ADULT LEARNING STRAND
Module descriptor
All Hallows College
Dublin City University
Module title: Scholarly Writing
Module code L 3
School/Faculty/Theme: All Hallows College, School of Community and Adult Education
Module co-ordinator: Martin McConigley
Level: 8
Credit rating: 5 ECTS Credits
Pre-requisite(s): Learning Assessment Seminar, Foundations of Adult Learning 1 and 2.
Co-requisite(s)
Module aims:
In this module, students develop and practise university level writing skills associated with effective performance in
college courses and assignments. Students focus on writing to achieve competence. Students review and apply the
essentials of good writing by identifying and building on their particular strengths and improving their work in problem
areas. In addition to receiving individual feedback and guidance from the instructor on grammar, development and use
of outlines, and using the ideas of sources to formulate arguments, students learn to give feedback on writing to one
another.
Learning outcomes:
Outcome: Can write clearly and fluently. (Can write to a level appropriate to college level)
1. Analyse the audience and the purpose of written communication.
Identify the key components of a scholarly paper.
Employ techniques to plan for writing a scholarly paper.
2. Understand Standard English usage and the mechanics of a paper.
Use appropriate sentence structure.
Understand the workings of a paragraph (topic sentence).
Recognise Introductions and Conclusions.
3. Write to analyse, explain, argue etc.
Improve Writing skills.
Develop a thesis statement.
Develop a clear and coherent paper.
4. Construct an on-going improvement plan.
Recognise writing improvement is an on-going process.
Develop plans to improve writing effectiveness.
Understand that scholarly writing is a process of revising and editing.
Indicative time allowances
Lectures: 24
Independent Learning: 101
TOTAL 125 hours
Indicative syllabus
This module consists of eight sections. Each section is designed to provide specific information about scholarly writing
techniques.
Indicative Syllabus:
What is scholarly writing?
Sentence structure
Planning and Structuring
A Thesis Statement
Introductions
Paragraphs
Conclusions
Referencing (Bibliographies)
Assessment
To achieve this outcome students are expected to create a portfolio illustrating key skills of scholarly writing (4 short
assignments) and will write a full length paper (1000-1500). At the end of module each student will meet the tutor to
discuss portfolio and work on an on-going improvement plan.
Portfolio Contents
Subjective & Objective Writing - Choose an article and write a personal response to it (100w); focusing on the same
article, write a short summary passage (100w) using objective writing.
Idea Generation: Create a Cluster Diagram – or other generation method (This may be used for your final assignment).
Annotation Skills: Find an article, column, or chapter and annotate at least one page.
Thesis Writing: Create 3-6 Thesis Statements (One of these may be used in your final paper).
Essay Paper: Demonstrate key writing skills – Introduction, paragraphs, conclusion, referencing.
Indicative reading list Core
Creme, P., & Lea, M. R. (2008). Writing at university : a guide for students (3rd ed. ed.).
Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Open University Press.
Godfrey, J. (2011). Writing for university. Basinstoke: Palgrave.
Rose, J. (2007). The mature student's guide to writing (2nd ed. ed.). Basingstoke:
Palgrave Macmillan.
Smith, P. (2011). How to write an assignment : proven techniques from a chief examiner
that really get results (8th ed. ed.). Oxford: How To Books.
Appropriate Academic material will be provided by the instructor. Reading journal papers will make up the bulk of
reading throughout the module.
It is also recommended that students acquire a college level dictionary and a thesaurus.
Date of last revision
April 2013
Programme or list of programmes on which this module will be delivered Adult Learning BA in – All Hallows
College
Programme reference number