IF0ACIJ: Academic Communication and Inquiry

Module code: IF0ACIJ

Module provider: Global Academy

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: F

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2 / Summer

Module convenor: Miss Natalie Drake, email: n.drake@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE IF0ALSJ (Compulsory)

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE IF0FSCJ (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 25 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module builds on skills introduced in Academic Literacies and Skills (IF0ALS) by critically engaging with research connected to students’ disciplines and exploring different models of reflective writing. 

This module helps students: 

• To find and evaluate sources and their content 
• To critically engage with published research 
• To continue developing assessment literacies 
• To explore and apply different models of reflective writing 
• To develop and apply presentation skills 
• To develop strategies and skills for engaging in group projects 
• To continue developing grammar and vocabulary, and associated skills, for academic contexts 
• To develop the necessary linguistic skills  to qualify for an undergraduate programme. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Critically compare and contrast ideas from multiple academic sources, applying a referencing style correctly. 
2. Reflect on their own academic learning, evaluate strengths and weaknesses, and set specific targets for improvement. 
3. Prepare and deliver a structured academic presentation that communicates complex ideas clearly to an educated non-specialist audience. 

Module content

The module continues to develop academic and communication skills introduced in Academic Skills and Literacies (IF0ALS), which will contribute towards success in undergraduate studies. Some examples of academic skills developed on the module include critical thinking, source analysis, reflective practice, and presentation skills. Communication skills are developed by introducing strategies for continuous language development for example mining texts for useful language in a given genre. 

This module is designed to be accessible to students who are not from a UK-based background and would like to transition to a UK Higher Education setting for undergraduate study.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module will be taught through seminars to enable students to explore texts and skills, before putting them into practice. The module often uses task-based learning to ensure students see the practical value of the module. Students will often be encouraged to work collaboratively in class, which provides opportunities for peer learning and helps them to develop a community on the programme. They will regularly work on assessment-related tasks in groups during the sessions. They will also reflect periodically on their learning, with guidance from staff, to help them become more autonomous learners. 

Learning will also be supported asynchronously through the use of screencasts, quizzes and other online activities. 

The schedule of this module, including start and finish dates, follows that of the January Start Foundation, which does not follow standard University Semesters. There is however significant overlap and Semesters referred to in this document are the University Semesters where most of this module teaching will take place. Information about specific key module dates will be provided by the International Foundation Programme prior to the start of the course. 

Study hours

At least 66 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

• Oral Assessment: Plan and Slides
• Written Assessment: Peer feedback

Reassessment

Additional costs