Language Learning Unit  
 
 
ENL-00012 Seminar Skills (10)  
Co-ordinator: Ms Robin Bell    Room: CBB0.031, Tel:33049  
Teaching Team: Ms Barbara  Western, Ms Robin  Bell, Mrs Linda  Freeman, Mr Andrew  Gater  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 0 Credits: 10 Study Hours: 100  
School Office: Tel: 01782 733960
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Prerequisites
As for Humanities Foundation Year or Social Science Foundation Year

Barred Combinations
This is a core module for and is open only to Humanities Foundation Year students and Social Science Foundation Year students and, at the discretion of the Foundation Year Office, International Foundation Year students.

Description

This is a core module for students enrolled on the Humanities Foundation Year or the Social Sciences Foundation Year.

This module will prepare students in two key areas of academic performance: academic seminar discussions and academic oral presentations.

Small group academic discussions are at the heart of university learning, yet to the uninitiated they can be an intimidating experience. Training and practice sessions will guide students to better understand the purposes of these informed discussions and how to get the most out of them and will provide strategies for participating meaningfully in them. Students will plan and lead their own seminar on a topic of their choosing with a group of classmates.

The ability to prepare and deliver with confidence an engaging and informative academic presentation is a skill increasingly called upon not only at university but in the world of work and civic involvement. Through lecture input, activities and practice sessions students will develop the skills and confidence necessary to prepare and deliver an effective team oral academic presentation on a topic related to one of their chosen principal subjects.

On successful completion of the module, students will have an improved ability to:
- participate meaningfully in a group seminar discussion
- co-lead a seminar discussion
- plan, research and deliver an effective 15-minute team academic presentation
- work as a member of a team to prepare and execute the above
- provide constructive and practical feedback to their peers
Aims
  • To enhance students' abilities to effectively lead and participate in group seminar discussions.
  • To further students' development of the writing and vocabulary skills necessary to prepare a paraphrased summary and build a critical response to a text.
  • To provide students with further opportunities to assess and interpret written texts from academia and contemporary media.
  • To provide students with the opportunity to research, prepare for and deliver an academic presentation as part of a team
Intended Learning Outcomes
prepare to participate meaningfully in a group seminar discussion will be achieved by assessments: 02,03
select appropriate materials for and co-lead a seminar discussion will be achieved by assessments: 01,02,03
plan, research and deliver an effective 15-minute team academic oral presentation will be achieved by assessments: 04, 05, 06
work as a member of a team to plan and execute assignments will be achieved by assessments: 01, 04, 05
provide constructive and practical feedback to peers will be achieved by assessments: 03
consolidate writing and research skills will be achieved by assessments: 02, 04
Study hours
1 hour lecture, 1 hour seminar per week
Description of Module Assessment
01: Seminar weighted 20% (min pass mark of 40)
Group research, preparation and leading of 1 x 30 minute seminar discussion.
Student groups will plan and lead an academic-style small group discussion based around a reading selected buy the group.
02: Short Paper weighted 25% (min pass mark of 40)
3 short papers of approximately 300 words each
Students will research and prepare 3 brief evaluative writing assignments based on the reading selected for the week's seminar discussion.
03: Class Participation weighted 10% (min pass mark of 40)
Engagement in seminar discussions and oral presentations; preparation of constructive peer feedback and self-reflection
Students will engage meaningfully in seminar discussions and participate as appropriate in oral presentations. Opportunities for self-reflection and peer feedback on these activities will be provided.
04: Assignment weighted 15%
Detailed plan and list of references for team oral presentation 300 words
Presentation plan for group academic oral presentation, including full list of references.
05: Oral Presentation weighted 25% (min pass mark of 40)
Team academic oral presentation on topic linked to proposed principal subject
15-minute team oral presentation with visuals on a topic related to one or more of the team's proposed principal subjects.
06: Practice Based Assessment weighted 5%
Mini-presentation
A 1-minute practice oral presentation on a topic chosen by the student.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.