Students

ACSC100 – Academic Communication in Science

2018 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convener
Deanna Wong
Administration
Margaret Wood
Academic Communication Program Director
Maria Herke
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is designed to support students in their transition to university by enabling them to understand and achieve standards of performance required in an academic environment. The unit provides a three-level focus which is initiated by facilitating the development of academic practices, behaviours and values. Secondly, it fosters a level of familiarity with the disciplinary language, texts and conventions used when studying in programs offered by the Faculty of Science. Finally, it raises an awareness of the impact of scientific knowledge and the role of scientists when they act to solve problems and implement innovations affecting contemporary society. Learning and assessment activities are designed to build the capacity for independent and collaborative approaches to learning. Students are guided to develop their capacity for reading, thinking and expressing ideas effectively and critically.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Read efficiently to gather specific information and ideas from discipline-specific sources.
  • Demonstrate an ability to interpret and apply concepts from sources used in the discipline.
  • Analyse the purpose, language and features of academic, disciplinary and professional genres.
  • Critically evaluate information and ideas from academic, disciplinary and professional sources.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Apply academic referencing conventions accurately and appropriately.
  • Apply reasoning to formulate and support a position or argument.
  • Plan and produce texts to reflect academic and disciplinary standards.
  • Engage in independent and collaborative learning activities.

General Assessment Information

Assignment Submission

For all assessments, you are expected to bring a completed first draft of the assignment to your tutorial, usually one week before the final submission is due. The draft will be  peer-reviewed and edited in the tutorial, following which you have a week to re-write the assignment and produce a final copy for submission and marking.

Peer review will take place in groups, so you MUST bring a printed copy of your draft for each member of your group. Please note that it is not sufficient to bring an electronic copy of your draft, nor is it appropriate to bring an incomplete version. Peer review is a requirement of ACSC100. If you do not bring a draft copy of your assignment to the appropriate tutorial, your mark for that assignment may be reduced by 20%. If you are unable to attend a tutorial in which peer-review is carried out, you MUST submit a formal request to be excused through the ask.mq.edu.au web portal.  Supporting documentation (eg a medical certificate) must be provided.

All assignments (except the oral presentation) need to be submitted to Turnitin using the link available on the ACSC100 iLearn website:   

Presentation of Assignments

Add a footer to each page of the assignment, with page numbering, student name and student number, and the unit code in the footer, for example:

Matt Smith              40112333                    ACSC100

All assignments should be word-processed, double-spaced and printed using black ink. Turnitin will mark the assignment with submission time and date.

Please keep a copy of all assignments in case of misadventure.

Late Assignment Submission

  • Late submissions without an extension will receive a penalty of 5% of the total mark available for the assignment per day

  • Late submission of an assignment without an extension will not be permitted after marks have been released to the rest of the class.

  • Extensions will only be given in special circumstances, and can be requested by completing the Special Consideration request at ask.mq.edu.au and providing the requisite supporting documentation.

  • For more information on Special Consideration, see the university website https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

  • Assignments submitted after the deadline, regardless of the reason, will be marked and returned at a date determined by the unit convenor.

Extensions cannot continue beyond the start of the following semester, and students should be aware that long extensions may impact graduation dates.

How to apply for a late submission of an assignment

All requests for special consideration, including extensions, must be submitted via  ASK.mq.edu.au and provide suitable supporting documentation.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
e-Portfolio and Reflections 30% No Weeks 1-13
Information Rprt & Reflection 20% No Various- see description
Group Oral Presentation 15% No 5pm, 29-04-2018
Persuasive Texts 35% No 5pm, 03-06-2018

e-Portfolio and Reflections

Due: Weeks 1-13
Weighting: 30%

This task is designed to allow you to reflect on and to showcase your achievements in ACSC100. It also aims to explore students’ understanding of and engagement with the concepts of the unit. It will run over the entire semester, culminating in each student publishing an e-portfolio. Please see the ACSC100 iLearn for additional information.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an ability to interpret and apply concepts from sources used in the discipline.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Plan and produce texts to reflect academic and disciplinary standards.

