Course Title: Prepare for tertiary reading and writing

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2020

Course Code: GEDU6092

Course Title: Prepare for tertiary reading and writing

School: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4386 - Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation

Course Contact: Jane Collins

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4488

Course Contact Email: jane.collins@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 80

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None.

Assumed knowledge: 

To successfully undertake this unit, minimum language, literacy and numeracy skills that align to level 3 of ACSF are recommended.

Course Description

This course will be delivered in a blended mode. This means that the delivery is both online and face to face. By studying online in this course you will develop your independent learning skills in preparation for tertiary study. You will develop research and analysis skills in a tertiary study context. This unit of competency is taught in conjunction with VU21868 (GEDU6095).

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	VU21865 Prepare for tertiary reading and writing
Element:	1. Apply analytical and critical thinking skills to respond to study tasks
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Determine the purpose and audience for the task 1.2 Identify key terms and concepts 1.3 Determine types of input needed to complete the task 1.4 Analyse concepts using critical thinking skills 1.5 Consider advice from others in determining response to the task 1.6 Research academic support services available to students
Element:	2. Synthesise information from a variety of sources for academic purposes
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Determine information needs 2.2 Access resources from a variety of sources 2.3 Evaluate and sort sources taking into account reliability and relevance 2.4 Summarise and record relevant information 2.5 Record sources of information
Element:	3. Produce written responses to academic tasks
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Analyse task requirements and assessment criteria and plan response 3.2 Identify the features and language of academic writing style required 3.3 Construct coherent response integrating sources effectively to meet task requirements 3.4 Review writing with others and adjust accordingly 3.5 Revise final draft for logic, relevance, structure, and effective use of sources according to assessment criteria 3.6 Proof read and edit final draft to meet task requirements
Element:	4. Reference sources effectively using appropriate conventions
Performance Criteria:	4.1 Select appropriate system of referencing 4.2 Accurately record reference information for each citation 4.3 Use conventions and word processing formatting appropriately 4.4 Proof read for accuracy

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate your competence of the above elements. The outcomes described in this unit relate to the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) and Australian Qualities Framework (AQF).

http://www.acer.edu.au/cspa/australian-core-skills-framework

http://www.aqf.edu.au/aqf/in-detail/aqf-levels/ 

They contribute directly to the achievement of ACSF/AQF indicators of Reading and Writing competence at Level 4.

Details of Learning Activities

This unit is part of the Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation program. It will cover academic skills in analysis, critical thinking, research and academic writing for tertiary study. 
  

Reading 

You will be taught research and analytical skills over a wide range of texts relevant to the study context. 

You will read, analyse and review complex texts for research purposes 
  

Writing 
  

In a variety of writing activities, you will improve your academic skills and learn how to use different writing styles that are appropriate for your study context. This will include producing an essay, annotated bibliography and an academic research report. 

You will: 
• take notes from a range of complex texts 
• learn to locate and record references used  
• learn about database research and academic report writing 
• learn to plan, draft and proofread your work 
• construct formatted texts for study purposes 
• become familiar with academic discourse 
The revision of important grammatical structures will be incorporated into each activity 

  

Course Dates:  

Semester 1: Monday 10 February – Friday 12 June 2020 

Mid-semester break: Thursday 9 April – Wednesday 15 April (inclusive) 

Public Holidays: 9 March 2020 (Labour Day); 8 June (Queens Birthday) 

Teaching Schedule

This unit of competency is taught within an integrated program. This unit is clustered with VU21868(GEDU6095) Conduct Online Research for further study which is delivered face to-face.  The content of this course below is conceptualised according to the stream: Science, Business or Legal.  

 

The Engineering Stream has a separate Teaching Schedule. 

