Course Coordinator:Gregory Nash (gnash@usc.edu.au) School:School of Education and Tertiary Access
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton BayUniSC CabooltureUniSC Fraser CoastUniSC Gympie |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Online |
Online | You can do this course without coming onto campus. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
In this course, you have the opportunity to develop the writing and study skills necessary to manage tertiary study effectively. As well as general instruction in time management and effective reading skills, this course introduces you to the common features of academic writing and includes how to conduct academic research at the University's library and how to use an approved referencing system for your written assessment tasks. You will be given many opportunities to apply and develop these study and academic skills during tutorial/workshop sessions.
Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
Blended learning | |||
Learning materials – You are required to engage and interact with VLM – Video Learning Materials, presented in an MP4 video format. These will be between 40-50 minutes in length. One per week. In addition, there may be related activities based on this content. E.g. quizzes | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Tutorials will be delivered face to face at the campus locations. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
Online | |||
Learning materials – You are required to engage and interact with VLM – Video Learning Materials, presented in an MP4 video format. These will be between 40-50 minutes in length. One per week. In addition, there may be related activities based on this content. E.g. quizzes | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Tutorials will be delivered via Zoom. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
Module 1 – Introduction to the course and academic writing
Module 2 – Academic Essays
Module 3 – Numeracy and Scientific Reports
100 Level (Introductory)
12 units
Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
1 | Demonstrate key time management and effective organisational practices | Empowered |
2 | Read, interpret and appraise academic articles. Identify the main ideas and summarise. Display knowledge of academic writing conventions. | Creative and critical thinker |
3 | Articulate effective academic and professional communication for different contexts. | Empowered |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Enrolled in programs UC101, UC102, UC103 or UC104
Not applicable
Not applicable
None
Standard Grading (GRD)
High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
See Assessment tasks for formative assessment items: Task 1 Quizzes x 3
Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
All | 1 | Quiz/zes | Individual | 0% | 3 quizzes - 10 questions each |
Refer to Format | Online Test (Quiz) |
All | 2 | Quiz/zes | Individual | 20% | 90 minutes |
Week 4 | Online Test (Quiz) |
All | 3 | Essay | Individual | 50% | 600 words |
Week 10 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
All | 4 | Quiz/zes | Individual | 30% | 180 minutes |
Week 13 | Online Test (Quiz) |
All - Assessment Task 1:Quiz | |
Goal: | A successful, independent learner at university demonstrates good time management and organisational skills and the ability to gather academic information.These quizzes provide an opportunity for you to assess yourself against these benchmark attributes. |
Product: | Quiz/zes |
Format: | Multiple Choice Semester 1 + 2: Submit in Weeks 2, 3, 4 |
Criteria: |
|
All - Assessment Task 2:Quiz Understanding Academic Writing | |
Goal: | Being able to identify the key components of an essay and critically analyse these with respect to structure, cohesion, academic style, vocabulary selection, spelling, referencing and grammatical accuracy is a key skill in developing awareness of academic writing protocols. This task will develop your understanding of academic writing skills through analysis of a number of sections of an essay. |
Product: | Quiz/zes |
Format: | Multiple choice and ordering |
Criteria: |
|
All - Assessment Task 3:Argumentative Essay | |
Goal: | Being able to conduct academic research and integrate the results of this with your own ideas on issues is an essential skill at university.This task will develop your researching skills through an argumentative essay and will require you to use the Harvard Referencing style |
Product: | Essay |
Format: | This is an individual written task assessment in the form of an argumentative essay.You will write a five-paragraph essay incorporating appropriate academic research which will be fully referenced.Structure of essay:Introduction and conclusion: Main arguments: structure, development of ideas and integration of supporting evidence, in-text referencing, academic style, vocabulary selection, spelling and grammar Referencing: Harvard style and formatting features, number and quality of reference sources Formatting Features: page layout, font style and size, word count. Word length: 600 +/- 10%. |
Criteria: |
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All - Assessment Task 4:Report analysis | |
Goal: | This task will test your knowledge on the components of academic writing, research and referencing within the style of a report. Specifically, attention will be placed on report structure, layout and content, and inclusion and understanding of visual information. |
Product: | Quiz/zes |
Format: | Multi-choice |
Criteria: |
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A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Period and Topic | Activities |
n/a |
n/a |
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
None
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.
The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.
For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.
If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.
Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.
Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.