Academic Skills ACSK4001: Spring 18 Portfolio - Skills and Analysis

This Academic Skills Portfolio (ACSK4001) from Spring 2018 includes a self-evaluation checklist, a personal SWOT analysis, and an evaluation of sources, synthesizing key ideas from various texts related to Brexit and its impact. It also features structured writing exercises, data presentation, and editing/proofreading tasks. The portfolio culminates in two writing tasks: an academic report or essay discussing the possible impact of the 2016 UK referendum on areas like recruitment, globalization, and organizational management, and a reflective summary analyzing personal strengths, weaknesses, and academic opportunities. The portfolio demonstrates core academic literacy skills and critical thinking.

Spring 18
Academic Skills Portfolio
(module code: ACSK4001)
Name:
Student number:
Degree studied:
Lecturer name:
Tutor name:
This is your Academic SkillsPortfolio, which should be submitted byThursday 26th April, 2pm viayour 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.
Submission deadline: Thursday 26th April, 2pm
Assessed Learning Outcomes (LOs):
1. Show evidence of understanding core components of academic literacy/skills.
2. Apply critical thought to a range of tasks, and do so with a minimum of external guidance in
particular situations.
3. Reflect, analyse and discuss strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities personally and
academically.
4. Use appropriate technologies to facilitate the completion of self-analysis/reflection.

Table of Contents
Task Page Week LO
SECTION A: PORTFOLIO EVIDENCE(These tasks will be drafted in class and are designed to inform the
written tasks in section B.)
Portfolio evidence 1: Self-evaluation checklist 3 1&10 3&4
Portfolio evidence 2. Personal SWOT analysis 4 1 3&4
Portfolio evidence 3. Evaluating sources & critically engaging with texts 5 2 1&2
Portfolio evidence 4. Synthesising 7 3& 5 1&2
Portfolio evidence 5. Structuring your writing 9 3, 4, 5, 6,
7 1&2
Portfolio evidence 6: Presenting & analysing data 10 4 1&2
Portfolio evidence 7: Presentation 12 7-9 1
Portfolio evidence 8: Editing & proofreading 14 9&10 1&3
SECTION B: WRITING TASKS (These written tasks should be developed throughout the semester).
Writing Task 1 (Report or Essay) 16 1-10 1
Writing Task 2 (Reflective Summary) 17 10 3&4
Word count (+/- 10%):
Section A: a minimum of 600 words in total.
Section B: Writing Task 1 (900 words),Writing Task 2 (300 words)
Academic Skills Portfolio (ACSK4001) 2

SECTION A: PORTFOLIO EVIDENCE
Task 1: Self-evaluation Checklist (to be completed in weeks 1 & 10)
Below is a list of the skills you will need during your university and professional career. Tick( )the appropriate box✓
for each skill, according to how well you think you can do this. You should complete this task twice;first, at the
beginning of this course (week 1), and, second, at the end of this course (week 10).
Skills How well do I feel that I know/can do this in weeks 1 and 10?
Information skills
Do not know
about this
Find this
difficult/ can’t
do this
Can partially
do this
Can do this
well
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
Identify which books/journals/websites to use ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √
Select relevant parts of a text √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √
Evaluate sources √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐
Acknowledge sources of information √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐
Synthesize information from more than one sources ☐
☐
√ ☐
☐
☐ ☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
√
Write a reference list correctly ☐ √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √
Avoid plagiarism ☐ √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √
Planning / writing skills
Do not know
about this
Find this
difficult/ can’t
do this
Can partially
do this
Can do this
well
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
Brainstorm ideas √ ☐ ☐
☐
☐ ☐
☐
√ ☐
☐
☐
Plan written work √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐
Link ideas effectively √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐
Paraphrase & summarise ideas √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √
Write an introduction √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √
Write a conclusion √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √
Critically edit written work √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐
Independent study skills
Do not know
about this
Find this
difficult/ can’t
do this
Can partially
do this
Can do this
well
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
Work independently (without lecturers) ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐
☐
√ ☐
☐
☐
Work as part of a (study) group ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐
Oral presentation skills
Do not know
about this
Find this
difficult/ can’t
do this
Can partially
do this
Can do this
well
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
Give a presentation on my work √ ☐ ☐
☐
☐ ☐
☐
√ ☐
☐
☐
Brainstorm ideas with peers √ ☐ ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐
Discuss written work in a tutorial ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √
Deal effectively with questions √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐
IT skills
Do not know
about this
Find this
difficult/ can’t
do this
Can partially
do this
Can do this
well
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
WEEK
1
WEEK
10
Access the internet ☐
☐
☐ √ ☐ ☐
☐
☐ ☐
☐
√
Use search engines ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √
Create word documents ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √
Use PowerPoint ☐ ☐ √ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ √
Academic Skills Portfolio (ACSK4001) 3

