ACADEMIC INTEGRITY and ACADEMIC SKILLS: Resources and support for YOU and YOUR STUDENTS
This resource aims to introduce and signpost to guidance available for you and your students in supporting and developing academic skills.
LIST OF CONTENTS Student facing Academic Skills Portal o The Coventry Student Essentials and LIBGUIDES p1 o Referencing (Harvard, APA, etc.) p3 o Development workshops for students – LibCal p3 The Centre for Academic Writing (CAW) o CAW workshops bookings p3 o CAW handouts and guides p3 o Academic Skills Development support for STAFF supporting STUDENTS p3 CU Group Academic Writing o Support available for CU Group students and staff p4 o Contact CU Group Academic Writing p4 Coventry University London resources p4 Case study examples of practice o CASE STUDIES – What the library offers? P5 o CASE STUDIES – What the Centre for Academic Writing (CAW) offers? P6 Students Union Advice Centre (SUAC) p7 The ACADEMIC INTEGRITY UNIT p7
Version 2 – January 2021 Hannelie Du Plessis-Walker
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Resources and support for YOU and YOUR STUDENTS
Guidance in this resource, includes information on: The Library, Academic Writing staff and the Centre for Academic Writing (CAW) The Students Union Advice Centre (SUAC) The Academic Integrity Unit
Across CU Group, we have invested in much support for both you and your students in developing appropriate academic skills. The key support is via the Centre for Academic Writing (CAW) and the enhanced roles of Library and Academic Writing staff. This resource also briefly introduces the role of the Student Union Advice Centre (SUAC) and support available to students.
Student facing Academic Skills Portal
CAW, as well as Academic Writing and Library staff are working together on this portal with a focus on providing support for academic reading and writing skills development over the students’ learning journey. The diagram below provides a visual overview of these services, followed by access links and some case study examples of support available.
CAW/Academic Writing/Library One-to-one tutorials
CAW/Library Monthly workshops focusing on Academic Integrity (self refer or tutor suggested)
Library Coventry Student Essentials (CSE) - All student access (15-20 min)
The Coventry Student Essentials and LIBGUIDES Access: https://libguides.coventry.ac.uk/cse
There is a lot of help available on the libguides pages. Areas that you may be particularly interested in are Coventry Student Essentials guide students in developing some key academic skills in their own time and pace. The Coventry Student Essentials can be accessed via the link to the libguides. These CSE guides are accessible to all students at all times, quick (15-20 minutes) and easy to use resource giving guidance as and when needed, e.g.: Introduction to referencing Finding sources
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Being critical and writing Report writing Finding information, etc.
Referencing (Harvard, APA, etc.) A dedicated space on the libguides focus on Referencing skills for a range of styles of referencing. Access CU: https://libguides.coventry.ac.uk/referencing
Development workshops for students – LibCal A range of workshops offered by Coventry University Library, onsite and online, can be booked via the LibCal. Access: https://libcal.coventry.ac.uk/calendar/libraryworkshops/?cid=7344&t=g&d=0000-00- 00&cal=7344&inc=0
CU Group Libraries also run online workshops, via zoom. Access: https://libguides.coventry.ac.uk/cuglibraries/workshops
The Centre for Academic Writing (CAW) CAW supports students (and staff) at all levels and abilities, across all disciplines, with their academic writing. The support is offered via CAW’s Academic Writing Tutors. Monthly workshops are open to all and includes guidance on, e.g.: • Writing processes • Critical thinking and using resources • Argumentation • Writing styles and language • Genres of writing, such as reflection, reports and dissertations • Exam preparation
CAW workshops bookings All of CAW’s provision can be booked through the Libguide page, including workshops and individual 50 minute tutorials on a one-to-one basis: https://libguides.coventry.ac.uk/cawlibcalhome
You can view (and book) the range of workshops currently offered at CAW’s LibCal: https://libcal.coventry.ac.uk/calendar/caw
CAW handouts and guides The CAW has created a set of handouts (hard and soft copies) on a range of topics, including: Analysing an assignment brief Writing a literature review Structuring an academic essay, etc. Access: https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/CentreforAcademicWriting/Pages/Handouts.aspx
There are further resources available at CAW’s Student Portal pages: Access: https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/CentreforAcademicWriting/Pages/Home.aspx
Academic Skills Development support for STAFF supporting STUDENTS CAW offers training to Course Teams to adapt the training material available to the needs of their students and discipline. This is available to the wider CU GROUP as well as partner institutions available on request. As examples, academic training has been delivered to a Course Team in HLS during a marking day, and to academics across partner institutions in RENASUP. Individual lecturers
3 have worked with CAW to design materials on argumentation, analysing research articles and dissertation writing style.
