AcWtgResSkllsunit Outline Semester 1-2015

UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA COLLEGE
Unit Outline
Academic Writing & Research Skills G

8733
Semester 1 2015
Convenor: Debbie Ison
Email: debbie.ison@canberra.edu.au
Phone: + 61 6201 2915

University of Canberra College
Unit Outline
Semester 1 2015
This Unit Outline must be read in conjunction with:
a) UC Student Guide to Policies, which sets out University-wide policies and procedures,
including information on matters such as plagiarism, grade descriptors, moderation,
feedback and deferred exams, and is available at
http://www.canberra.edu.au/student-services
b) UC Guide to Student Services, and is available at http://www.canberra.edu.au/student-

services
1. General Information
1a. 1a. Unit title Academic Writing and Research Skills G
1b. 1b. Unit number 8733
1c. 1c. Term and year offered Semester 1 2015
1b. 1d. Unit level 1
1e. 1e. Name of convenor/ lecturers and contact details
Debbie Ison debbie.Ison@canberra.edu.au

Telephone (02) 6201 2915
Room Building 5B 70
Jeremy Jones Jeremy.Jones@canberra.edu.au
Telephone (02) 6201 2907
Room Building 20C 6
The unit will be delivered on campus and will run concurrently with the University of Canberra
semester. There are six hours of standard face-to-face teaching time per week where
students are expected to attend classes during the thirteen teaching week period. This unit
will be co-taught with the Intercultural Communication Course.
It is expected that students will devote a considerable amount of time outside these hours to
tasks associated with this unit. In addition, students may make appointments with academic
staff to discuss progress and to seek guidance on any important matters. Arrangements for
consultations with staff can be made in the first two weeks of the program.
Australian Government Higher Education (CRICOS)

Registered Provider number: UC 00212K, UCC 01893E
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1g. Name of administrative contact details
UCC Reception college.info@canberra.edu.au

Telephone (02) 6201 2961
Room Building 5 level B
2. Academic Content
2a. 2a. Unit description and learning outcomes
UNIT DESCRIPTION
Academic Writing and Research Skills is a unit which forms part of the Graduate
Certificate in Academic Foundations. The Graduate Certificate in Academic Foundations
offers international students a pathway to research and further learning in course work
Masters degrees in a variety of faculties at the University of Canberra, including the
Faculty of Business and Government, the Faculty of Information Studies and Engineering,
and the Faculty of Arts and Design. It is designed for students who have met the
academic, but not the English language requirements for Post Graduate (PG) study, and
for students who want to develop an advanced specialisation in their existing body of
knowledge, or knowledge and skills in a new discipline area.
As part of the Graduate Certificate in Academic Foundations, students will be enrolled

concurrently in two Master’s subjects and Intercultural Academic Communication in the
University of Canberra College. Students who successfully complete the Graduate
Certificate in Academic Foundations will graduate with six credit points towards a PG
coursework award program in the relevant Faculty. The Certificate requires one semester
of full time study.
The overall aim of Academic Writing and Research Skills is to develop the autonomy,
adaptability and responsibility in academic research and writing necessary to function
successfully in postgraduate studies. It gives international students the opportunity to
develop and systematically apply academic literacies and research skills in the English
language academic environment, and advanced theoretical and technical knowledge in
their chosen fields of study or practice. The unit builds academic scaffolds in research and
writing around unit specific material from the students’ area of specialisation.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
On completion Academic Writing and Research Skills, students will have:

 gained strategies for reading effectively and efficiently for postgraduate study
(attributes 2 and 3)
 developed skills in using the conventions of academic writing, including appropriate
use of referencing and citations (attributes 1 and 2)
 improved their technical control of English grammar (attribute 1)
 expanded the appropriate use of discipline specific vocabulary (attribute 1)
 practised skills in systematically locating, evaluating and synthesising relevant
information (attribute 2)
 improved their capacity for independent and critical thinking (attribute 4)
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2b.2b. Generic Skills
The College expects all of its graduates to have developed the following skills and
attributes to a level appropriate for their award which will equip them for success in
professional life: communication, information literacy and numeracy, information and
communication technology, problem solving, working with others, effective workplace
skills, professional ethics, social responsibility, lifelong learning and personal attributes.
2b.2c. Prerequisites and/or co-requisites
Students must have met the English language requirements for entry into the Graduate
Certificate in Academic Foundations. Students must have either completed a recognized
English course as a prerequisite for this unit (e.g. the UCELI EAP + Term 1 program) or have
achieved an equivalent of IELTS 6.0 overall, or one of the following evidence of a competent
level of English language proficiency in a recognized English language test, or TOEFL 550
(Paper), or 213 (Computer) with a 4.00 TWE/rating or 79 (Internet-based) with not less than
20 in writing, 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening and 16 in Speaking.
3. Delivery of Unit and Timetable
3a. 3a. Weekly features of the unit

