Course unit details:
Writing and Referencing Skills (online unit)

Course unit fact file
Unit code BIOL10741
Credit rating 0
Unit level Level 1
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Offered by School of Biological Sciences
Available as a free choice unit? No

Aims

  • To enhance current language skills
  • To enhance understanding of what constitutes academic malpractice, including plagiarism, and how to avoid it
  • To develop academic reading and writing skills, and good practice in time management and organisational skills as part of continued learning
  • To provide training in literature searching
  • To provide training in the use of referencing software (Endnote)
  • To support self-learning through the use of computer based training

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit students should understand what constitutes academic malpractice including plagiarism, be aware of how we as a University detect plagiarism and the consequences, and be aware of how to avoid committing it. Students should have enhanced critical reading and academic writing skills, improved literature searching abilities and be able to store, retrieve and use references within Endnote.

Syllabus

This eLearning course and the assessments (Including feedback) are delivered entirely on-line.

The course begins with a module on academic malpractice including plagiarism. This module does not contribute to the final mark but is required for academic progression to the second year of study.

Subsequent modules are designed to improve academic reading and writing skills. Specific modules then cover literature searching and introduce Endnote; they provide training on the use of this time-saving referencing software that should aid essay, report and other scientific writing.

Assessment methods

The assessments are in the standard format of two attempts per assessment, and a mean mark of 70% is required to pass the unit, which is a required component of the tutorial unit. Failure will result in a loss of compensation for exams, removal from Four-Year Degree programmes and a requirement for the satisfactory completion of the unit material during the summer vacation.

The academic malpractice module must be completed and passed (100% pass mark) but does not contribute to the unit mark.

Feedback methods

Each assessment provides feedback on responses.

Recommended reading

 All reading is provided online within the unit. 

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
eAssessment 22
Independent study hours
Independent study 78

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Catherine Millar Unit coordinator

Fees and funding

Fees

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £38,000 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

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