Academic Culture at QMul

Alan Hart, Insessional Convenor in The Language Centre http://language-centre.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/language-centre/

Sep 2017

We’re going to look atn Independent Studyn Knowledge at Undergraduate/ Post-

Graduate Leveln Plagiarismn Preparing for Lectures and Seminarsn Asking Questions and Asking for Help

Independent studyn Shorter timetable (may not be classes

every day)n May not be registers / lectures may be

optionaln Longer reading listn Assessment through extended writingn Tutor role is to GUIDE not teachn Not listen and repeat – listen/read

evaluate

What should I do to ensure successful independent study?

n Get a study diary; write in your timetable, assessment deadlines

n Work out what to read and in how much detail. (eg. * essential reading first)

n Don’t expect to learn without reading. Lectures/ seminars are to review and discuss the reading, clarify difficult points etc

n Start writing assignments early and check early plans with tutor where possible

n ASK your tutor (check their office hours – that’s what they’re there for)

Uncontested Knowledgevs

Contested KnowledgeWhat happened in the UK on 23rd

of June, 2016?

Was this a good decision for Britain?

Ways of approaching knowledge

n ReproductionAnalysis

Taking a Critical Approach

Critical Thinking

It’s not something dry and dustyIt’s very practicalEnters every discipline

Who?

Voicen It is important to find your own voicen When doing research, be sure to

acknowledge, incorporate, make the views your own – don’t plagiarise

n Originality is good, but there should be some basis for your assertions

n Don’t lecture the readern Try to be helpful to the readern Be modest: remember your audience

n See: http://www.uefap.com/writing/function/stance.htm

What universities expect students to demonstrate in their writing

1. Knowledge and understanding of the topic2. Ability to research a specific aspect of the

topic set in assignments3. Ability to organise supporting information

and evidence in a structured piece of academic writing

4. Suitable modesty

Plagiarism‘All material submitted for assessment, … shall be the

candidate’s own work (except where work specifically forms a part of assessment). Brief quotations from published or unpublished work of other persons may be used, but must always be attributed, both at the appropriate point in the text, and in the bibliography at the end of the piece of work. Extensive quotations; close paraphrasing; copying from the works of another person (including another student) without proper acknowledgement constitutes plagiarism, which is an examination offence…’ (Queen Mary Student Guide)

What does plagiarism mean?n Cut and pasten Copying from books/websites without

referencingn Using word for word chunks even with

referencing

n Using readings in your assignments involves a number of complex skills: if you have never had to reference, you must learn how!

Building a case

n A case – an essay – a problem solution

n Like a jigsaw puzzlen Walking a tight rope

between issues and questions

n Find a solutionn Make sure it’ll stand up

Building a case 2

n Unwarranted leapsn Castles of cardsn Sleight of handn Misrepresentingn Trivialisingn Tautologyn Hearsayn Anecdote

Bloom’s Taxonomy (1956)

A classification of levels of intellectual skills that students can acquire and practice through their writing assignments.

. 16Ganobcsik-Williams Liverpool Hope University 2009

the person trying to get out

n A famous image from Vygotsky

n This is a puzzle toon You need to emergen Think outside the box

Semantics

n "Whatever you say it is, it isn't."

n - Alfred Korzybski

Preparing for Lectures and Seminars

n Arrive prepared. Read before - as much as you can!

n Think of questions you want answered by the lecture

n Take notes, however briefn Talk to other students before and after – if

you can, form a study group to discuss the topics over coffee

Asking Questions and Asking for Help

n Socratic method of learning –assumption that you will ask questions

n Genuine questions (it shows if you haven’t done the reading)

n Check if there’s QMplus/discussion forums – if you don’t want to ask your tutor try these

n But your tutor expects questions! And expects to be asked for help. Use their expertise.

Final tips: read your handbooks carefully

Watch podcasts for tips from real students!

No 10 Grades (2 mins) http://language-centre.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/adjusting-10

Advice before you arrive (a bit late, I know but better late than never!)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2l4tR2ZQ4Q&feature=related

At the end of the day

n You feel satisfiedn Proudn You did your bestn You go to graduaten You get a good jobn Wealth and happinessn You’d do it all over

again

References

n Academic English Online: The Writing Process

n Uefap: http://www.uefap.com/writing/writfram.htm

n We can help you: n http://language-

centre.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/language-centre/in-sessionals/

Insessional English Modules 2017/18n Academic Writing modules

n Principles of Academic Writing 1 and 2: 10-week modules on all aspects of writingn Structuring Arguments n Reading & Writing Critically n Two 5-week modules on

n The process of writingn Preparing for your first assignment

n Reading for Writing modulesn English through Literaturen From Reading to Writing: using language in a university contextn Expand your Vocabulary

n Grammar & Syntaxn Grammar in Context 1 and 2 : 10-week modules on all aspects of grammarn Proofreading and Editing: 5-week focusing on accuracy

n Listening and Speaking in Englishn English in Social Settings 1 and 2 :10-week modulen Four 5 week modules

n Effective Presentation Skills: 5-week modulen Effective Participation in Seminars : 5- week modulen Academic Listening: 5-week modulen Improving your Pronunciation

n Research Writing Workshop (for PhD students) – offered in Semester 1 & 2n There is a special course for n LLM students. Information on this will be given in the LLM induction.

http://language-centre.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/language-centre/in-sessionals/

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