Weekly lecture
Writing and research skills
Each week students will be presented with a lecture that complements the Course Materials, on
an aspect of academic literacy. Students will be required to take notes of each lecture and keep
these in an organised manner with their Course Materials, so that they can be easily reviewed
and studied when necessary.
Tutorial
Study skills and preparation for research
The tutorial is designed to complement the lecture. Therefore, students will be able to develop a
range of academic literacies and research skills introduced in the lecture to facilitate studies at
the postgraduate level in an Australian university setting. The purpose of these tasks is to
provide a variety of tools for effective study and research.
Workshop
Grammar and writing at the sentence and paragraph level
Each week students will participate in a writing workshop, which will endeavour to cover aspects
of writing predominantly at the sentence and paragraph level. The focus for each workshop will
be on grammatical aspects of the English language so that students can develop a variety of
sentence structure and accuracy in grammar, vocabulary and punctuation. As a result, the
workshop is practical in nature and will focus on the areas of English grammar which continue to
be a challenge for international students: subordination of clauses; common sentence problems
(sentence fragments, run on sentences), confusion of word forms; subject verb and noun
pronoun agreement, verb tenses including passive voice, modals, and using less known rules of
punctuation. This will allow students to write with greater precision and convey meaning more
clearly.

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3b. 3b. Schedule of topics/lectures/tutorials/practicals/field classes by week
Week Task Assessment
Lecture
1  Introduction to the course: overview of the
16-20 Feb structure and requirements of the course
 Beginning postgraduate study: aims and
expectations, western academic traditions
Tutorial
 Time management: how to handle it all:
planning for study; using a calendar/planner,
managing anxiety, etc. Time management
 What kind of learner are you? (Quiz) planners
Workshop
 Introductory tasks: student profiles, self-
introductions, diagnostic test (writing task) Diagnostic Writing
Task
Lecture
2  Audience, purpose and register
 “Steps in writing an essay” and “Overview of
23-27 Feb essay structure” (Unit Materials, & Write On!
DVD)
Tutorial
 Diagnosis of writing difficulties (from writing test) Tutorial Preparation:
 Common problems with essay writing at Bring in unit outlines
university; Understanding and analysing essay from Master’s units to
questions; types of writing and essay questions tutorial
Workshop
 Mechanics for effective writing-The clause 1 & Visit to Library
2: features of main clauses ways of joining main Academic Skills Centre
clauses; position and punctuation
 Research skills: Narrowing down the essay
topic; locating academic sources; introduction
to databases (Library workshop)
Lecture
3  Reports and essays – What are the
differences?; Analysing sample reports
2-6 March  Discussion: What does my lecturer expect me to
write: an essay or a report?

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Tutorial Tutorial preparation:
 Major assignment: Introduction to Major Bring textbooks from
Assignment (Unit Outline) & strategies for other units to tutorial
choosing a topic from relevant specialist areas.
 Developing a preliminary outline
(brainstorming & analysis)
 Essay types: analysing essay topics; planning
a search strategy for your essay
Workshop
 Mechanics for effective writing-The clause 3
– joining subordinate clauses & forming complex
sentences (Handout 2-Joining clauses)

Monday: Canberra Day- public holiday
4 Lecture
 Reading skills: Introduction to academic writing Topic Approval for
9-13 March and reading genres Essay due Week 4
 Reading for the assignment; strategies and
steps for reading effectively (Sample textbook
chapter and journal article)
Tutorial
 The Paragraph – structure; unity & coherence;
types; transition between paragraphs
Workshop
 Mechanics for effective writing: the clause 4 –
sentence problems, fragments, run on & stringy
sentences
 Essay writing at the sentence level
5 Lecture
 Organising the Literature Review for the
16-20 assignment: structure, content and style
March
Tutorial
 Organising the Literature Review for the
assignment: structure, content and style
 Research skills: Making useful notes for the
assignment from the research; guidelines for
taking notes (Unit materials) Grammar & Writing
 From the essay topic to the essay thesis Test 1
Workshop
 Test 1
 Understanding word classes/forms: nouns,
pronouns, adjectives, determiners, verbs,
adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions

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Lecture
6  Referencing 1: Transforming plagiarism-cultural Complete the AIM on
differences moodle
23-17  Acknowledging sources in academic writing –
March rules of referencing
 Analysing and compiling a reference list
 Citing material from the internet
Tutorial
 Referencing 2: Acknowledging other people’s
ideas in my writing; Language focus; using
direct quotations
Workshop
 Organising information into clauses
 Subject verb & noun pronoun agreement &
their antecedents
Week
7 Friday: Good Friday - public holiday Week 7 – Literature

Lecture Review & Reference
30 March-  Planning an academic essay List due Monday
3 April  From the essay thesis to topic sentences; from 30 March – 5%
the topic sentence to paragraphs
Tutorial
 Using an outline proforma to plan the
assignment
 Referencing 3: Paraphrasing –techniques &
strategies
Workshop
 Verb Tenses
 Passive Voice
6-10 April CLASS FREE PERIOD

(Easter holidays)
Week Tasks Assessment

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9 Lecture
 Academic Style and Language: formal style;
13-17 cautious language; vocabulary
April  Referencing 4:: Summarising – techniques &
strategies Oral presentations
 Oral outline presentation of research (in of Outlines 5%
progress): Short presentations on proposed
topics and related research for Assignment, 5
minutes (time permitting)
Workshop
 Modals and hedging
 Review of tenses, passives and modals
Lecture Week 10 – Essay

10  Voice in academic writing: Distinguishing outline (including a
between first, second and outside voices clear thesis
20-24 Tutorial statement) Monday
20 April – 5%
April  Referencing 5: Integrating sources into the
body – synthesising sources
 Language focus: Comparing sources
 Mistakes with in-text referencing Grammar and Writing
(Computer workshop) Test 2
Workshop
 Conditionals
 Test 2
Lecture
 Critical thinking & reading – what is it?, why is
11 it important?; how do you do it?; description vs
analysis; understanding & critically analysing
27 April- 1 arguments in reading
May  Writing Introductions & Conclusions
Tutorial

Writing a research essay: introductory
paragraph, body and conclusion
 Sample annotated essay
 Language focus: introducing topic, definitions,
aims, own points
Workshop
 Articles & prepositions
 Commonly confused words

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12 Lecture Week 12 – Essay
 Argumentative writing: presenting and Draft of essay due
4-8 May structuring an argumentative essay; Monday 4 May - 10%
 Planning the sample essay
Tutorial
 Using debate to promote argument
 Comparison of verbal and written argument
 Critical review language: evaluating and
discussing your reading
Argumentative essay
Workshop
 Debating the issue Essay Drafts will be
returned end of
week 12
13 Workshop 1
 Oral presentations
11 - 15 Workshop 2
May  Oral presentations
 Trial exam
Workshop 3
 Reviewing the Essay Draft Writing Process:
redrafting the essay & the coherence test
(Computer lab workshop)
 Essay checklist – Tips for better writing
Course evaluation:
 Grammar & Writing Test 3 Week 13– Final essay
due Friday 15 May
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18 - 29 EXAMINATIONS will be held from week 14

May
The exact date of the final examination to be confirmed

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4: Unit Resources
4a. 4a. List of text/readings

Students will be provided with a Unit Materials workbook specially designed for this unit.
Students will also need to purchase the following:

 an English-English desk dictionary, such as the Oxford Advanced Learners
Dictionary or the Collins Cobuild Students Dictionary
 an English-English thesaurus, such as the Concise Oxford Thesaurus
 University of Canberra Library (2010). A Guide to Referencing with examples in the
APA and Harvard styles. 6th edition. (Available from the Coop Bookshop or online at
http://www.canberra.edu.au/library/research-gateway/research_help/referencing-
guides)
 a notebook in an A4 or A5 size exercise book (about 96 pages) in which you will
be expected to complete various tasks assigned by your lecturer and to submit
them as required.
 a folder in which all materials supplied are kept
Students may also wish to access the following resources, which you may use to guide
additional reading and completion of tutorial and workshop tasks:
Bate, D., & Sharpe, P. (1998). Writer’s handbook for university students. (2nd ed.). Harcourt
Brace: NSW.
Brick, J. (2006). Academic Culture: A student’s guide to studying at university. Macquarie

