ILMAECDN-Dissertation Writing for Economics (Postgraduate)

Module Provider: International Study and Language Institute
Number of credits: 0 [0 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Mr Daniel Devane
Email: d.devane@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module focuses on the academic language and writing skills needed to write a postgraduate Dissertation in Economics.

It is primarily designed for Economics students whose first language is not English and who are studying Data and Decision Analysis (in Nanjing) [MSc], both at a distance in the Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology (NUIST) and at the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ.

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

Aims:

This module aims to support PGT Economics students with their transition to the UK HE context and academic culture. It has a specific focus on the key academic language and skills needed to successfully complete a Master’s level (Level 7) Dissertation in Economics.

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

1. 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.


2. Recognise and respond to expectations concerning the Dissertation research process, with a specific focus on originality.


3. Use appropriate techniques to incorporate, synthesise, and comment on the views of others in a Dissertation text.


4. Write a clear, focused, and effective postgraduate Economics Dissertation text.

Assessable learning outcomes:

N/A

Additional outcomes:

N/A

Outline content:

Classes will have the following foci when examining the organisational patterns and key language for the following aspects of Dissertation writing:

1. Writing the Introduction: establishing the relevance of your research focus, identifying your research niche, and outlining the purpose and structure of your thesis.


2. Reviewing the literature: comparing/contrasting and synthesising the ideas of other scholars; establishing your own stance within an ongoing academic debate; integral and non-integral citation – conventions and use; verb tense and sentence grammar for reporting sources.


3. Writing about methods: explaining and justifying methodological choices and describing research tools and processes; the passive voice and sequencing devices for describing procedures.


4. Writing about results: describing and analysing research findings.


5. 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.


6. Writing your conclusion: identifying key research outcomes, and talking about implications, limitations, and potential future research.


7. Writing the Abstract: succinctly and accurately summarising the key points of your dissertation text.

Global context:

This module supports internationalisation at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ 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.

Teaching will be learner-centred, taking a task-based approach to:

1. analysis of example texts from the target genres.


2. guided ‘noticing’ of key organisational and linguistic features in context.


3. exercises practicing use of relevant lexical/grammatical items.


4. scaffolded reading-to-write exercises.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

N/A

Assessment requirements for a pass:

Reassessment arrangements:

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 30 March 2023