Information Rprt & Reflection

Due: Various- see description
Weighting: 20%

This assignment will be submitted in two parts:

  • Part A: An information report for an academic audience, indicating potential areas of further research. The report will make use of three tutor nominated readings.
    • Length 900 words
    • Weight: 15%
    • Draft submission Due: Tutorials Week 4
    • Formal submission Due: 5pm, 01-04-2018
  • Part B: Reflective Blog Post providing a considered reflection on your response to the feedback you received for this assessment.
    • Length 300 words
    • Weight: 5%
    • Due Date: 5pm, 22-04-2018

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Read efficiently to gather specific information and ideas from discipline-specific sources.
  • Analyse the purpose, language and features of academic, disciplinary and professional genres.
  • Critically evaluate information and ideas from academic, disciplinary and professional sources.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Apply academic referencing conventions accurately and appropriately.
  • Apply reasoning to formulate and support a position or argument.
  • Plan and produce texts to reflect academic and disciplinary standards.
  • Engage in independent and collaborative learning activities.

Group Oral Presentation

Due: 5pm, 29-04-2018
Weighting: 15%

Group oral presentation presenting a synthesis of each group members' Information Report.

  • Length: Individual contributions of 5 minutes each as part of a group presentation
  • Draft Submission Due: Tutorials Week 7
  • Formal Submission Due: 29-04-2018
  • Presentation Delivery: Tutorials Week 8

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Read efficiently to gather specific information and ideas from discipline-specific sources.
  • Demonstrate an ability to interpret and apply concepts from sources used in the discipline.
  • Analyse the purpose, language and features of academic, disciplinary and professional genres.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Apply academic referencing conventions accurately and appropriately.
  • Apply reasoning to formulate and support a position or argument.
  • Plan and produce texts to reflect academic and disciplinary standards.
  • Engage in independent and collaborative learning activities.

Persuasive Texts

Due: 5pm, 03-06-2018
Weighting: 35%

For this assignment, you will write a research report written for a professional scientific audience. You wil then transform your research report into an informative brochure written for a general audience.

  • Length
    • Research report: 1200 words
    • Informative Brochure: 400 words
  • Draft Submission Due: Tutorials Week 11
  • Formal Submission Due: 5pm, 03-06-2018

 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Read efficiently to gather specific information and ideas from discipline-specific sources.
  • Analyse the purpose, language and features of academic, disciplinary and professional genres.
  • Critically evaluate information and ideas from academic, disciplinary and professional sources.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Apply academic referencing conventions accurately and appropriately.
  • Apply reasoning to formulate and support a position or argument.
  • Plan and produce texts to reflect academic and disciplinary standards.

Delivery and Resources

Attendance

ACSC100 incorporates 2 weekly one hour lectures and a 2 hour tutorial. Students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials, as failure to do so is likely to impact on assignment marks. In particular, students should attend all draft submission tutorials, which will involve peer review of draft assignments, and student group oral presentations dates.

Expectations

Students are expected to submit all assignments. They are also expected carry out extensive reading and to bring draft copies of assignments to tutorials for evaluation, editing and feedback. Failure to bring a draft copy of each assignment to the relevant tutorial for peer review may result in a 20% reduction in the final mark for the assignment.

Text book

ACSC100 has a set text book: Brick, J, Herke, M & Wong, D  2016, Academic Culture: A student's guide to studying at university, 3rd edn, Melbourne: Palgrave Macmillan

iLearn and Echo

Lecture notes and tutorial worksheets will be posted on the iLearn site for ACSC100 (https://ilearn.mq.edu.au)

Lectures will be recorded on Echo.

 

Unit Schedule

To be advised. Please visit the ACSC100 iLearn for more information.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Critically evaluate information and ideas from academic, disciplinary and professional sources.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Apply reasoning to formulate and support a position or argument.
  • Plan and produce texts to reflect academic and disciplinary standards.
  • Engage in independent and collaborative learning activities.