University, Sydney: National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research
(NCELTR).
Cottrell, S. (2008). Study Skills: The Study Skills Handbook. (3rd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan:
Houndsmill UK.
Davies, M. (2011). Study skills for international postgraduates. Macmillan Palgrave:

Houndsmill UK.
Godfrey, J (2009). How to use your reading in your essays. Palgrave Macmillan:
Basingstoke, UK.
Greetham, B. (2008). How to write better essays. (2nd ed). Palgrave Macmillan: Houndsmill
UK.
Lewin, B.A. (2010). Writing readable research: a guide for students of social science.
Equinox: UK.
Pears, R., & Shields, G. (2010). Cite them right: the essential referencing guide. (8th ed.).
Palgrave Macmillan: Houndsmill UK.
Reinders, H., Moore, N., & Lewis, M. (2008). The international student handbook.
Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Wilson, P, & Glazier, T.F. (2000). The least you should know about English. (7th ed).
Heinle & Heinle: UK.

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4b. 4b. Other resources
The International Learning and Teaching Centre (ILTC) is a self-access centre for
students to use out of class hours. Resources include computers for Internet and
email use, books, newspapers, magazines, tapes, videos and audiovisual
equipment. Students may work on assignments or use these resources to improve
their English language skills.
The ILTC has three functional areas: first, an area for relaxed conversation or
reading immediately inside the entrance; second, the class/seminar area (to the left
of the book cases); and, third, the computer audio/video/group work area. There
are no distinct boundaries to these areas, and flexibility may apply within the
bounds of common sense and respect for the activities and needs of all users.
The ILTC is located in Room 5A6 and is normally open Monday to Friday, 9am to
2.30pm.
4c. Unit website
To find your unit site online, login to LearnOnline(Moodle) using your student ID.
Note that your unit site has a profiles page that displays your name and email
address for the benefit of other students.

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5: Assessment
5a. 5a. Assessment overview
The following assigned tasks must ALL be completed in order to pass this unit.
Assessment schedules for each task detailing the marking criteria are included
below:
Assessment Item Weighting Due Date of

(including exams held in the exam period) (to equal Assignments
100%)
Grammar & Writing Tests 1 (5%) 25 Various

Grammar & Writing Tests 2 (10%)
Grammar & Writing Tests 3 (10%)
Essay or Report 35 Week 13

 Literature review & (see ‘Assessment
reference list = 5 Requirements’ for
individual submission
 Oral presentation of Outline = 5 dates)
 Written Outline = 5
 Essay Draft = 10 Final essay due
 Final Essay = 10 Friday Week 13
TOTAL = 35%
Oral Presentation 10 Week 13

(based on research essay topic)
Exam 20 Week 14
Continuous assessment 10 Ongoing

 In and out of class tasks
 Participation in class discussions
 Use of Moodle
 Group tasks

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5b. Details of each assessment item
ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS
1. ESSAY– 35%
FINAL ESSAY OR REPORT DUE DATE – WEEK 13, FRIDAY
May 15th, 2015
You are required to research an area of particular interest to you from ONE of your units in
the Graduate Certificate in Academic Foundations Program and write an essay OR
report based on this topic. This will be followed by an oral presentation of your work. You
should consider the target audience by selecting a topic that is of interest to, and can be
understood by, a non-specialist group. Examples of suitable areas might be:
 A current issue in the press related to ONE of your units in the Master’s Program
 An aspect in your field that you would like to learn more about
 A cultural comparison/contrast of a particular issue in your field
 A study of an Australian or overseas organisation with a focus on a specific
issue related to your field
Before you begin, your project needs to be approved by your lecturer in this unit.This essay
must not repeat assignment work already submitted in other units (i.e. same assignment
topics must be avoided)
Samples of interesting topics from previous semesters are:
 How has trade liberalisation affected the protection of the environment?

