GRS1002 Advanced Writing Skills Assignment: Applying the MODE Process for Academic & Professional Success

Advanced Writing Skills Module

To help with writing your assignment, we have developed a short module to walk you step-by-step through the writing process. This will help you get the best grade for your assignment, as well as equipping you with great written communication skills for the workplace.

The idea is that you work through this module and as you study it, you put into practice on the assignment, the skills that you have learned throughout the course. The whole module is about understanding the “MODE” process for writing this includes Mapping, Organising, Drafting, and Editing. By the time you have completed this writing skills module, you will have your finished assignment ready for submission.

These sessions will give you all of the advice, tools and tips you need for writing your end of module assignment essay now, as well as improving your professional written communications.

There are a couple of parts to this email, so keep it somewhere you can refer to it easily. This email covers:

1. The aim of the module
2. Syllabus
3. What work you need to submit each week
4. What you will cover in Session 5a and Session 5b.

1. The aim of the module

This module is specifically designed to walk you step-by-step through the process of improving your written communication skills. It gives you all the advice, tools, and tips needed for successful written communication in academia and the workplace. With the job market in its current state, having these key skills is a must.

This module is taught now as you write your end of module assignment, to guide you through presenting your ideas clearly so that you get the grade that you deserve. Each week you should practise what you learn in this module on your assignment.

The students who have taken the time to do this, have found writing their assignment easier and the lecturers have been very impressed with their work. Not only that, the content of this module can be immediately implemented in your professional environment and students have found it has become a useful tool in their everyday life.

2. Syllabus:

Session 5a – Mapping

– In session 5a you will learn about “mapping a piece of writing”

• Introduction to the programme
• Finding your context
• MODE – Mapping & planning
• Building credibility, and
• Using your own words
• Behavioural science

Session 5b – Organising

– In session 5b you will learn about “organising your ideas”

• MODE – Organising your ideas
• Paragraphs
• Gathering information
• Note-taking & annotating

Session 6a – Drafting

– Session 6a is where you will learn about turning your document outline into a first draft

• MODE – First draft
• Elevate your writing
• Tables & figures

Session 6b – Editing

– Session 6b is learning about editing your draft assignment

• Proving your point
• Tone
• Clarity & Conciseness
• Proofread
• Finishing touches
• Implementing the editing checklist

3. What work you need to submit each week

There are 2 sessions in this module, and each week you should apply what you have learned to your end of module assignment.

Session 5a and b – What work you need to submit:

• You should email your responses to “the 3 key questions” for your end of module assignment (this will be clear once you have studied the topics in this session). These answers should be emailed to your course coordinator
• You should email your “document outline” for your end of module assignment to your course coordinator.

Session 6a and b – What work you need to submit:

• You should email the “first draft” of your end of module assignment to your course coordinator (don’t worry, this draft won’t be graded)
• You should email your final “edited” end of module assignment to your course coordinator by the assignment deadline you were given.

4. What you will cover in Session 5a and b

• We start the module with an introduction video from Sinead where she outlines how the module is run and what she needs you to do as you progress through the module
• You will also have some notes that you can download and save, that give you some FAQ’s and an explanation about self-assessment tasks for this module.
• After this brief introduction, you will then get started on the weekly syllabus.

By the end of the week you will be able to:

• Decide whether a source is credible and suitable for your writing project
• Confidently differentiate between facts and opinions in both research and writing, and be clear when each is appropriate
• Identify your preferred style for a document outline, having practised several styles
• Turn your writing plan into a document outline
• Write paragraphs that walk a reader through even the most complicated idea in a way that’s easy to follow

REMEMBER – You should email your responses to “the 3 key questions” for your end of module assignment