SECTION A: PORTFOLIO EVIDENCE
Task 2: Personal SWOT analysis (to be completed in week 1)
Watch this video: HYPERLINK "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBOtnyt7BP4"https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=PBOtnyt7BP4 .
In-class activity: In pairs conduct interviews to create a personal SWOT analysis.
INTERNAL (coming from me)
STRENGTHS
[Things within my control]
WEAKNESSES
[Personal barriers; things stopping
me, but still within my control]
How are you going to overcome your
weaknesses?
(approx. 50 words)
1. Strong background in related
education
1. Not have sufficient
knowledge regarding the
industry and recent changes
Will start working more in group and will
discuss with them regarding the recent
advancement in the industry. Further,
working in group will reduce the
distraction level as every member of the
group will have to perform his individual
task on time
2. can work in group as well as
individually
2. easily distracted which in
turn have negative impact on
the task
3. Knowledge of computer
required for completing the
task
3. not able to handle too much
pressure regarding the deadline
of job
4. Top 5 Strengths/talents (from
Gallup test):
 Able to control the
difficult situation
through proper
coordination
 People are adaptable
and are willing to learn
new things, if required
 Can complete the task
through implementing
innovative ideas
 People have strong
analytic approach
 Able to develop strong
coordination through
communication
4. not able to perform at
optimum level under strong
competitive situation
EXTERNAL (coming from outside)
OPPORTUNITIES
[People, resources, opportunities]
THREATS
[Things outside of my control]
How are you going to minimise the
threats?
(approx. 50 words)
1. will attend various training
classes that will improve the
technological knowledge
1. quality of the task hampered
while there is short deadline for
any task
2. able to engage more people
for accomplishing the task
2. additional work pressure
increases the level of personal
and mental stress
3. strong communication skill
will help to establish better
communication among the
3. while communicating in large
group , co-ordination gets
affected
Academic Skills Portfolio (ACSK4001) 4

group members
4. able to adapt new and
innovative ideas.
4. it is not always possible to
delegate task in case of
emergency
Among all the issues related to threats and weaknesses, fear is the most important and most harmful. Therefore,
to reduce the level of fear more of the group works shall be undertaken and the group size shall be larger as
compared to the previous one. It will also enhance the level of co-ordination and will improve the communication
skill. Further, practicing meditation will help to minimize the level of distraction. Moreover, before starting the
task time management shall be planned so that the task gets completed on time.
Academic Skills Portfolio (ACSK4001) 5