 The effect of advertising on consumer behaviour
 Compare cultural differences in ethical behaviour among accountants in Western and
Eastern countries
 Business ethics and social responsibility – Can a corporation have a conscience?
 Approaches to conflict resolution in organisations. Is there one best way?
 Discuss the importance of HRM in the development of employees
 The main effects of divorce on children in the family
 Vocational Education (VET): the development and rationale.
 Work Life balance has little relevance or application in a modern organization. Discuss
 The main factors that influence corruption in Indonesia and some solutions
 Discussion of some elements of fraudulent behavior in Accounting
You should use appropriate essay structure outlined in this unit. Although meaningful and
appropriate content is important, your essay will be judged primarily on the quality of the
writing. It should be well structured according to the conventions outlined in the course
materials and should include such elements as an introduction with thesis statement; a body
which includes clear topic sentences and sufficient supporting materials; and a conclusion.
You may include headings and sub-headings, graphs or diagrams if appropriate, but use
these sparingly.

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Citing Sources
You should consult at least EIGHT references. Try to use a variety of sources, such as
journal articles, books and valid internet sources.
NOTE: At least FIVE of your sources must be academic journal articles retrieved from the
UC library database.
When using Internet sources, always make sure that you evaluate what you find according
to the criteria in ‘Citing material from the Internet’ (see unit materials workbook). All sources
should be acknowledged using the APA system and you must include a complete list of
references. Please refer to A Guide to Referencing with examples in the APA and Harvard
styles, for the conventions for referencing online from the UC Library).
** Note that this assignment must be written in your own words. Suspected plagiarism
from other sources or other students’ work will be very heavily penalized and could
result in a FAIL grade.
Length of Written Assignment: approximately 1500 - 1800 words.
As this essay is a major component of the unit, you are required to submit the various
STAGES in the essay/report writing process for assessment.
Progressive due dates and timetable for preparation of essay or report

Week 4 - Topic approval
Week 7 – Literature Review & Reference List due Monday 30th March – 5%
Week 10 – Essay outline (including a clear thesis statement) & Oral Outline
Presentation – 10%
Week 12 – Essay Draft of essay due 4th May - 10%
Week 13 – Final essay due Friday 11th May – 10%
Your assignment will be assessed according to the assessment criteria for the essay located
on the course moodle site under ‘Assessment Criteria’.

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2. ORAL PRESENTATION – 10%
Date of presentations: Week 13
You are required to give an oral presentation based on the same topic as the essay or report.
You will be assigned a time present your essay to the class and this will take place in week
13. You should prepare a professional Power Point presentation. Please refer to the unit
materials for ‘Making Oral Presentations’ for specific information on how to organize,
structure an deliver your presentation.
You should draw on information, ideas and arguments presented in your written essay
or report, but you will need to summarise and organize the material into a suitable
format for an oral presentation. Remember that members of your audience may not be
specialists in the field and you will be expected to present material at a suitable level,
by adequately explaining unfamiliar terms and concepts.
Note that reading your essay to the class is NOT an appropriate way of making a
presentation. You should use cue cards containing brief points to help you give your
presentation. Do not make the mistake of using power point slides as your notes. These are
intended for the audience, NOT the presenter.
Length of Presentation: 10 – 15 minutes (includes discussion)
3. GRAMMAR and WRITING TESTS – 25%

Students will be assessed on their knowledge and understanding of various grammar and
writing techniques required in academic writing as well as paragraph writing. The areas which
each test will cover are detailed below:
Week 5 - Grammar and writing test 1 (5%)

The clause 1, 2, 3 & 4

Subject, verb and noun agreement
Verb tenses
Passive Voice
Modals and hedging

Conditionals
Articles
Prepositions
Commonly confused words

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4. CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT – 10%
The continuous assessment mark is based on several criteria. These include tasks (assigned
by the lecturer that are to be completed out of class time and then submitted for marking
including;
 short writing tasks
 in-class writing tests
 contribution to in-class activities (active and informed contribution to class
discussions; completion of in-class tasks).
 participation in Moodle (e.g. practice tasks, quizzes, discussion forums)
Note:
Students are expected to attend regularly and be punctual for all classes.
Lack of attendance, punctuality and failure to submit ongoing tasks can
seriously affect your continuous assessment mark.
5b. 5c. Special assessment requirements and penalties for late submission
The allocation of marks and grades are based on specified assessment criteria (see
Assessment Criteria for the Seminar Presentation and Written Assignment).
Assessment will be based on:

 grades obtained for set tasks and assignments
 contributions to tutorials
 final examination
End of unit results will be awarded on a five-point scale:

High Distinction - HD (85 - 100)
Distinction - DI (75 - 84)
Credit - CR (65 - 74)
Pass - P (50 - 64)
Fail - N (below 50)
Examination Scores
In order to gain a pass grade or higher, students are required to achieve an
overall pass rate of 50% on the combined scores of the grammar & writing
tests and the final examinations, and a total aggregate of 50% or more for all
assessment items.

