1. Demonstrate ability to communicate different view-points from academic sources.
Knowledge and Understanding
Learning
Communication

2. Show that you can work with your fellow students and tutor to complete academic tasks and solve problems.
Analysis
Problem Solving

3. Establish your familiarity with a range of communication skills (mostly related to the academic context) and be able to apply them effectively.
Enquiry
Application
Reflection

1. Plan and deliver a fifteen minute individual presentation on a given topic. This part of the assessment assesses how effectively you can use a learning and assessment method that is used a lot in universities: the individual presentation. The subject of your presentation will be related to your chosen subject area and demonstrate knowledge of what you have learnt during this module. Your presentation will end with a short question and answer session (approximately 2-3 minutes over the basic fifteen minutes). (LO 1,2,3)

2. A written reflective essay that summarises the main arguments from the presentation and exhibits your own learning from the process. For example: you may consider how your understanding and ideas have developed, how you organised your time and planned for the presentation, how you have developed listening skills and confidence in communicating with others. (LO 2,3)

This module focuses on essential personal and communication skills which will help you to communicate with different audiences and to develop these skills for future studies and your career.
During this module, you will:

* consider forms of communication, especially in the academic context (e.g. seminars, presentations, tutorials, role-plays) and improve your skills in using these communication methods effectively.

* develop independent thinking skills which enable you to think critically about yourself, other people, issues and situations.

* improve your time management and discover the learning strategies that work best for you.

* gain an insight into how groups work, and improve skills which are necessary for groups to function
successfully (active listening, motivating, encouraging, discussing, coping with differences of opinion, getting agreement, etc.).

You will be working on your own or in groups to plan and deliver a presentation. You will be listening, speaking, reading and writing, both in class and during independent study. Class activities may include pair discussion, group debates, presentations, audio-visual inputs, short tutor lectures, seminars and tutorials.
The in-class activities will be supplemented by your independent study outside class, doing such things as:
Carrying out specific tasks.
Researching information.
Formulating ideas and concepts.
Discussing and writing about your learning, planning how to improve your skills.

The tutor will be able to recommend useful sources to help you develop your communication skills. As for the material for your topic itself, you'll find your information largely from the university library and the Internet.

There are many books which can help you develop your academic writing skills. Here are some suggested texts:

Cottrell, S. (2008) The Study Skills Handbook, Basingstoke: Palgrave/Macmillan

Price, G. and P. Maier (2007) Effective Study Skills: Unlock your Potential Harlow, Pearson

Access to library and IT resources
An advanced learner's English dictionary