 

Business/Legal/Science Teaching Schedule  

Week	VU21865 Prepare for Tertiary Reading and Writing  VU21868 Conduct Online Research	VU21865	VU21868
1	Overview of Cluster 1: Prepare for Tertiary Reading and Writing/Conduct online research for further study  Reading & Note-taking  What are the strategies/techniques for efficient reading      RMIT Learning Lab tutorial    Practice reading-scanning and comprehension using essay reading text    Note taking styles	E1	E1 E2 E3
2	Paragraph writing & Essay Planning  TEEL structure and how to make paragraphs coherent by using linking words/phrases    Analyse sample paragraphs – S/NYS    Essay Plan  Write thesis statement and draft body paragraph	E1	E1 E2 E3
3	Paragraph/Paraphrasing  What is paraphrasing? What are the steps for paraphrasing    What are in text citations (references) and how do you include those in a paraphrase?    Continue draft essay	E1 E3	E1 E2
4	Paraphrasing practice  Writing Introductions for an essay  Essay Planning – record on Appendix 3  Essay proofreading and editing	E1 E3	E 1 E2
5	Assessment Task 1: Short Essay    Draft Essay (Part 4) - teacher feedback on draft essay    Complete 2nd CRAAP table for second research text (Part 2 Appendix 2)    Use editing checklist (Appendix 4) to proofread essay	E1 E2 E3 E4	E1 E2 E3
6	Annotations & CRAAP evaluating resources   Do topic focus/mind mapping for Annotated Bibliography topic    Demonstrate database research on RMIT Library – Subject Guides    What is an annotated bibliography?    Annotated Bibliography structure     Information Literacy: key concepts Micro Credential  CRAAP evaluating resources activity    Write practice annotation/s in class - teacher feedback in class	E1 E3 E4	E1 E2 E3
7	Annotations and Referencing    Review RMIT Harvard referencing for journals and ebooks (texts found on databases)     Complete Harvard referencing practice in pairs    Write a practice annotation with Harvard reference    Complete 1 x CRAAP and write 1 - 2 x draft annotation/s for your own text/s & receive teacher feedback	E1 E2 E3 E4	E 1 E2 E3
8	Synthesising    Practice synthesizing and in text citations    Write practice  synthesis paragraph    Academic Writing Style – RMIT Learning Lab    Review reporting verbs    Analyse sample annotations and full model Annotated Bibliographies	E1 E2 E3 E4	E 1 E2 E3
9A	Easter Break: Thu 9 April – Wed 15 April    Report structure    Use ‘Report Writing Process’ (RMIT Learning Lab)    Complete quiz/pair activity    View model academic reports    Read through Assessment Task 3: Academic Report & check resources    Teacher gives feedback on Draft Annotated Bibliography	E 1 E2 E3 E4	E1 E2 E3
9B	Report structure    Report structure    Use ‘Report Writing Process’ (RMIT Learning Lab)    Complete quiz/pair activity    View model academic reports    Read through Assessment Task 3: Academic Report & check resources	E 1 E2 E3 E4	E1 E2 E3
10	Assessment Task 3. Annotated Bibliography due week 10      Report Writing    Report Writing    Sections of a report     Analyse sample Academic Reports    Turn topic into a question    Explain Structure & Language document     Write draft Introduction/Thesis statement in class	E1 E3	E1 E2 E3
11	Academic Report    Continue to work on Assessment Task 3: Academic Report    Topic focus and research    Report structure and language activities    Choose new relevant academic texts: use appropriate Reference Style & record in CRAAP table    Review Reporting verbs    Review features of report    Write draft Findings in class and finish for Directed Study	E1 E 2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
12	Interpreting Graphs    Interpreting, describing trends and labelling graphs/diagrams    Continue drafting Academic Report    Review features/structure of Discussion section of report  Start draft Discussion in class	E1 E 2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
13	Academic Report  Analyse sample Academic Reports – S or NYS    Discussion section    Paraphrasing/Synthesizing	E1 E 2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
14	Editing & proof reading     Review integrating references and using reporting verbs – complete practice activities/samples  Finalise full draft report  Assessment Task 3 - Draft Academic Report due week 14	E1 E 2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
15	Assessment Task 3 - Academic report due week 15    Redrafting Academic Report    Editing and proofreading of Academic Report – use rubric to guide with proofreading and editing  report.     Review integrate in text citations using suitable reporting verbs.  Teacher available to give individual support with editing reports.	E1 E 2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
16	Academic Report   Support with Academic Report re-submission (if applicable)	E1 E 2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
17	Finalise assessments assessment and results; assessment re-sits; end of semester exit interviews