SECTION A: PORTFOLIO EVIDENCE
Task 3: Evaluating sources & critically engaging with texts (to be
completed after week 2)
In your study groups, evaluate 3 different texts from your reading list, or texts you have found yourselves. You can
also find texts on the Academic Skills area on GSM Learn page. Make notes below.
Text A↓ Text B↓ Text C↓
Resource type
(e.g. book, journal et.c.)
Journal Book Journal
Citation/reference
Reenen, J. (2018). Brexit
and the Future of
Globalization?. [ebook]
London: London School of
Economics and Political
Science. Available at:
http://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/
download/special/cepsp3
5.pdf [Accessed 25 Apr.
2018].
FOTOPOULOS, T. (2016).
Brexit, Globalization and
the Bankruptcy of the
Globalist “Left”
∗. [ebook]
The International Journal of
INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY.
Available at:
https://www.inclusivedem
ocracy.org/journal/pdf
%20files/pdf%20vol12/
vol12_no1_
%20Brexit_Globalization_B
ankruptcy_Globalist_Left.p
df [Accessed 25 Apr. 2018].
Deverell, R. and Hill, N.
(2018). CS Playbook
Brexit: The End of
Globalisation…. [ebook]
Credit Suisse. Available at:
http://www.bbtscottstring
fellow.com/Media/Defaul
t/Publications/CS
%20Playbook
%20Brexit.pdf [Accessed
25 Apr. 2018].
Authority
UK citizens and
government
UK citizens and
government
Research Analyst
Currency
Pound Pound Pound
Content
Brexit and its impact on
global economies
Will brexit lead to
bankruptcy of globalist
What can be expected
from Brexit and impact on
globalization
Accuracy
Medium level Medium level Medium level
Audience
The students The readers The readers
Academic Skills Portfolio (ACSK4001) 6

Further notes/
comments
The main the issue with
modern trade deals is not
just getting rid of tariffs. It
is the painful negotiations
of agreeing regulations
over investment,
occupation licensing and
product standards, 7
especially in services. This
requires compromise and
rules and some loss of
sovereignty which is
inevitable when doing
deals
The maximization of the
positive effects of Brexit for
the vast majority of the
population, who are the
victims of globalization, are
intrinsically linked to a
complete break with the
NWO of neoliberal
globalization, which would
lead to a real economic, as
well as national sovereignty
Brexit will be much less
traumatic for global risk
markets than the
Eurozone crisis in 2011 –
especially given that risk
spreads currently are
sitting at a higher level
across global credit
markets than they were in
the summer of 2011 when
the Eurozone crisis
became particularly
intense.
SECTION A: PORTFOLIO EVIDENCE
Task 4: Synthesising (to be completed in weeks 3 - 5)
Part I: Identifying key ideas
Read the 3 texts you used in the previous task.
Think about the extent to which the authors of those 3 texts agree or disagree with each other.
Write (in note form/bullet points) the key ideas of those 3 texts. Use your own words (paraphrase). Don’t forget to
complete the references information.
Text A:
Key ideas:
 It is the painful negotiations of agreeing regulations over investment, occupation
licensing and product standards, 7 especially in services.
 This requires compromise and rules and some loss of sovereignty which is
inevitable when doing deals
 In-text
citation/Oscola
footnote (Law)
 reference list
(Reenen2018).
Text B:
Key ideas:
 The maximization of the positive effects of Brexit for the vast majority of the
population, who are the victims of globalization, are intrinsically linked to a
complete break with the NOW
 It will lead to a real economic, as well as national sovereignty
 In-text
citation/Oscola
footnote (Law)
 reference list
(Fotopoulos 2016)
Academic Skills Portfolio (ACSK4001) 7

Text C:
Key ideas:
 Brexit will be much less traumatic for global risk markets than the Eurozone crisis
in 2011 – especially given that risk spreads currently are sitting at a higher level
across global credit markets
 In-text
citation/Oscola
footnote (Law)
 reference list
(Deverell and Hill 2018).
Part II: Synthesising (suggested word count: 200 words)
Think about the areas the authors of the 3 texts you made notes on agree or disagree.
Write up a paragraph which synthesises (combines) the main points of the 3 texts you used in Part I and shows
how the authors agree or disagree.
Remember to include in-text citationsor OSCOLA footnote (Law) and link your ideas using linking words!
The key ideas gathered from 3 texts in part I are as follows –
 Text 1 - The main the issue with modern trade deals is not just getting rid of tariffs. It is the painful
negotiations of agreeing regulations over investment, occupation licensing and product standards, 7
especially in services. This requires compromise and rules and some loss of sovereignty which is
inevitable when doing deals (Reenen 2018).
 Text 2 -The maximization of the positive effects of Brexit for the vast majority of the population, who
are the victims of globalization, are intrinsically linked to a complete break with the NWO of neoliberal
globalization, which would lead to a real economic, as well as national sovereignty(Fotopoulos 2016)
 Text 3 - Brexit will be much less traumatic for global risk markets than the Eurozone crisis in 2011 –
especially given that risk spreads currently are sitting at a higher level across global credit markets than
they were in the summer of 2011 when the Eurozone crisis became particularly intense(Deverell and
Hill 2018).
Though all the 3 authors discussed about the impact of Brexit on globalization, the discussion point of all the
authors were different. They analysed the impact on different aspect. Whereas, 1st author discussed about the
modern trade, 2nd authors discussed about maximization of positive impact and 3rd author compared the
impact of Brexit with Eurozone crisis in 2011.
Academic Skills Portfolio (ACSK4001) 8

