Developing Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills

This assignment requires students to work through a series of portfolio tasks that focus on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the essay writing process, including introduction, body paragraphs with counter-arguments and evidence, and conclusion. They must also research and support their ideas with evidence and examples from at least 4 sources, combine sources effectively, and make their opinions clear. Additionally, students are expected to be within the word count, check for spelling and grammar mistakes, use appropriate academic style and vocabulary, include in-text citations and a reference list following Harvard Style, and show awareness of their strengths and weaknesses.

Summer 18
English for Academic Purposes 2 (EAPB3017)
.

Portal. This should be completed throughout the course and you must make sure you save your
work regularly (e.g. on your computer, on a USB stick, on email or on the Cloud drive). Please refer
to suggested word counts for each task included within this portfolio.
Assessed Learning Outcomes:
1. Produce elements of a cohesive and coherent researched essay
2. Listen to an academic lecture whilst taking coherent notes
3. Read, compare and summarise a number of written academic texts.
Week Table of Contents Page Learning
Outcome
Completed?
()
Portfolio Tasks
(These tasks should be developed throughout the term but completed by
1 Where are you now? 3 LO 1, 2 & 3 ☐
1 Personal Development Plan
[suggested word count: 100 - 150] 4 LO 1, 2 & 3 ☐
2 – 9 Organising your ideas
[suggested word count: varies per task] 5 LO 1 & 3 ☐
6 Making notes with confidence
(200 words) 8 LO 2 ☐
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3 – 8 Developing your arguments
[suggested word count: varies per task] 7 LO 1, 2 & 3 ☐
6 – 9 Writing your argumentative essay
(900 words) 10 LO 1 & 3 ☐
10 Getting a First! 11 LO 1 & 3 ☐
Total word limit:
Final task: Argumentative essay (900 words) (+/- 10%)
Track your progress by ticking off each task as you complete it, in the final column
PORTFOLIO TASK
Week 1: Where are you now?
Below is a list of the skills you will need when working on extended pieces of writing during your
university career. Reflecting on your progress since you started EAP 1, put a cross (X) in the same
boxes for each skill in the first column, and tick () the appropriate box for each skill in the second
column, according to how well you think you can do this now.
You should refer to the checklist throughout the course and decide whether you have made any
progress with these skills.
Skill This is new
for me
I need to
develop this
skill
I can
improve this
skill
I can
do
this
well
Looking for information
Identify which book / journals/ websites
to use ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Select relevant parts of a text ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Using sources
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Acknowledge sources of information ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Write a reference list correctly ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Avoid plagiarism ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Planning/Writing
Brainstorm ideas ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Plan written work ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Link ideas effectively ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Paraphrase & summarise ideas ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Write an introduction ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Write a conclusion ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Personal Study
Work independently ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Manage my time ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Oral Presentation
Brainstorm ideas with peers ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Discuss written work in a tutorial ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
IT
Access the internet ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Use search engines ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Create word documents ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Use PowerPoint ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
PORTFOLIO TASK
Week 1: Personal Development Plan (PDP): Specific – Measurable – Achievable – Realistic
You are required to develop a Personal Development Plan (PDP), which includes goals for the
development of your academic skills after the completion of the module. This should include
skills we cover on this module. To help you, write down the strengths and weaknesses you listed
in EAP 1 in the box below, which can also be from your feedback. Use complete sentences.
Strengths
On the basis of above skills and knowledges, it has been concluded that.
My strength is to make good ideas and creativity source from the very
good source. My analytical skills are more skill full and knowledgeable.
Besides, it also makes the proper changes and more analytical skills and
growth. I also analysed that, my presentation skills are also very much
strong and competitive. Also, it provides, the better source or action.
Weaknesses
On the basis of observation, it has been analysed that my research skill are
needs to be more realistic and effective growth. Besides, it also helps to
take care the organisation and long lasting effectiveness.
Now think about what you would like to improve. Be specific when describing your goals and
how you will achieve and measure them. (100 – 150 words)
Targ
et
Goal Action Success Criteria
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1 To make research skills more
realistic and productivity in terms of
getting new research methods.
To make research skills more
productive, I need improve
my way to search for the
sources and full fill the
needs accordingly.
This must be according to needs
And wants to take care about
The new source of action. This
the long term ways and makes
The best approachable skills.
2 To make practical skills more
reliable and effective.
To make practical
experienced more
productive. For that, it
requires taking new steps
and better objective goals.
Over, it makes the long
term process and long
Charges goals. Overall, it also
take care the organisation
growth and
3 This try to make more realistic and
challenging and adopt risk factors.
To become more competitive
, I need to adopt better target
To become more realistic and
oriented. It makes the better o
goals.
PORTFOLIO TASK
Week 3: Organising your ideas: Are my sources reliable?
Look at the table below. Using the sources you have found (not from GSM Learn or the reading list),
answer the questions below to determine if they are reliable. Make notes.
Source 1 Source 2
Who wrote/said it? This statement wrote by
Jessica Black.
This article wrote by Chubb and
Waterway
Are they qualified to speak on
this topic?
She has the distinct quality
to perform well on this topic
They are well qualified
Do they have a personal interest
in that issue?
Yes Yes
What type of source is it? Online Online
Has it been verified in any way?
Can it be proved?
Yes Yes
Is there evidence to support this No No
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claim?
Was the source created to
persuade, sell, entertain, inform
or for another purpose?
No No
Is the content relevant to your
research?
Yes Yes
When was it published/last
updated?
2018 2017
Does this impact its relevance or
objectivity?
Yes Yes
Give the full references of both your sources here in Harvard Style:
To format the text, highlight the word(s) or line of text you want to change and select the required
formatting option (colour change, bold, italics etc.).
In modern society, it is the necessary transformation goals and major task oriented process to be
written as per the qualitative channel of distribution. This makes the proper arrangement and last
following goals and task oriented performance. Overall, without the help of integrity management
no one can put this off and make better advancing performance level. Overall, it also helps to bring
the new level of challenging growth. As per the Jessika Black, due to crises workers are faced cuts
to benefits, pensions, and salaries. According to her, integrity is remaining true own beliefs and
moral standards of conducts despite adversity. This also needs to be explained the better objective
and growth. People with integrity has power to stand up for their values and speak out against
unethical behaviour.
As per the other Chubb and Watermeyer, 2017., he suggested that honesty and integrity is both very
much necessary at workplace or to get some high level of achievements. This is the another
specified and long effectiveness goals and task oriented goals and task oriented goals. Overall, this
scenario suggested growing up the new level of work and goal oriented process. This also makes the
better objectives and better effective learning skills.
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PORTFOLIO TASK
Week 4-9: Organising your ideas: Noting down the main points
In the space below, create an outline for your essay by making notes about any information you find
from class or reading list sources and from the two sources you found. Use bullet points and not full
sentences. Include in-text citations where necessary. You should add to this throughout the course.
(150 – 200 words)
Essay Question: ‘Is integrity essential for your career? Discuss.’
Arguments in Favour (Yes) Arguments against (No)
Point 1
Integrity is the most essential and long lasting
effects in terms of making good task oriented
and better effectiveness for the better
involvement of goals. Besides, integrity is a
long term performance and effective goals for
performing better in professional careers. It is
known to assist in the attainment of long term
goals and effective performance making task
that affect the business activities and growth.
(Fanelli, Costas and Larivière, 2015). All over
the world or in the education sector, it makes
the long term process and the best target
objectives and goals.
This also helps to make better and long
lasting effectiveness in order to build the best
approachable goals for every professional to
accomplish the goal oriented processes. This
target gives the best performing level and
makes the long term process and goals. This
gives the loyalty and long term process in
implementing the long term process goals.
Overall, it requires the best effective
performance goals.
Integrity is essential for
career is important for the
individual, but on the other
hand it is also not very
necessary to adopt other
management success. Such
as it is required to build up
other skills in between in
order to meet some other
target of life.
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Point 2
Another arguments' statement growth is
challenging and long term effectiveness goals.
Without proper and effective performance
goals, it has not been concluded properly to
achieve effective performing level. This also
makes better effective goals and long lasting
performances. This also makes to clear and
growth oriented performance and major
objective goals (Chubb and Watermeyer,
2017). This is the long lasting effectiveness
and major goal oriented performance matter of
fact. That applies to making good oriented
task.
It is challenging or long
term effectiveness but not
the essential term in terms
of career opportunity goals.
Moreover, it helps to
manage the work in more
effective performance
level. Beyond integrity self
management or skills are
also equally important for
career.
PORTFOLIO TASK
In-class activity: Developing your arguments and combining sources
Using the sources you brought to class and/or the ones provided by your lecturer, combine them to
create the first body paragraph of your essay. Use the guide below to help you with the structure of
the main body paragraph. Remember to follow the recommended structure and include in-text
citations. (250 – 300 words)
Say why this is a key issue (e.g. Point 1/ Point 2)
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(this is your topic sentence)
As per the low income group and low challenging
growth, it is the long term goals and long effective
process. This is the long term process and goals in order
to meet the needs of the workplace requirements.
What is the counter-argument of this issue?
(this is the opinion you do not agree with)
Overall, it also helps to take care the organisation goals
and long term effective process. This also makes the
productive process and goals.
What is the main argument if this issue?
(this is your opinion)
Why is your argument stronger than the counter-
argument?
This argument has been stronger due to the long term
process goals. That integrated is the long term process
and effectiveness. This makes the process challenging and
goals objective.
What evidence/examples do you have to support this?
What can you conclude from this? What are the
implications?
Implications are the major objective and goals in order to
meet the needs of the employee.
You should use at least 2 sources in this paragraph.
Integrity is very much essential for the career, it makes person more reliable and approachable
towards the best approachable manner. Besides, it also helps to make the better advance results and
growth. As per the author, individual requires to taker the best approachable goals and results
according to needs and wants of the objectives. This also helps to require the approachable and goal
oriented process (Short and Keller-Bell, 2019). This makes the better scenario or goals. This makes
the proper arrangement and long term goals. Overall, it requires the better activity and goals.
Besides, this makes the proper arrangement and fact in order to full fill the long term process. This
makes the proper arrangement and better performing goals.
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PORTFOLIO TASK
Making notes with confidence
This is an in-class activity. Please upload a photo of your notes here.
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Write a summary about what you have just listened to. (No more than 100 words)
On the basis of above section, it has been concluded that, integrity has must bee needed in order to
make sure the better presenting skills and growth. Integrity will help to achieve the future goals and
also assist to define the values and goals according to set objectives. According to many authors
reviews, it has been seen that this must be required and challenging goal performances.
Write a response to the opinions' given. (No more than 100 words).
A person can easily modify the part in terms of making good task process or goals. Overall, it also
helps to take care the organisation goals and make the best performing level. This makes the proper
and implementing process that individual needs to applied. This also helps to develop the long term
process or goals.
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PORTFOLIO TASK
Week 7-9: Writing your argumentative essay
Using the same process you did for the first body paragraph, complete your essay below.
(900 words: +/- 10%)
‘Is integrity essential for your career? Discuss.’
Ethical standards in every profession must be required effective and logically. This logically
and evaluation the long term process or goals in order to meet the needs of the organisation
goals. This makes the process and dealing with long lasting effects. This also very much
helpful to take care the needs for the person. Integrity is possessed in order to meet the needs
of the organisation. This also helps to keep the knowledge challenging and growth full. In
order to meet the needs of the organisation (Short and Keller-Bell, 2019). This makes the
clear vision and growth oriented performance goals in order to meet the main target objective
goals. Integrity is the issue because due to this individual will never be the proper professional
and goal oriented process of making good projects. Apart from that, it also keeps the better
opportunity and growth. It also helps to take care the professional making task. Overall, it
requires the best approachable decision making performance making task. This is the long
term process and making good goals.
This is the opinion you do not agree with. The goals and making long lasting efforts and goals. This
is the goal and task making performances on the basis of that it creates the better objective goals. All
over, this helps to make the long effectiveness goals and objective performing target goals.
Adding to more, this assignment will also make the proper arrangement and fulfilling the goal
objectives. Integrity requires the strong moral principles and having good character goals in order
to meet the needs of the better performance (Bailey, 2018). This must be clear from the facts. This
must be according to needs approve and makes the better chance to take the long term goals. In
order to meet the needs of the individual performances. Besides, it also helps to take care the better
organisation goals (Livingstone and Adams, 2016). And make the better task performing goals. In
order to take care the better fast forwards results.
On the basis of better performing results and better task performance goals. It requires the best
performing level. This must also be required to take the better performing results and growth.
Overall, it requires the better services and task making performance level. If person has not been
integrated and honest towards its goals this makes the negative impact on their career and they
couldn't achieve their objectives in proper manner (O'Leary, 2017). This also makes clear to be very
perspective manner, it brings the better objective goals. Overall, it requires to be very much
necessary to make the better objective and goals. This has been according to need and wants. Career
should be based on realistic approach that must be required to make the process effectively and goal
oriented place and makes the better sources and makes the long lasting process and goals. This also
makes the better changes goals. Overall, it requires the main challenging and approachable task
making performance (Zhu and et.al., 2015). This also helps to take care the better performing goals.
This makes the proper arrangement and better performing performance. This process and targets are
more reliable and long effectiveness. This makes the proper arrangement and best performing task.
Reference List
Yoshikawa, M. and et.al., 2015. Ganglioside GM3 is essential for the structural integrity and
function of cochlear hair cells. Human molecular genetics. 24(10). pp.2796-2807.
Bailey, S. K., 2018. Ethics and the public service. In Classics of Administrative Ethics (pp.
63-78). Routledge.
Livingstone, C. and Adams, P. J., 2016. Clear principles are needed for integrity in gambling
research. Addiction. 111(1). pp.5-10.
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O'Leary, Z., 2017. The essential guide to doing your research project. Sage.
Zhu, Y., and et.al., 2015. Post-translational O-GlcNAcylation is essential for nuclear pore
integrity and maintenance of the pore selectivity filter. Journal of molecular cell
biology. 8(1). pp.2-16.
Short, M. N. and Keller-Bell, Y., 2019. Essential Skills for the 21st Century Workforce.
In Handbook of Research on Promoting Higher-Order Skills and Global Competencies
in Life and Work (pp. 134-147). IGI Global.
Fanelli, D., Costas, R. and Larivière, V., 2015. Misconduct policies, academic culture and
career stage, not gender or pressures to publish, affect scientific integrity. PLoS
One.10(6). p.e0127556.
Chubb, J. and Watermeyer, R., 2017. Artifice or integrity in the marketization of research
impact? Investigating the moral economy of (pathways to) impact statements within
research funding proposals in the UK and Australia. Studies in Higher
Education. 42(12). pp.2360-2372.
Terry, L. D., 2015. Leadership of Public Bureaucracies: The Administrator as Conservator:
The Administrator as Conservator. Routledge.
PORTFOLIO TASK
Week 10: Getting a First!
Tick (✓) the appropriate column to check that your essay has included the necessary parts to
help it gets as high a grade as possible!
Good
evidence
Some
evidence
Insufficient
evidence
Knowledge and understanding
Have you worked through the tasks in this portfolio? ☐ ☐ ☐
Have you paraphrased/summarised ideas effectively? ☐ ☐ ☐
Do your portfolio tasks show understanding of the
essay writing process? ☐ ☐ ☐
Have you researched and supported your ideas with
evidence and examples? ☐ ☐ ☐
Cognitive/Intellectual Skills
Does your essay include an introduction and
conclusion? ☐ ☐ ☐
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Do your body paragraphs contain a counter-
argument, argument & evidence/examples, using
appropriate linking words?
☐ ☐ ☐
Have you used at least 4 sources (2 of them can be
from class or reading list) & combined your sources
effectively?
☐ ☐ ☐
Have you made your opinions clear? ☐ ☐ ☐
Graduate: Transferable Employability & Practical Skills
Are you within the word count? ☐ ☐ ☐
Have you checked for spelling, grammar and
punctuation mistakes? ☐ ☐ ☐
Have you used appropriate academic style and
appropriate vocabulary? ☐ ☐ ☐
Have you included in-text citations and a reference
list that follow Harvard Style? ☐ ☐ ☐
Do you show good awareness of your strengths and
weaknesses (skills audit and PDP target)? ☐ ☐ ☐
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