Academic Writing,Ethics&Critical Enquiry

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Academic writing forms a key component of all research and postgraduate study. This subject will provide students with an opportunity to develop an understanding of the skills in professional academic writing including critical analysis of physiotherapy practice and research. In addition, students will be introduced to the important role of ethics in acdemic activities of writing and research and more generally the role of ethics clinical practice.

Topics will include:

• Key features of academic writing such as common formats, conventions and purposes
• Processes of academic writing
• Distinguishing structural features of and preparation necessary for essays, assignments, case studies, grant applications and research papers
• Literature searching and retrieving
• Critical enquiry in academic writing
• Referencing styles and conventions
• Ethics in writing
• Ethics in research
• Ethics in clinical practice

Students who successfully complete this subject will have had the opportunity to:

• Recongnise the key features and components of academic writing
• Critique different styles of academic writing and distinguish between purposes, structure and characteristics
• Recognise good academic writing
• Develop skills in writing using established academic styles
• Recognise and understand how to incorporate ethics into academic writing
• Recognise how ethical principles that underpin clinical practice similarly apply to academic activity as a postgraduate student

Two written assignments as follows:

• 1,500 word critical review of 2 types of academic writing, due mid-semester (30%)
• 3,500 word essay presenting a critical analysis of physiotherapy clinical practice using current research and professional literature in an area of clinical practice, clinical ethics, or research, due at the end of semester (70%)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject will have had the opportunity to:

• Develop an appreciation of the team approach to learning academic skills
• Develop an appreciation of the importance and development of, good written and verbal communication skills to articulate knowledge in professional writing and ethical practice
• Build on their ability to evaluate and synthesise research and professional literature, and apply this information to a range of academic tasks
• Understand issues pertaining to copyright, plagiarism and intellectual property