IL3AECDN-Dissertation Writing for Economics

Module Provider: International Study and Language Institute
Number of credits: 0 [0 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2020/1

Email: k.whiteside@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module focuses on the academic language and writing skills needed to write an undergraduate Dissertation in Economics. It is primarily designed for Economics students studying for a double degree at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø and the Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology (NUIST), who have studied the first three years of their degree in China.

The module is non-credit-bearing, the expectation being that students will apply the skills they have learnt on IL3AECDN in their credit-bearing Dissertation work. Therefore, for the module itself there is no assessment or expectation of independent study hours.

Aims:

This module aims to support NUIST 3+1 Economics students with their transition to the UK HE context, with a specific focus on the key academic language and skills needed to successfully complete an undergraduate Dissertation in Economics.Ìý

By the end of the module, students will be better able to:

• distinguish between what is expected, structurally and linguistically, in the different elements of a Dissertation, i.e. Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, Method, Results, Discussion & Conclusion


• recognise and respond to expectations concerning the Dissertation research processÌý


• use appropriate techniques to incorporate, synthesise and comment on the views of others in a Dissertation text


• write a clear, focused and effective undergraduate Economics Dissertation text

Assessable learning outcomes:

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Additional outcomes:

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Outline content:

• Organisational patterns and key language for the following aspects of Dissertation writing:
  
  
  
  • Writing the Introduction: establishing the relevance of your research focus, identifying your research niche, and outlining the purpose and structure of your thesis.Ìý
  
  
  • Reviewing the literature: comparing/contrasting and synthesising the ideas of other scholars; establishing your own stance within an ongoing academic debate; integral and non-inte gral citation – conventions and use; verb tense and sentence grammar for reporting sources.Ìý
  
  
  • Writing about methods: explaining and justifying methodological choices and describing research tools and processes; the passive voice and sequencing devices for describing procedures.Ìý
  
  
  • Writing about results: describing and analysing research findings.
  
  
  • Discussion in a Dissertation: interpreting and evaluating results and engaging with the wider scholarly debates related to your research project; modality and ‘boosting’ and ‘hedging’ language for strengthening or weakening claims.Ìý
  
  
  • Writing your conclusion: identifying key research outcomes, and talking about implications, limitations, and potential future research.
  
  
  • Writing the Abstract: succinctly and accurately summarising the key points of your dissertation text
  
  
  
  

Global context:

This module supports internationalisation at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø by facilitating successful and equal inclusion of students whose first language is not English in UK degree programme study.ÌýÌý

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will adopt an overall ‘genre’ approach, taking the social purpose of the elements of a Dissertation as the starting point to explicate organisation/structure and key discourse and language features.

It takes a discipline-specific approach to language and literacy development using example student texts and published Economics-specific sources in classroom tasks.Ìý

Teaching will be learner-centred, taking a task-based approach to analysis of example texts from the target genre, guided ‘noticing’ of key organisational and linguistic features in context, and practice exercises.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

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Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

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Formative assessment methods:

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Penalties for late submission:

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Assessment requirements for a pass:

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Reassessment arrangements:

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Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

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Last updated: 12 June 2020