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Dates for submission of written tasks for continuous assessment will be set by your
lecturer.
Presentation: Please ensure that your assignments are typed and that you include
a cover page listing your name, student number, course name, teacher’s name,
assignment title and due date.
Please retain a hard copy of all assignments submitted. Do not rely on computer
files, which can be lost or corrupted. You will be penalised for handing in formal
assignments AFTER the due date. For each day by which the assignment is
late, 10% of the total mark available will be deducted. Extreme lateness will
result in assignments receiving a FAIL grade.
Extensions will only be given for valid, documented reasons such as serious
illness. An approval for an extension must be obtained from the lecturer in writing
before the due date and must accompany the assignment when it is submitted.
5b. 5d. Submission assessment requirements
All assessment items will be submitted online via the unit Moodle site. The first page
of each assessment submission should include the following information:
Student Name:
Student ID:
Assessment Name:
Word Count (if applicable):

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5e. Assessment criteria
ESSAY PREPARATION
Assessment Criteria
Criteria Comments Possible marks
Part 1: 5 marks
Literature Review & Reference List
Part 2: Oral Presentation of Outline: 5 marks
Thesis Statement; Main points to discuss; the
reference list/sources to use for your research essay ;
short discussion on areas of difficulty in the
planning/research of your essay
Part 3: Essay outline (clear thesis, logical 5 marks
progression of ideas and detailed with evidence of use
of in-text references)
Part 4: Essay Draft 12 marks
1. Content
a. Evidence of sufficient background reading
b. Addresses the question
c. Arguments and ideas logically developed
d. Evidence of critical analysis: speculative
and evaluative thought
e. Use of supporting documentation for
arguments
f. Proper acknowledgement of sources and
use of a bibliographic convention
g. Avoidance of plagiarism
h. Appropriate length
2. Style and Organisation 10 marks
a. Clear introduction including thesis
statement
b. Body well-developed
c. Logical progression of ideas
d. Well-developed conclusion
e. Use of cohesive devices
3. Vocabulary 9 marks
a. Range of vocabulary use
b. Accuracy of vocabulary (errors in word
formation, word choice and spelling)
c. Evidence of own voice
4. Grammar 9 marks
a. Quality and variety of sentence structure
(eg. complex sentences)
b. Accuracy of grammar (frequency of errors
in grammar and punctuation)
c. Evidence of own voice
Sub-total for Essay draft _____ / 40 marks
(converted to ____/10)
Total for Parts 1, 2 and 3 (5 + 5+ 5 +10 =)
____ /25

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ESSAY FINAL
Assessment Criteria
Criteria
1. Content:
Response to feedback of any of the following: 8 marks
a. Addresses essay question clearly

b. Arguments and ideas logically and
sufficiently developed
c. Evidence of critical thought
d. Use of examples
e. Proper and sufficient acknowledgement
of sources (if applicable) and use of
bibliographic conventions
f. Use of supporting documentation for
arguments
g. Avoidance of plagiarism
h. Appropriate length
2. Style and Organisation

Improvement in any of the following: 5 marks
a. Clear introduction and conclusion

b. Thesis statement
c. Paragraph structure and content
d. Logical development of body
e. Use of cohesive devices
3. Vocabulary
Modified any of the following: 3 marks
d. Range of vocabulary use
e. Accuracy of vocabulary (errors in word
formation, word choice and spelling)
f. Evidence of own voice
4. Grammar
Edited and improved clarity of any of the 4 marks
following:
g. Academic register use
h. Quality and variety of sentence structure
(e.g. complex sentences)
i. Accuracy of grammar (frequency of errors
in grammar and punctuation)
g. Evidence of own voice
TOTAL ____ / 20 converted to 10%