SECTION A: PORTFOLIO EVIDENCE
Task 5: Structuring your writing (to be completed in weeks 2,3,4,5,6,7)
During your lecture and tutorial you will learn how to organise youracademic writing in section B.
This is more or less the way you should structure your academic writing in section B:
Academic Skills Portfolio (ACSK4001) 9
INTRODUCTION
(150 words in final text)[use evidence/ research throughout]
 What is your question about? (give the background to your topic)
 Include some detail on the topic (narrow your focus; what exactly are you
focusing on?) Who are the key ideas/ people involved/ organisations etc.?)
 What will your report show? Be specific [you should write this section last]
DISCUSSION POINT 1: ………………………………
(300 words in final text) [use evidence/ research throughout]
 Identify one point from your area of focus and say why it is a key issue.
 Describe how leaving the EU will impact on this.
 What are the opportunities it could create?
 What are the possible problems?
 What can you conclude from this? What are the implications?
DISCUSSION POINT 2: ………………………………
(300 words in final text)[use evidence/ research throughout]
 Identify another point from your area of focus and say why it is a key issue.
 Describe how leaving the EU will impact on this
 What are the opportunities it could create?
 What are the possible problems?
 What can you conclude from this? What are the implications?
CONCLUSION
(150 words in final text)[refer back to what you discussed in previous parts]
 Give a summary of your key points from 2 & 3
 Include a summary of your key conclusions from both 2 & 3
 What would you recommend needs to happen now?

Follow the structure in the previous page to writenotes (outline) below about what you will include in
your academic writing task (report or essay). Your notes do not need to be written in full sentences and
you can use symbols/abbreviations/listings and other note-making techniques.
Your notes should show what information you are planning to put in each section. You can add or
remove things later, if you change your mind.
My academic writing task outline
Topic:
(Find the subject specific
topics on GSM Learn).
Impact of Brexit on Globalization in UK
Introduction
The withdrawal of United Kingdom from the European Union is known as Brexit. The word Brexit is
derived from the two separate words, Britain and Exit. The European Union has been able to reduce the
trade cost of its member states and also keep the tariff charged under control. An election took place for
deciding whether UK is to stay in the European Union or exit the same (Smales 2017). The results of the
election were in favor of leaving the European Union which was more than 52% in favor of leaving the
European Union.
Details
The leaving of Britain from the European Union will result in UK facing higher trade costs as compared to
other member states of EU (Ottaviano, et al. 2014). Moreover, the country is likely to face more trade
losses due to the reduced amount of fiscal transfers from London to Britain. The question which is to be
asked is that how much damage this exit will cost Britain in terms of trade costs (Sampson et al. 2016).
The decision which is taken by Britain will be affecting the import and exports and trade relations with
neighboring states (Baylis, Smith and Owens 2017).
Objectives of the report
The objective of this report is to analyze the impact of Brexit on Globalization and trade relation policies
which is followed by states.
Discussion
In accordance to the current situation, it is seen that one of the significant issues that have been
recognized with respect to Brexit is the impact on globalization.
Impact of Leaving EU:
Taylor-Gooby (2017) cited that European Union is one of the largest trading partner of United Kingdom.
It is seen that half of the overall businesses that are undertaken by UK is performed with the European
Union. United Kingdom looking to leave the European Union would lead to a decline in the overall trade
and thereby would have an impact on the extent of globalization as well. The key principles of
globalization are inclusive of immigration and trade and they have been the catalysts that has compelled
UK to come out of the European Union and this has been a key debate with respect to whether this
policy is welcomed in the current world. Coyle (2016) has looked to quantify the economic effect of
Brexit. One of the essential ways to do the same has been to make use of a structural framework of the
economy and therefore a global value chain framework is created which would permit the trade in the
services and the intermediate goods among all the sectors and among all the nations.
In order to incorporate this assessment, the vital question is that what sort of a deal UK would make with
EU after the completion of Article 50 process in the year 2019.
Opportunities
There are several opportunities and threats that have been identified with respect to Brexit on
globalization and it is seen that it leads to the development of free internal market and therefore trades
with the other countries will get hampered and thereby the globalization would be impacted (Los et al.
2017). This would benefit the small and medium enterprises in the country because of the fact that none
of the multinational companies would be able to market in United Kingdom.
The impact of Brexit assists in lowering the process of overcrowding which has been a key issue for the
Academic Skills Portfolio (ACSK4001) 10

