GD7000 - Academic Language Skills for PG Law Students

This module is taught by interactive seminars and use of practical group activities in the sessions.

The material delivered in practical workshops is designed to enhance your capabilities as an independent postgraduate learner. This will involve some self-directed learning and will test your ability to interact with others during group sessions. The sessions will be tailored to address some of the specific issues that you meet within your chosen discipline.

Individual attendance and your participation in group work is essential to your learning and as such forms part of your summative assessment. You will be expected to participate in the classes and may be asked to complete preparation tasks provided by your tutor.

All teaching materials for the module are made available on the module electronic learning portal (eLP) site. You will be provided with a teaching and learning plan that outlines the formal sessions. You may be asked to use both email and eLP to share ideas and feedback.

Teaching staff can be contacted anytime during normal office hours, or via email, to answer questions, receive feedback and support your learning on the module.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Structure and format of Post-graduate assessments

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO1: Read critically, and use a variety of information sources effectively
• MLO2: Recognise and apply the conventions of academic writing, and write effectively within an academic context
• MLO3: Collate subject-related information, reference and organise those resources, and prepare and deliver academic presentations

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MLO4: Assess personal strengths and weaknesses in relation to academic study and language skills, and identify strategies that can be used to further develop their skills.

Summative Assessment:
The module is assessed by three components. These are attendance, a group presentation and a 300 word written
assignment. They are all pass/fail

Attendance of 70% of the timetabled sessions is required. [All MLOs]

Preparation and delivery of an 4 minute individual presentation that is relevant to your area of study. [MLO3]

Individual written assessment that is relevant to your subject discipline. [MLO2]


Formative Assessment:
You are expected to participate in a one formative written task and one formative presentation that are provided in semester 1.

None

None

The aim of this module is to support your study, language and communication skills for academic purposes in the study in your chosen discipline at postgraduate level. The module is designed to enable you to become an advanced independent learner. The module is supported by a teaching and learning plan which outlines the formal sessions. Interactive workshops will be tailored to address some of the specific issues that you meet within your discipline. You may also be asked to complete some preparation tasks for some seminars but these will be kept to minimum. You will be expected to identify those skills which you need within your postgraduate programme, and to develop these independently through a range of learning activities that might include extended reading, and reflection.