  

Engineering Stream Teaching Schedule 

 

Week	VU21865 Prepare for Tertiary Reading and Writing  VU21868 Conduct Online Research	VU21865	VU21868
1	Overview of Cluster 1: Prepare for Tertiary Reading and Writing/Conduct online research for further study  Reading & Note-taking    What are the strategies/techniques for efficient reading      RMIT Learning Lab tutorial    Practice reading-scanning and comprehension using essay reading text    Note taking styles	E1	E1 E2 E3
2	Paragraph writing & Essay Planning    TEEL structure and how to make paragraphs coherent by using linking words/phrases    Analyse sample paragraphs – S/NYS    Essay Plan  Write thesis statement and draft body paragraph	E1	E1 E2 E3
3	Paragraph/Paraphrasing    Paragraph structure cont.    What is paraphrasing? What are the steps for paraphrasing?    What are in text citations (references) and how do you include those in a paraphrase?    Continue draft essay	E1 E3	E1 E2
4	Essay proofreading & editing    Finalise draft essay  Essay proofreading and editing  Assessment 1 -  Short Essay due	E1 E3	E 1 E2
5	Topic focus & research skills    Do topic focus/mind mapping for Annotated Bibliography topic    Demonstrate database research on RMIT Library – Subject Guides    Micro credential Information Literacy     What is an annotated bibliography?	E1 E2 E3 E4	E1 E2 E3
6	Report structure      Report structure    Use ‘Report Writing Process’ (RMIT Learning Lab)    Complete quiz/pair activity    View model academic reports    Read through Assessment Task 2: Academic Report & check resources  Topics selected: Brainstorm	E 1 E2 E3 E4	E1 E2 E3
7	Report structure  Report Writing  ·         Sections of a report   ·         Analyse sample Academic Reports  ·         Turn topic into a question  ·         Explain Structure & Language document  Write draft Thesis statement in class	E 1 E2 E3 E4	E1 E2 E3
8	Continue to work on Assessment Task 2: Academic Report  ·         Topic focus and research  ·         Report structure and language activities  ·         Choose new relevant academic texts: use appropriate Reference Style & record in CRAAP table  ·         Review Reporting verbs  ·         Review features of report	E1 E3	E1 E2 E3
9A	Easter Break: Thu 9 April – Wed 15 April  Findings  Interpreting Graphs  Interpreting, describing trends and labelling graphs/diagrams  ·         Continue drafting Academic Report  ·         Review features/structure of  Discussion section of report  Write draft Findings in class	E1 E 2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
9B	Findings  Interpreting Graphs  Interpreting, describing trends and labelling graphs/diagrams  ·         Continue drafting Academic Report  ·         Review features/structure of  Discussion section of report  Write draft Findings in class	E1 E 2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
10	Discussion Section  Synthesising  Start draft Discussion in class      Practice synthesizing and in text citations  ·         Academic Writing Style – RMIT Learning Lab  ·         Review reporting verbs	E1 E 2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
11	Editing and Proofreading     Review integrating references and using reporting verbs – complete practice activities/samples  ·         Finalise full draft report	E1 E 2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
12	Redrafting Academic Report    Editing and proofreading of Academic Report – use rubric to guide with proofreading and editing  report.     Review integrate in text citations using suitable reporting verbs.  Teacher feedback on draft reports  Assessment Task 2: Academic Report due	E1 E 2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
13	Annotations, Mind-mapping & Keyword searches  ·      What is an annotated bibliography?  ·         Annotated Bibliography structure   Topic focus of Annotated Bibliography comes from Group Tutorial topics in Cluster 2.  CRAAP evaluating resources activity	E1 E2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
14	Summarising    Academic Writing Style – RMIT Learning Lab    Review reporting verbs    Analyse sample annotations and full model Annotated Bibliographies  ·         Complete 2 x CRAAP   Summary skills  Write a practice annotation with Harvard reference	E1 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
15	Annotation and Synthesis      Practice synthesising and in text citations    Write practice  synthesis paragraph  1 - 2 x draft annotation/s for your own text/s & receive teacher feedback	E1 E2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
16	Assessment Task 3: Annotated Bibliography due  Editing and proofreading of Annotated Bibliography – use rubric to guide with proofreading and editing report	E1 E2 E3 E4	E1 E 2 E3
17	Finalise assessments assessment and results; assessment re-sits; end of semester exit interviews

 

 

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

This competency will have blended delivery: online using Canvas and face to face. At the induction session in the first week of your program you will be given guidelines on using the Canvas system. 