Assessment tasks

  • e-Portfolio and Reflections
  • Group Oral Presentation
  • Persuasive Texts

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate an ability to interpret and apply concepts from sources used in the discipline.
  • Analyse the purpose, language and features of academic, disciplinary and professional genres.
  • Critically evaluate information and ideas from academic, disciplinary and professional sources.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Apply academic referencing conventions accurately and appropriately.
  • Apply reasoning to formulate and support a position or argument.
  • Plan and produce texts to reflect academic and disciplinary standards.
  • Engage in independent and collaborative learning activities.

Assessment tasks

  • e-Portfolio and Reflections
  • Persuasive Texts

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Read efficiently to gather specific information and ideas from discipline-specific sources.
  • Demonstrate an ability to interpret and apply concepts from sources used in the discipline.
  • Analyse the purpose, language and features of academic, disciplinary and professional genres.
  • Critically evaluate information and ideas from academic, disciplinary and professional sources.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Apply academic referencing conventions accurately and appropriately.
  • Apply reasoning to formulate and support a position or argument.
  • Plan and produce texts to reflect academic and disciplinary standards.
  • Engage in independent and collaborative learning activities.

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Read efficiently to gather specific information and ideas from discipline-specific sources.
  • Demonstrate an ability to interpret and apply concepts from sources used in the discipline.
  • Analyse the purpose, language and features of academic, disciplinary and professional genres.
  • Critically evaluate information and ideas from academic, disciplinary and professional sources.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Apply academic referencing conventions accurately and appropriately.
  • Apply reasoning to formulate and support a position or argument.
  • Plan and produce texts to reflect academic and disciplinary standards.
  • Engage in independent and collaborative learning activities.

Assessment tasks

  • e-Portfolio and Reflections
  • Information Rprt & Reflection
  • Group Oral Presentation
  • Persuasive Texts

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Read efficiently to gather specific information and ideas from discipline-specific sources.
  • Demonstrate an ability to interpret and apply concepts from sources used in the discipline.
  • Analyse the purpose, language and features of academic, disciplinary and professional genres.
  • Critically evaluate information and ideas from academic, disciplinary and professional sources.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Apply academic referencing conventions accurately and appropriately.
  • Apply reasoning to formulate and support a position or argument.
  • Plan and produce texts to reflect academic and disciplinary standards.
  • Engage in independent and collaborative learning activities.

Assessment tasks

  • Information Rprt & Reflection
  • Group Oral Presentation
  • Persuasive Texts

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Read efficiently to gather specific information and ideas from discipline-specific sources.
  • Demonstrate an ability to interpret and apply concepts from sources used in the discipline.
  • Analyse the purpose, language and features of academic, disciplinary and professional genres.
  • Critically evaluate information and ideas from academic, disciplinary and professional sources.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Apply academic referencing conventions accurately and appropriately.
  • Apply reasoning to formulate and support a position or argument.
  • Plan and produce texts to reflect academic and disciplinary standards.
  • Engage in independent and collaborative learning activities.

Assessment task

  • Persuasive Texts

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Read efficiently to gather specific information and ideas from discipline-specific sources.
  • Demonstrate an ability to interpret and apply concepts from sources used in the discipline.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Apply academic referencing conventions accurately and appropriately.
  • Apply reasoning to formulate and support a position or argument.
  • Plan and produce texts to reflect academic and disciplinary standards.
  • Engage in independent and collaborative learning activities.

Assessment tasks

  • e-Portfolio and Reflections
  • Information Rprt & Reflection
  • Group Oral Presentation
  • Persuasive Texts

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Critically evaluate information and ideas from academic, disciplinary and professional sources.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Apply academic referencing conventions accurately and appropriately.
  • Plan and produce texts to reflect academic and disciplinary standards.
  • Engage in independent and collaborative learning activities.

Assessment tasks

  • Information Rprt & Reflection
  • Group Oral Presentation

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Critically evaluate information and ideas from academic, disciplinary and professional sources.
  • Express ideas using appropriate language and structure for academic and professional purposes in written and/or oral texts.
  • Engage in independent and collaborative learning activities.

Assessment tasks

  • e-Portfolio and Reflections
  • Information Rprt & Reflection
  • Group Oral Presentation