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ORAL PRESENTATION
Assessment Criteria
Criteria Comments Possible

marks
1. Content 4 marks
a. Evidence of preparation
b. Interest and stimulation
a. Reference to and use of outside
sources of information
b. Use of supporting evidence, arguments
and opinions
2. Communicative Quality and Organisation 4 marks

a. Clear introduction (capture attention,
purpose and outline of talk given)
b. Logical development of ideas
c. Clear expression of ideas and
arguments
d. Conclusion (summary and final
comments)
3. Control of discussion 2 marks

a. ability to respond to questioning
b. management of participant turn-taking
4. Language 4 marks
a. Use of appropriate vocabulary
b. Grammatical accuracy
c. Fluent expression
d. Pronunciation and intonation
5. Delivery 6 marks
a. Clarity of voice
b. Speed of delivery
c. Body language and eye-contact
d. Use of visual aids (Powerpoint, etc)
e. Appropriate style of delivery
(awareness of audience, use of cue
cards, prompts, etc.)
f. Timing
TOTAL ______ / 20
converted to
___ / 10%

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5e. 5f. Supplementary Assessment
Students in their final semester of study may be eligible to re-sit a supplementary

exam or assessment to gain a pass grade. Refer to the UC Supplementary
Assessment Policy
5g. 5g. Academic integrity
Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical

scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of
others’ work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made..
All assignments submitted must be your own work.
Plagiarism includes
 reproducing (copying word for word)
 paraphrasing
 summarizing or
 otherwise presenting in altered or unaltered form, another person’s ideas or
arguments without acknowledgement.
This means that cheating, plagiarism and falsification of data from other sources,
whether from published texts, Internet sources or from other students’ work will
result in FAIL grades. Please see UC's Academic Integrity Policy
To enhance understanding of academic integrity, it is expected that all students will

complete the LearnOnline Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during
their course of study. The module is automatically available as a listed site when
students log into LearnOnline. The Academic Skills Centre provides opportunities
to enhance student understanding of academic integrity.
5g. 5h. Use of text-matching software
The University of Canberra has available, through LearnOnline (Moodle), text-

matching software that helps students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve
understandings of academic integrity. Known as URKUND, the software matches
submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the
internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

21
6: Student Responsibility
6a. 6a. Workload
The amount of time you will need to spend on study in this unit will depend on a
number of factors including your prior knowledge, learning skill level and learning
style. Nevertheless, in planning your time commitments you should note that for a
3cp unit the total notional workload over the semester or term is assumed to be
150 hours. These hours include time spent in classes. The total workload for units
of different credit point value should vary proportionally.
6b. 6b. Inclusion and Welfare
Students who need assistance in undertaking the unit because of disability or other
circumstances should inform their Unit Convener or Inclusion and Welfare as soon
as possible so the necessary arrangements can be made.
6c. 6c. Participation requirements
Course participants on Student Visas are required to attend more than 80% of all
classes. The College will check student attendance every fortnight and is required
to inform the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) of
any students who breach the attendance regulation. In cases where a student is
unable to provide appropriate documentation and a satisfactory explanation, the
Student Visa may be cancelled.
In addition, there is a strong correlation between poor attendance and failure in a

unit because students who have a poor attendance record find it difficult to keep up
with the work being presented. Since Intercultural Communication includes a
continuous assessment component as part of its overall assessment, poor
attendance means that students will not be in class to participate and this will make
it difficult for a student to fulfil the requirements of this part of the assessment.
Please consult the UCC Student Handbook for further details.
6c. 6d. Absences and illness
Under normal circumstances, illness (with a medical certificate) is the only valid reason
that will be considered for extensions for major written assignments and absences from
oral presentations and examinations. In the case of illness, you will be given the
opportunity to submit work at a later date or give oral presentations within the term dates,
at a time convenient to both you and the lecturer.

22
If you are unable to attend classes due to illness or other serious cause, you will need to
obtain from the lecturer the material used, and to familiarise yourself with it before the next
class you attend. In addition, you will need to contact the University of Canberra College to
fill in a notification of absence form together with supporting evidence (for example,
medical certificate). Please do not delay seeking medical advice in the case of illness
because the sooner you receive treatment, the sooner you will be able to return to class.
You will need to present a medical certificate to UC College as soon as possible to explain
your absences from class.
Retrospective approval cannot be included in a student’s 80% attendance.
In the event that illness adversely affects your formal assessment you must contact the
University of Canberra College within 3 working days of the assessment date. You will be
required to complete an Application for Special Consideration form and supply supporting
documentation, such as a medical certificate which must state the nature of the illness and
that the illness would have affected your performance in the relevant assessment task.
Please consult the UCC Student Handbook for further details.
6d. 6e. Withdrawal
If you are planning to withdraw you MUST fill in a form from college reception in
building 16 and discuss with the College Academic Manager for approval before
week 4 of term.
6d. 6f. In-unit Costs
Relevant fees must be paid prior to enrolment in this unit.

