 articles
- Proofreading exercise
Outcomes
- Being in control of your thesis
- Enhanced writing skills
- Enhanced critical analysis skills
- Being “a head of the game”
- Reduced stress levels
Module 5: THE ART OF REFLECTIVE WRITING
- Exploring what reflective is
- Academic writing skills development
- Identifying writing prompts
Instrument of Assessment
- Production of a piece of reflective writing
Outcomes
- Having a skill which can be used in an academic or work environment