To book a one-to-one consultation to support your students’ writing needs, visit CAW’s Libguide page and select a staff consultation. Access: https://libguides.coventry.ac.uk/cawlibcalhome
Alternatively, you can email CAW’s general reception to arrange a time that suits you. Email your request and or needs to: [email protected]
CU Group Academic Writing
Support available for CU Group students and staff The support through CU Group Academic Writing is available for students (and staff) at all levels and abilities, across all disciplines, with their academic writing. The support is offered via Academic Writing Developers. Workshops are open to all and includes guidance e.g. • Academic writing • Critical reading, thinking and writing • Writing styles, e.g. dissertations, reports, etc.
Each part of CU Group campus has an Academic Writing LibGuide, which can be used to access handouts and guides covering a range of topics. CU Coventry: https://libguides.coventry.ac.uk/CUCAWS CU London (Dagenham and Greenwich): https://libguides.coventry.ac.uk/culaws CU Scarborough: https://libguides.coventry.ac.uk/cusacademicskills
Contact CU Group Academic Writing CU Coventry: [email protected] CU London (Dagenham and Greenwich): [email protected] CU Scarborough: [email protected]
NOTE: Remedial, mandatory workshops attended following referrals from the Academic Conduct Officer, are under discussion by the AIRG and CAW/Library teams are discussing ways to design and implement this with learning technologists.
Coventry University London resources
Resources with links are available 24/7 for staff and students. Staff can include the Academic Integrity video and presentation in their module handbooks.
The Spotlight workshops are promoted by the Information and Skills Development Specialist in all inductions, as well as online via our LibGuides pages, and the student portal. Spotlight workshops are open to staff and students.
There are a range of asynchronous tutorials and presentations available to support students. Staff can refer any students that they feel would benefit from this information. This can be especially useful for students already facing an ACO, but can also act as a deterrent for any students who may be tempted to cut academic integrity corners.
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Understanding Academic https://view.genial.ly/5f4f9763f30f720d1de617de Integrity - presentation DMLL video on Academic https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/7994b6e7-a1ca-4407-
(with our branding) 971a-072dc5bde82c
Introduction to Paraphrasing https://view.genial.ly/5f05d48e2a639a0d90644492
Student APA (7th ed) https://view.genial.ly/5ee73c20b42de40d08462c98 Referencing Guide Citing and Referencing Video https://view.genial.ly/5fa01d7b46ac520d14f8b9f2/presentation-
Tutorial apa-citing-and-referencing-video-tutorial Evaluating and Selecting https://view.genial.ly/5f4f8c184459460d91ab51e3 Information Database Tutorials https://wakelet.com/wake/VvuZ7IdT17tGhic_UvlGN
Workshop Video Tutorials https://libguides.coventry.ac.uk/Spotlight/Videos (asynchronous) Synchronous Spotlight Students facing an investigation about their academic conduct workshops and 1-1 tutorials may be advised to attend one of these workshops. (available term time only) https://view.genial.ly/5f4390d1891cc20d3a9fb951
Case study examples of practice To develop an understanding of the typical support offered by CAW, the Library and Academic Writing, see some brief case studies below.
CASE STUDIES – What the library offers? CASE STUDY ONE I saw a student for an appointment about how to do the mechanics of referencing in Harvard style. A lot of their in-text citations were not appearing in their list of references, and when I asked the student whether they were books, articles, etc., the student was unsure. After further discussion, I realised that the student had copied and pasted whole sections of text from websites (including the website’s own references) into their assignment, and there was very little original writing present. I gave the student an overview of plagiarism and good academic practice, and advised them to book an appointment with the Centre for Academic Writing for guidance about paraphrasing, summarising, and using quotations. The student returned to me after their appointment with CAW, and had made huge changes to their assignment. Direct quotes were clearly indicated in quotation marks, and most information had been paraphrased. We then looked at how to reference, using only sources the student had actually read themselves.