(Note: To calculate your unit fees see: How do I calculate my fees?.
The online UC Co-op Textbook Search is available for purchasing text books.)
7. Student Feedback
6d. 7. Questionnaire
All students enrolled in this unit will have an opportunity to provide anonymous
feedback on the unit at the end of the Semester via the Unit Satisfaction Survey
(USS) which you can access by logging into MyUC via the UC homepage:
http://www.canberra.edu.au/home/. Your lecturer or tutor may also invite you to
provide more detailed feedback on their teaching through an anonymous
questionnaire.

23
8: Authority of this Unit Outline
Any change to the information contained in Section 2 (Academic content), Section 3
(Delivery of Unit and timetable) and Section 5 (Assessment) of this document, will only be
made by the Unit Convenor if the written agreement of staff and a majority of students has
been obtained; and if written advice of the change is then forwarded to each student enrolled
in the Unit via their student email address. Any individual student who believes him/herself to
be disadvantaged by a change is encouraged to discuss the matter with the Unit Convenor.

24

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UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA COLLEGE

Academic Writing & Research Skills G

Convenor: Debbie Ison

Phone: + 61 6201 2915

This Unit Outline must be read in conjunction with:

b) UC Guide to Student Services, and is available at http://www.canberra.edu.au/student-

1a. 1a. Unit title Academic Writing and Research Skills G

1b. 1b. Unit number 8733

1c. 1c. Term and year offered Semester 1 2015

1b. 1d. Unit level 1

1e. 1e. Name of convenor/ lecturers and contact details

Debbie Ison debbie.Ison@canberra.edu.au

Australian Government Higher Education (CRICOS)

UCC Reception college.info@canberra.edu.au

2a. 2a. Unit description and learning outcomes

As part of the Graduate Certificate in Academic Foundations, students will be enrolled

On completion Academic Writing and Research Skills, students will have:

2b.2c. Prerequisites and/or co-requisites

3. Delivery of Unit and Timetable

3a. 3a. Weekly features of the unit

Australian Government Higher Education (CRICOS)

Week Task Assessment

Australian Government Higher Education (CRICOS)

Week Task Assessment

Week Task Assessment

Week Task Assessment

7 Friday: Good Friday - public holiday Week 7 – Literature

6-10 April CLASS FREE PERIOD

Week Tasks Assessment

Week Tasks Assessment

Lecture Week 10 – Essay

Week Tasks Assessment

Week Tasks Assessment

Week Tasks Assessment

18 - 29 EXAMINATIONS will be held from week 14

Australian Government Higher Education (CRICOS)

4a. 4a. List of text/readings

Students will also need to purchase the following:

Brick, J. (2006). Academic Culture: A student’s guide to studying at university. Macquarie

Davies, M. (2011). Study skills for international postgraduates. Macmillan Palgrave:

Australian Government Higher Education (CRICOS)

4c. Unit website

Australian Government Higher Education (CRICOS)

5a. 5a. Assessment overview

Assessment Item Weighting Due Date of

Grammar & Writing Tests 1 (5%) 25 Various

Essay or Report 35 Week 13

Oral Presentation 10 Week 13

Continuous assessment 10 Ongoing

Australian Government Higher Education (CRICOS)

Samples of interesting topics from previous semesters are:

 How has trade liberalisation affected the protection of the environment?

Australian Government Higher Education (CRICOS)

Length of Written Assignment: approximately 1500 - 1800 words.

Progressive due dates and timetable for preparation of essay or report

Week 12 – Essay Draft of essay due 4th May - 10%

Week 13 – Final essay due Friday 11th May – 10%

Australian Government Higher Education (CRICOS)

Length of Presentation: 10 – 15 minutes (includes discussion)

3. GRAMMAR and WRITING TESTS – 25%

Week 5 - Grammar and writing test 1 (5%)

Week 10 - Grammar and writing test 2 (10%)

Week 13 - Grammar and writing test 3 (10%)

Australian Government Higher Education (CRICOS)