companies that are operational in UK as it impacts globalization and the economy on a larger scale
(Cumming and Zahra 2016). The employees and the workers of UK who are working in the other
countries will be brought back into the nation as well and thereby there would be a rise in skilled and
talented workers and thereby reducing the level of unemployment.
UK government would even benefit from Brexit because of the fact that all the taxes would be lowered
and as the government would not have to pay additional money for their membership in Brexit.
Threats
Brexit has significant negative impacts as well as it is seen that future trade flow of the country would be
hampered because various industrial sectors of the country who are dependent on the globalization and
its trade would face losses and thereby would have an impact on their profits and operational activities.
There would a rise in the trade costs as well because of the fact that fall in the suppliers would increase
the cost of trade and accordingly the prices of the products and the services that are offered in the
country would increase and thereby impact the consumers as a whole. Dhingraet al. (2018) addressed
that Brexit has an impact on the transfer pricing as well because of the fact that effect on the level of
globalization reduce the level of interactions and trades with the other countries and accordingly the
transfer pricing would be impacted and thereby increasing the overall price of the products and the
services and the rise in the rate of inflation as well.
The discussion therefore explains the fact that Brexit has extensive level of negative effect on
globalization and this would have an adverse impact if the measures in order to mitigate the same is not
undertaken.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it is clear that exit of Britain from European Union has affected the market of
Britain. The exit of Britain has affected the trade relations and trade policies of Britain with other states.
The main worries lie in the fact that the trade costs of the country has increased since the exit and such
can have an impact on the economic prosperity of the country. Such increase in the Trade costs of the
country will also be affecting the standard of living of the residents of the country as the trade cost will
result in increase in the cost for goods. Thus, the impact of Brexit on globalization can be clearly seen
with the increasing costs related to trade between states. However, such increase in trade cost can be
improved with the proper control exercised by the government which includes fiscal and monetary
policies of the country.
Academic Skills Portfolio (ACSK4001) 11

SECTION A: PORTFOLIO EVIDENCE
Task 6: Presenting & analysing data (to be completed in week 6)
Part I: Presenting data
Cut and paste the graph you discussed in the tutorial here and give it a title. You can find it on
theAcademic Skills page on GSM Learn. Remember to write a full Harvard or OSCOLA reference for it
and add a title.
Title: Brexit impact on Increase of investment risk on globalization
Graph:
Reference:
Euromoney. (2018). Country risk: Brexit is no disaster for the UK, but it has increased
the risk of investing. [online] Available at:
https://www.euromoney.com/article/b12kpjpxrfh5qs/country-risk-brexit-is-no-disaster-
for-the-uk-but-it-has-increased-the-risk-of-investing [Accessed 26 Apr. 2018].
Academic Skills Portfolio (ACSK4001) 12