CASE STUDY TWO I spoke to a student who reported they had always lost marks on her referencing and after assistance received no negative feedback and a grade above 70. Moreover, after the appointment with the librarian they discovered the usefulness of several key resources which though support they had become confident and independent researchers.
CASE STUDY THREE (CU GROUP) A student requested support in removing references from their assignment as it has inflated their Turnitin score above the acceptable level. Librarian explained the value of referencing to student and how the tutors will be able to discount scores given to referenced work. Persuading them to
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CASE STUDIES – What the Centre for Academic Writing (CAW) offers?
Reasons students approach the CAW: Exploratory visits o This is the pro-active student who normally self-refer to develop their academic writing skills. Often they have not studied in a UK HEI, or are eager to succeed. o Case study one Referrals o This is the re-active student that had early formative feedback on their assessment and recommended to seek support in their academic writing skills. o Case study two Mandatory referrals o This is the re-active student who has been referred as an outcome of the Academic Conduct Meeting for mandatory training and support/guidance. o Case study three
CASE STUDY ONE Dan is the first in his family to go to university and came in through clearing after resitting his A- levels at his local college. Dan is eager to succeed at university and is really looking forward to become a teacher in the Sciences. He heard about support available during the pre-arrival induction and is keen on getting as familiar as possible with reading, researching and writing at university. He has already worked through all the guidance material on the CSE, but would like to know more. He has made an early attempt at his first piece of coursework, and decided to approach CAW’s Academic Writing Tutoring Team in CAW with the draft just in case…
CASE STUDY TWO Naznin has just had feedback from her tutor on a formative assignment, telling her to urgently go to CAW for help with her writing, before the assignment deadline. She is really worried as she always used to get such high marks in all the tests and exams she has ever written before coming to study at Coventry University, and she doesn’t understand what she is doing wrong. Besides, she has never had to write a report before and is really not sure how to approach this writing genre. The tutor also did not approve of the quotes she used in her first attempt but she could not see what the issue was, as she made sure to reference this correctly.
CASE STUDY THREE Mona is in her second term of her first year at university. For one of her module assignments, she was called to an Academic Conduct meeting, where she was accused of plagiarism, and found guilty. She had to go through the whole ordeal of facing her tutor and another one, named the Academic Conduct Officer, and had to explain in detail what resources she has used in writing up her task. It was her first experience of being accused of cheating and she feels not worthy of being a student at a university. She is also very confused because she followed exactly the same steps for writing her assignment for another module, but that has passed without any problems. On top of it all, she has received a letter telling her to go to the CAW for help and she feels they will treat her like a criminal.
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Students Union Advice Centre (SUAC)
The Students’ Union Advice Centre (SUAC) offers a free, independent and confidential service for all students. Union Advisors can offer advice and support, and provide representation when necessary, on a wide range of problems including internal disciplinary hearings and complaints related to academic misconduct. Find below guidance on signposting your students to the service offered by the SUAC.
SUAC Webpage: https://www.cusu.org/advice/ A subpage provides guidance to students on issues such as plagiarism and contract cheating. This guidance can be accessed via the link: https://www.cusu.org/advice/academic/
The SUAC can be approached by students using the [email protected] email address in circumstances where academic misconduct is suspected. The role of Union Advisors is to advise students as to what process is to follow, the potential outcomes to the process and provide a stepwise approach in helping to prepare for the academic misconduct meeting. Preparation will often include advice on writing a statement and gathering evidence in making their case. Where requested by the student, a representative of the SUAC can attend the academic misconduct meeting with the student, if availability permits.
Worth viewing the student video on Academic Misconduct Advice, and signposting (or showing) this to your students, available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AQEMIKTusk
The ACADEMIC INTEGRITY UNIT This unit has two mailboxes for reporting and dealing with queries related to Academic Integrity and breaches in Academic Integrity.
The email addresses are: [email protected] [email protected]
The mailbox, above, is also available as a place where students can report any issues related to suspected plagiarism and or contract cheating.
Thank you to colleagues that contributed to the creation of this resource. Contributors: Library – Julie McCall and Thomas Amos SUAC – Cameron Glen and Grace Cappy CAW – George Ttoouli Academic Integrity Unit – Irene Glendinning
Version 2 – January 2021 Hannelie Du Plessis-Walker
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