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