Additional information about using CANVAS is available in the Induction Booklet. For information technology needs and online learning tools see: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=hi8nszlw2pr  

TEXTS AND EQUIPMENT 

 
There are no set texts for this course however it is recommended that you have:

Laptop computer 

Headphones  

USB (Memory stick)

binder books/paper 

stationery

Overview of Assessment

This competency is part of an integrated program. You must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of the competencies in order to be deemed competent. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks. Assessment is ongoing throughout the course. Assessment tasks will require you to demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills through practical projects and/or written tasks.

Feedback:

Both verbal and written feedback will be provided throughout the semester, as well as individual and group feedback on practical exercises.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program manager or the Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.

The Student Charter www.rmit.edu.au/about/our-education/supporting-learning-and-teaching/student-charter/ summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT University student as well as the responsibilities of the university. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which can be found on the RMIT University website at: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qwxbqbg739rl1

 

Assessment Tasks

Assessment will take place throughout the course. Your work is assessed on a competent (CA)/not yet competent (NYC) basis. 

You will be given written feedback on all assessment tasks. 

 
Assessment is ongoing and its purpose is to develop your skills. You will be given the opportunity of checkpoints throughout the course to develop your ability to identify and correct your own mistakes which is an important part of the learning process. It is important that you read the specific elements each assessment task addresses on the cover sheet for each task. At the time of setting assessments you will be given clear guidelines about which course, elements and performance criteria you will need to meet in order to successfully complete the task. Submission dates and deadlines will also be clearly explained. 

All assessment must be submitted through Canvas. 

 

Summative Assessments: Business/Legal/Science 

Assessment Task 1: Short Essay (Science, Engineering, Business and Legal) (due Week 5) 

Read an academic texts and write a cohesive short essay following planning and essay structure.    

Assessment Task 2: Annotated Bibliography  (draft due Week 8 and final due Week 10) 

Research, read and critically analyse academic texts and complete an annotated bibliography or your business documents.  

Assessment Task 3: Academic Report (draft due Week 14 and final due Week 15) 

Research, read and critically analyse a topic and write a cohesive report. 

 

Summative Assessments: Engineering 

Assessment Task 1: Short Essay (Science, Engineering, Business and Legal) (due Week 5) 

Read an academic texts and write a cohesive short essay following planning and essay structure.    

Assessment Task 2: Academic Report (draft due Week 10 and final due Week 12) 

Research, read and critically analyse a topic and write a cohesive report. 

Assessment Task 3: Annotated Bibliography  (draft due Week 15 and final due Week 16) 

Research, read and critically analyse academic texts and complete an annotated bibliography or your business documents.  

 
All assessment tasks including electronically recorded student work will be kept by the University for student feedback and to meet government requirements. 

Assessment Matrix

Each assessment cover sheet clearly outlines the competencies being addressed in the task in relation to performance criteria. The sum of assessment tasks will cover all units and their elements over a range of occasions. You will be given opportunities to demonstrate competency in a variety of ways throughout the program.  

 
You are encouraged to discuss any problems or concerns with your teacher or Program Coordinator. An assessment delivery plan will be available on Canvas (myRMIT)

Other Information

For every piece of work submitted online you will complete an e-Declaration. The signed cover sheet or e-Declaration acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications. 

Attendance: 
It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required leaning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain competency. 

Student Progress: 

Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. 

Student program policy www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academicprogress 
   

Special consideration policy (Late submissions) 
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension. Extension www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension 

Special consideration is an assessment adjustment for unexpected circumstances that are outside your control, which: 
• have a significant adverse impact on your performance in assessment or 
• prevent you from attempting or submitting the assessment. Special Consideration www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration 

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism 
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the Academic Integrity and Plagiarism policy 
www.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview