Summer 2019 Academic Skills Portfolio: ACSK4001 Module

This academic skills portfolio, submitted for the ACSK4001 module in Summer 2019, comprises five tasks designed to enhance academic abilities. Task 1 focuses on evaluating sources using the RADAR framework, preparing students for academic writing. Task 2 involves discussing and analyzing data from a provided graph, with an emphasis on improving written communication. Task 3 constitutes the main academic writing component, focusing on the impact of Brexit on Ford car dealers. Task 4 presents a summary of the in-class presentation, and Task 5 is a reflective writing piece on the learning process. The portfolio demonstrates critical analysis, data interpretation, and effective communication skills, as well as the ability to synthesize information from various sources, and applying this knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Summer
2019
Academic Skills
Portfolio
(module code: ACSK4001)
Name:
Student number:
Programme of studies:
ACSK lecturer name:
ACSK tutor name:
This is your Academic Skills Portfolio, which should be submitted by Wednesday 21st August, 2pm via your
student portal.
Please save a copy on your computer and back it up regularly (e.g. by saving it on your computer / in the cloud
(e.g. Google Drive) / emailing it to yourself).
Please refer to suggested word counts for each task included within this portfolio.
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Table of Contents
Task Page Week LO
Task 1: Evaluating sources & critically engaging with texts 3 3 1&2
Task 2: Discussing data (week 6 in-class task) 4 6 1&2
Task 3: Academic Writing 7 1-10 1
Task 4: Presentation (week 9 in-class task) 8 9 1
Task 5: Reflective writing 10 9-10 3&4
Word count: 1,800 (+/- 10%)
 Task 1: 300 words
 Task 2: 300 words
 Task 3:700 words
 Task 4: 200 words
 Task 5: 300 words
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TASK 1
Evaluating sources & critically engaging with texts (to be completed in week 3)
(Word count: 300 words)
Task 1 is linked to Task 3. In Task 3 you are asked to produce an academic piece of writing.
Task 1 below asks you to use the RADAR framework to evaluate 3 texts which you could
use as references in Task 3. You can use texts from your reading list or texts you have
found yourselves or texts recommended by your lecturer. Make notes for these texts
below.
Text A ↓ Text B ↓ Text C ↓
Reference
Resource type
(e.g. book, journal et.c.)
Relevance
o How is this source
relevant to my
assignment?
Britain after Brexit: A
nation divided
Evaluating the impact of
Brexit on the
pharmaceutical industry
Brexit, Trump and the
special relationship. The
British Journal of Politics
and International Relations
Authority
o Who wrote this?
Goodwin, M.J. and Ford,
R.
Kazzazi, F. and et.al. Wilson, G.K.
Date of publication
o When was this
published?
2017 2017 2017
Accuracy
o How accurate is
the information?
Reason for Writing
o Why was this
written?
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TASK 2
Discussing data (to be completed in week 6)
(Word count for Part II: 300 words)
In your week 6 ACSK tutorial classes you will be given a graph and you will be asked to write a 300-word
paragraph discussing it. Further instructions for this task will be given in the classes.
In this task you need to:
1. Provide evidence of your in-class paragraph writing (Part I).
2. Type an improved version of the paragraph you wrote in the class (Part II).
Note: If you could not attend your week 6 tutorial class, please e-mail the module leader.
Part I: Evidence of your in-class paragraph writing (compulsory in-class task)
Paste pictures of the graph and the handwritten paragraph you wrote in-class, with your tutor’s
signature, below. Please do NOT type the paragraph here.
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Part II: Improving your writing (to be completed independently)
Re-write the paragraph you wrote in-class, making improvements. Make sure that the following areas
are addressed:
1. Start
is it focussing on?);
2. Inclu
3. Choo
important? Can you observe any significant trends or comparisons?);
4. Prov
support your points);
5. Finis
Remember to refer to the graph/chart using correct OSCOLA or Harvard style in-text citation.
Type your improved paragraph below (300 words).
This data shows out of total people working in the EU how much people are born in the EU and hoe
Much are not born in The EU. This data was gathered from the migration Advisory committee (2019)
graph. Generally this data focuses on showing how the number of migrant is increasing in the EU
which is generally becoming the competition for the EU individual to find the job in the EU.
The data summarized that there is a good number of outside worker in the Europe, and they are
increasing at a good rate every passing year as compare to the worker who are born in the EU.
When looks at the data it shows that the number of the EU born worker in the EU is getting down as
compare to outsider it is very important for the EU countries government to look at it as it means that
the worker in the EU is unemployment and the unemployment always creates the burden on the
economy and affects the economy in the negative way.
This data shows that there are many people working in the EU is the migrant and the difference
between the EU born worker and outsider is cutting down with every year passing as in the year 2013
outsider in the EU was 1500 thousand and the EU born was something around 3000 thousand but in
the year 2019 their were 2500 thousand outsider and 3500 thousand EU born which shows that the
number of outsider worker is increasing in EU at good rate as compare to the UK born worker.
It can be recommended that the EU organization has to take the initiative to employee more local
employee so that it can help the economy to grow as it will decrease the unemployment in the EU.
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TASK 3
Academic Writing (to be completed in weeks 1-10)
(Word count: 700 words)
Check the Portfolio section of the Academic Skills page on GSM Learn for your programme-specific topic.
Write your answers in the boxes below (please do NOT insert PDFs or screenshots).
All students are reminded that Plagiarism, Collusion and Ghost writing are forms of cheating which will be investigated in
accordance with GSM’s Academic Misconduct Regulations. Law students with a proven academic offence (as outlined
above) are reported to the Solicitors Regulation Authority and The Bar Council, which can prevent a student from being
admitted into the legal profession.
Title
Type an appropriate title for your report or essay in the box below.
Ford Car Dealer Impact of Brexit on domestic
Academic Writing
Please type your report or essay in the box below (700 words, +/-10%).
Ford Motor organization is American multinational auto-maker that has their main headquarter in
Michigan, Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit. They run their business effectively, with the help of range
of ford car dealer, but after Brexit whole business will be affected the most and as it bring many
challenges for them to managed functions and activities. Brexit is the abbreviation for British exit,
referring to United Kingdom decision. It is one of the most unstable situation that negatively affect
company or entire sector within UK. Brexit's increase um employment rate and create barriers for
ford care dealer as they deliver cars at domestic level, but on the other side it also makes impact on
international sales of goods sold by Ford company. Organization expand their business across the
world and generate revenues as compare to another auto maker in nation which help to raise its
position and reputation in marketplace. Automobiles, Commercial vehicles, Pick up Trucks, luxury
vehicles, automotive parts and SUVs is one of the products which has been sold under Ford brand,
all these goods garb the attention of consumers which get affected after Brexit. This will decrease
company sales as well as decreased financial performance which is not appropriate and suitable for
them. Ford car dealer sales product at domestic level in which they face many problems after
Brexit. It directly affect on job of local and residential peoples those who are working with British
companies. It decreases income source of consumers, and they are not been able to buy such
products which is higher in costs. Brexit also affect car prices and damage automotive industry
which turns over £82 Billions per year. For example, due to lower income rate of peoples after
Brexit it effect on Ford company market shares in which they need to low down car prices as
according to economic situation, that decrease productivity and profitability of organization. Fuel
prices will lower and material which used in car manufacturing process is difficult to buy after
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Brexit because pounds and dollars value has been change. Society of Motor production and traders
give warning that leaving without the deal was not an option for automotive industry which helps
more than 800,000 jobs in UK. Ford car dealer need to make some changes in their policies and
strategies related to business which is essential for them as to sustain for longer time period. Firm
is spending tens of Millions of euros starting for possible British exit from EU without trade deal
and decide on their longer term programs for Britain. Company announced 6,000 jobs cuts in
Germany their second largest European market, it has to make major decisions in Britain which is
the biggest one. Furthermore, Ford organization is also dealing within international market where
their business will affect the most after Brexit.
Some changes in taxation policies will impact on firm as well as their trading procedure, they need
to pay more charges on trading process according to high taxes policy that effects financial budgets
of company and profit margin. They need to pay high amount of taxes and follow all the modified
rules after Brexit. Company face many issues at international level because lower income rate of
consumers and unemployment. They need to hire new applicants which consume a lot of time of
management and do some changes in current employment policies. Many peoples left job after
Brexit which impact on company productivity as well as market reputation, in which they hire new
peoples and provide training to them and make all the workers able to achieve business goals and
objectives. Unemployment rate is higher than before and company loss their most talented workers
which affect on production management and profitability of business. Tariff costs is hire in case of
Brexit, it also effects on employees morale and values because Brexit directly impact business
environment and working culture within it. Ford car dealer need to adjust their work environment
around workplace according to changes which is suitable for them as help to growth business more
and more rather than before. When company pay taxes according to taxation policy is make easy
for them to trade anywhere and run their business effectively all around the world.
References
Please provide a list of the references you used in your essay or report below.
Goodwin, M.J. and Ford, R., 2017. Britain after Brexit: A nation divided. Journal of
Democracy. 28(1). pp.17-30.
Kazzazi, F. and et.al., 2017. Evaluating the impact of Brexit on the pharmaceutical
industry. Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice. 10(1). p.32.
Wilson, G.K., 2017. Brexit, Trump and the special relationship. The British Journal of
Politics and International Relations. 19(3). pp.543-557.
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TASK 4
Presentation (to be completed in weeks 7 - 9)
(Word count for Part II: 200 words)
In your week 9 ACSK tutorial classes you will deliver an 8-minute presentation (including visual aids) to
other students. Your presentation should be on one academic skill you consider important for university
students on your programme of study. Possible areas to focus your presentation on are available on GSM
Learn, under Portfolio.
In this task you need to:
1. Provide evidence of planning your presentation (Part I).
2. Reflect on how your presentation was (Part II-200 words).
Part I: Presentation planning (slides or notes / weeks 7-9)
Provide evidence of planning your presentation below. This could take the form of a detailed plan or
your presentation slides. If you paste pictures here, please make sure that they are clear and legible.
Throughout this report I have gained the knowledges about the time
management skills which is very important for every individual in the long run in
their career as it has helped me in knowing how I will be developing the time
management skill in me by the way of the delegating the work or scheduling the
time for all the task which eventually means that I am on the time for all the Task
and also it will help me in cutting down my work lad eventually if I will delegate
my work to the other and it is just two method but these report explains too many
other method also which can prove helpful for me in receiving the time
management skill in me. This report also explains to me the benefit which I will be
getting once I will adopt the Time management skill very proficiently, the biggest
benefit I think is the lowering down of the stress as stress is the root for the many
difficulties which is faced by me, it is just a one benefit report explains the variety
of the benefit which I will be getting after adoption of the Time management skill
in me.
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Part II: Post-presentation reflection (week 9)
Using the table below, write notes about your presentation. You should make notes of:
a. Your group’s comment about your presentation.
b. Your reflection on your presentation.
c. What you could improve in future presentations.
You should include any points of interest in your reflective writing task in Task 5.
Your groups’ comment about your presentation
Content
(How clear, complete and informative was the presentation?)
Audience Engagement
(How enjoyable / interesting did the audience find it?)
Organisation
(How well-structured was it? How well did the visuals support it?)
Professionalism
(How slick and professional was it?)
Your reflection on your presentation
Content
(How clear, complete and informative was the presentation?)
Audience Engagement
(How enjoyable / interesting did the audience find it?)
Organisation
(How well-structured was it? How well did the visuals support it?)
Professionalism
(How slick and professional was it?)
Action Points
What could you do better in future presentations?
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TASK 5
Reflective Writing (to be completed after week 9)
(Word count: 300 words)
Write a 300-word reflective summary applying the content of your presentation to your subject area.
Your summary should include 2 paragraphs
on:
1. What did you learn from delivering a
presentation? You can use points you
made in Task 4 here. Please Gibb’s
reflective model to write this paragraph
(150 words).
2. How does the academic skill you
presented on relate to students and/or
professionals of your sector? How is it
useful? How can they develop it? You
could refer to your other modules to
answer this question (150 words).
Gibb’s reflective cycle (1988)
Remember to write 2 paragraphs in full sentences.
The above presentation helped me in evaluating myself and the academic skills that I posses making me realize
my strengths and weaknesses. Delivering the presentation made me realize that having background knowledge
about the topic that you are presenting is very essential. Also, the Time Management Skill, i.e. the amount of
time that each topic should be allotted was a very important lesson. I had to ensure that I was able to place my
view point without making the listeners loose interest in what I am speaking. Gibbs reflective Cycle can be
used here which will help me in breaking my experience into different stages from which I can learn.
Description- All lecturers and students were present in the Auditorium where my presentation took place.
Feeling- During the presentation I experienced nervousness and anxiety and was continuously checking my
words. Evaluation- I was able to cover up everything but I failed to manage the time effectively. Also, my
performance was not up to the mark. Analysis- Overall, the presentation went well but it could have been better.
Conclusion- By managing time and its breakup, I could have been more effective on the audience. Action Plan-
In the future, I am going to be more careful about the time management aspect while giving presentation.
I am a Human resource manager and in the HR field, all the characteristics and skills described are highly
beneficial. Professionalism, time management, Innovative ability, motivation, creativity are the key skills that
are required by an individual in all sectors. There are various modules i.e. methods that can be used for training
employees as per their job role. I personally recommend development of both soft skills and hard skills in an
individual. I apply emotional intelligence while dealing with candidates who have applied for job but I also
utilize my analytical skills to identify which sectors requires fresh or new employees and which sector has
excess number of employees. Hence, the skill development program is absolutely necessary for development of
an individual.
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