Module manager: Helen Finnerty
Email: H.C.Finnerty@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Restricted to students whose first language(s) is/are not English and/or students who require development in their academic or language skills.
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module is for students studying in a second or additional language, or new to UK higher education, or who require development in their academic skills with an Arts and Humanities or STEM background with a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5 or CEFR C1. You will develop awareness of academic genres and critical thinking; as well as reading and writing skills. Speaking skills will be developed through the analysis and discussion of texts. You will have the opportunity to focus on one issue of your choice in greater depth, for assessed tasks.
The main aim of this module is to develop your research and study skills in English, specifically those required in academic contexts for effective undergraduate study. You will develop your critical thinking, reading, writing and speaking skills in academic contexts through a genre analysis of texts. A genre based approach is taken to encompass the multidisciplinary nature of this module. As a Discovery module, you will be given the opportunity to broaden your academic experience to discuss different subjects beyond your own discipline. The content for this module is co-created with students in order to pursue a personal area of interest. Independent research on a topic of your choice is undertaken in preparation for assessments. English Language will also be developed through discussions, reading and writing tasks with a focus on different academic styles and rhetorical features. A key aim of the module is to develop your own reflective practice, which is required not only in many disciplines at university level, but also in the workplace.
1. Demonstrate knowledge of academic language and conventions through creating and revising written texts
2. Apply understanding of key concepts in critical thinking to the analysis of selected source materials.
3. Demonstrate reflective practice through a written or recorded reflection on a student led seminar
4. Select, critically review and evaluate a range of sources
5. Use and manipulate written and spoken language in academic settings to suit a clear communicative purpose, including to summarise, evaluate, to analyse, to create and to reflect
6. Apply appropriate choices at sentence, paragraph and text level.
7. Act as an autonomous and reflective learner, by undertaking individual research
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 2 | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Seminar | 15 | 1 | 15 |
| Private study hours | 84.5 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 15.5 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100 | ||
Individual formative feedback will be given on 4 tasks. The first task is a Reference List for 4 sources. The second is a Style Task which involves rewriting a text using a more formal academic style. The third task is a draft of a summary and critical evaluation of one of the sources selected for the Assessed Annotated Bibliography. There is also an opportunity to submit a draft Reflection.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Portfolio | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 08/09/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team