Eligibility and Requirements

The level of our courses is comparable to an advanced undergraduate level. Students are expected to be proficient in basic research skills and critical evaluation of material.   We recommend that prospective students should have completed at least their second year of undergraduate studies in order to comfortably approach our material. Our advanced courses have prerequisite introductory courses, and prospective students are advised to check individual course  requirements before applying.

Assessment

In Taught courses student assessment methods include critical written discussion of set questions, and longer essay questions,depending on the course instructor. A required element of most courses is a ‘learning journal,’ in which students record their responses to new material. In taught courses, students will be required to submit sections from their journal in the online forum. The  Learning Journal is an opportunity to explore the connections between ‘outer’ and ‘inner’ dimensions of the learning experience through narrative, image, poetry, symbolism, synchronicities or any other creative method, and needs to be specifically related to the student’s engagement with the course material. It could relate to current writing and research, or to challenges and issues raised in taught courses.

To be awarded a certificate of attendance, students are expected to complete all written assignments according to the specifications of each course, and to meet any deadlines as laid out in each course syllabus. Some of these may include participation in online “webinars” and forum discussion. On-site courses also have a minimum attendance  level, specified in each syllabus. Prospective students unable to commit to these requirements may also consider self-study courses.

Apart from the course material and presentations made available through our distance learning interface,  much of the bibliographical material will also be made available to enrolled students, though each course will also require some additional reading. The bibliography for each course will be sent to students upon enrollment.

Response and Research Papers

Response papers are requirements set mid-way through certain courses, particularly introductory level courses. Using the initial material taught, as well as guidance from the course instructor, students are expected to formulate a response to material covered thus far. This may incorporate material from the learning journal, or explore a particular aspect of the course material. Generally response papers should be no less than 1500 words in length and no more than 3000 words. They should adhere to the MLA academic style and document claims and references, but at this point students are encouraged to  explore and discuss those aspects which truly interest them. Response papers should incorporate the students’ views and analysis of the question, with a comparative slant, and a selective bibliography should be included.

Presentation of response papers includes an oral discussion with the course instructor (either in a classroom setting for onsite courses, or via Skype in the form of a conference call) whereby students will explain their thought process, discoveries, and possible concerns with regard to material covered and discussed in their paper. The oral discussion comprises 50% of the overall grade awarded for the paper.

Research papers are longer papers (2500 words min./3000 words max.) in which students are expected to select a topic from the course material (in the case of introductory courses students will select a question from the list provided) and research it more extensively through systematic gathering of information. This is expected to be a properly cited and referenced academic paper, and students will be provided with bibliographical support.

Assessment and Evaluation

Grading

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is an unpleasant but common phenomenon which includes the following definitions:

-turning in a paper written by somebody else

- turning in a paper copied from a book, journal, or the internet

- presenting the work of others (including citations or paraphrased references) as your own

- using material from the internet without acknowledgement

Students who use poor documentation techniques may inadvertently be guilty of plagiarism. All papers will be electronically  screened for plagiarism prior to marking.

In short, it is a serious offence. Students whose work is proven to be plagiarised will automatically be withdrawn from the course, and no refund will be issued. In such cases students will not be permitted to enrol on further courses unless inadvertent plagiarism can be proven.

Visit our Free Academic Writing course to understand more about plagiarism.