Browse Hierarchy EAL7821: Critical Thinking & Writing for Politics and International Relations

This module is offered to students at level 7 and responds to their linguistic and discipline specific needs in terms of reading, analysis and synthesis, argument structure and essay writing skills. Students joining this module are already at IELTS level 7 (minimum 6.0/6.5 in writing), which equates to B2/C1 on the CEFR framework. Queen Mary currently benchmarks this to level 5/6 on the NQF framework. These workshops help students to deliver what is expected from them in their Politics and International Relations masters' programmes. After consultation with the School of Politics and International Relations, the academic skills needed to succeed in the Politics and International Relations programmes have been itemised and will be presented in three main strands, namely 'study skills', `reading and demonstrating knowledge', and `critical thinking and writing¿. Students will be given the tools to manage their time efficiently and plan their work accordingly. They will be guided through the process of understanding and successfully delivering assignments, in view of the implications their immediate context bestows upon them. Students will be encouraged and expected to reflect upon their own practice, and will be provided with formative feedback to ensure the learning outcomes are achieved. The module is needs driven and therefore the syllabus is necessarily flexible and the content delivered in workshop format. However, the basic syllabus is likely to include: - Reading skills (navigating the genre of politics and international relations academic articles) - The process of writing - Revision, proof reading and editing skills - Development of the argument, including synthesis of sources, argument validity, and development of conclusions - Macro structure of a paper, planning and development of a position; micro structure of sections and paragraphs - Coherence and cohesion at macro and micro levels - Readability and recognition of the audience and development of the writer's voice - Referencing - Accuracy (grammar, vocabulary and punctuation).