BASS Sociology and Quantitative Methods / Course details

SESSION 1 - Aims, learning outcomes and motivation
SESSION 2 – Plagiarism
SESSION 3 – Using the library
SESSION 4 – Information management
SESSION 5 – The social science essay
SESSION 6 – Critical thinking
SESSION 7 – Exam technique and revision
SESSION 8 – Transferable skills
SESSION 9 – Presentations and group work
SESSSION 10 – Reflecting on learning

Students must be registered on BA (Economic and Social Studies) or BASS degree to enrol onto SOCS 10911.

1. To develop students' self-confidence in a reange of learning processes

2. To encourage reflection on how students might improve their study skills and habits

3. To facilitate mutual help, team-work and the sharing of successful study techniques

4. To enable students to develop a range of academic and transferable skills, including communicating ideas and argument in written form, giving presentations, team-work and research

5. To enable students to manage their learning by developing discipline, planning and time management.

Effective learning is developed through group work which builds on the experiences of students as much as on the expertise of staff. Different ideas about successful study methods are shared. Group tasks and individual take-away exercises focus on the study research and presentational skills which add to an awareness and understanding of the purpose and powers of learning.

Classes will be given in a workshop format, with exercises and group work. There are no formal lectures. Some classes will be student-led, and others given by central or other services. Students will be encouraged to reflect on their own learning patterns and habits as much as possible, and to adopt and reject ideas for methods on the basis of whether they work.

Suggested:

Andrew Northedge
"The Good Study Guide" (1990), Open University

Thomas Dixon
"How to Get a First" (2004), Routledge

John Pede and Martin Coyle
"Write it Right" (2005) Palgrave

Peter Redman
"Good Essay Writing" (2006) Open University/Saye

Information
*****ONLY AVAILABLE TO FIRST YEAR BA ECON & BASS STUDENTS*****

THIS COURSE MUST NOT  BE TAKEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH SOCS10902 (Study Skills - semester two)

Length of course: 10 weeks of instruction

On completion of this unit, successful students will be able to:

1. Manage their tiime more successfully

2. Avoid plagiarism and demonstrate that they are conversant with techniques for avoiding plagiarism (summary, paraphrasing, etc.)

3. Plan a social science essay

4. Write a report

5. Demonstrate constructive habits in reading and note taking

6. Show a better approach to examinations

7. Work more productively in groups

8. Give successful oral presentations

9. Undertake an effective search for information/data

Timetable
Thursday 11-1 (rooms to be confirmed)