Faculty of Humanities
School of Environment, Education and Development
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Academic Year:
Semester:
Course Unit Code:
Course Unit Title:
Lecturer(s):
2014-15
1
EDUC10701
Developing academic writing and digital study skills
Alex Baratta (I am the only lecturer for this unit)
% of evaluations
completed:
Positive points from
the evaluations:
17/48 (35.42%)
Criticisms raised:
How you will
address the
Alex showed us the details of essays which can result in a low grade or a good grade an showed
us how to achieve this. He did this through specific lesson plans
which catered to each individual part of an essay structure such as how to write an introduction
and the things to include and then following onto an essay skeleton etc.
Overall I've been able to apply his structure to every essay I have written so far and it has been
extremely helpful to have the access to this knowledge.
- He explained everything very clearly and went through the work at a good pace.
- He was very helpful and good at explaining things that I didm't understand. Also his handouts
for the lesson were really useful.
- His clear expectations of me in my writing.
- How much he offered to help.
- I found that everything was very well explained, we had opportunities to answer questions and
discuss ideas.
- I liked that we submitted drafts before the essay was submitted completely.
- Knowledge and encouragement to get drafts done
- The access to write away and breakdown of essay writing skills. Alex provided me with good
and quick feedback in class or through email which helped me greatly.
- The fact we were able to submit a draft of our essay to receive feedback before submitting our
final draft helped me in structuring essays for not only this unit, but also
my other modules.
- Useful notes.
Alex was extremely helpful and very approachable if there was anything in which the class did
not understand. All that he told us what useful and I have applied it to all
areas of my course.
- Coming to university I felt under confident with my writing abilities, as I had not taken essay
subjects at A level and had two years out. This course gave me the skills
and structural information which I have used in every essay so far. I found this unit really
helpful, it has improved my university experience.
- Considering this was one of the first assessments of the year, it wasn't too difficult or
overwhelming. It also enabled me to do my own research.
- I valued the opportunity to refresh my memory on the basics of academic writing that I had
forgotten.
- Learning skills necessary
- The ability to adjust to academic writing expected at University.
- The fact it helps me with other essays
- The structured notes, the essay planning and lecturer advice.
- The two draft approach to assessment.
- This unit has helped with my essay writing skills for every other .module
It would be helpful if the reading list had details of books/articles that linked with the topic.
- Learn students names
More support with assignments
More feedback
- More feedback could be given.
- More interesting topics to discuss
- na
- nothing.
- People in the class were reluctant to answer questions, and then got into a pattern of not
answering. It might have been better for Alex to choose people to answer
questions or give their thoughts, as the same few people ended up answering most of the time.
- Perhaps more examples of how to use semi colons and commas etc.
- This should be the first essay we submit in the year as the aim of the unit is to improve our
writing skills.
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Learning students’ names is indeed a valid point and I will endeavour to do so
As for more support/feedback, I don’t know what else I can do. Students write an
evaluations:
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essay for which a two-draft approach is taken and they have access to a writing
centre which allows them to bring in an essay for further analysis. This is the
exception, not the norm, for academic programmes, so there is not much else I
can think to provide.
More interesting topics are tricky in a class that is devoted to academic writing
(which some students will find, at times, a bit boring perhaps). However, I do
discuss business writing and creative writing in the beginning of class and
ultimately, this is a practical class, not theoretical, and therefore the focus needs
to be 100 on how to write an essay.
I can focus more on punctuation in future, as I have several handouts on this
topic.
As for different students answering questions, I don’t want to make people feel
singled out, as it were, so I would prefer to leave it open to others to answer as
and when they feel a need to.
I agree that this essay should be first to be submitted – I will raise this with staff.
PLEASE RETURN FORM BY EMAIL TO: daniel.chung@manchester.ac.uk