AESC40460

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students are expected to be able to scope, structure, draft, edit, and finalise a literature review.

Within this process, they should be able to:
critically appraise literature sources;se authoritative sources to develop a statement on the state of knowledge for a defined topic.
identify opportunities in feedback.

Indicative Module Content:

Students will prepare a literature review on an assigned or agreed topic, which is a statement of the current state of knowledge within a defined scope, based on available and authoritative published sources.

In-class topics will include these or similar:
1) Database searching (databases, search engines, search methods; retrieving full-text papers).
2) Getting started. Three-line thesis writing exercise.
3) Sources and referencing.
4) Composing and editing.
5) Critical evaluation.
6) Finishing.

Student Effort Hours:

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

The module centres on taking responsibility for text, involving stating a claim, assembling and presentating evidence within an argument, and interpreting the outcome. Use of tools and supports will be encouraged, including machine-generation, while demanding that author integrity be maintained.

The required "Three Line Thesis" exercise will allow students a chance to have their writing closely examined, with intensive feedback on a tiny piece of text, including referencing, to achieve a perfect outcome.

In-class exercises using prepared, anonymised short compositions will allow students to think actively about specific aspects of their writing, get used to meticulously checking their own writing and referencing, and get a sense of progress among others in the class. Peer evaluation and small-group discussion, without class-level discussion of work, will support this process.

Class topics will be short, and address specific writing tasks. Class sessions will be followed by consultation and discussion time, available for individual or small-group discussion.

Referencing is required in this work. Students should actively familiarise themselves with referencing software, such as EndNote, which is fully supported by UCD. Content supporting EndNote use will be provided.

At the outset of the module, students will be assigned a specific chosen review topic to be agreed with a supervising, full-time member of academic staff. The resulting written review will form the main element of module assessment.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Learning Requirements:

Students will be expected to actively familiarise themselves with referencing software, such as EndNote Online, which is fully supported by UCD. EndNote Online courses are available to book through UCD Library, and are free of charge, though numbers are limited. This should be completed by the end of week 4 of Semester 1.

Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy

 

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will receive individual feedback on their Three-Line Thesis submission, with further cycles of submission and feedback until the document receives a "perfect" status. There are no marks associated with the Three-Line Thesis exercise. Students submit a draft Literature Review for summative assessment (20%), to a potential supervisor, who will return the document post-assessment with feedback. Where the draft does not meet the pass standard, students will be able to re-submit at this stage. The later final submission will be for summative assessment (70%), with grading criteria including the student's response to feedback.