Mid-year Academic Skills Intensive Program

Workshops:

Planning and structuring your writing
This workshop will examine how to analyse your assignment instructions in a way that will help you plan the structure of your assignment. We’ll discuss how to work out the number of sections or paragraphs you’ll need in your assignment and how to create clear topic sentences which demonstrate your understanding of the task. 

Writing critically
This workshop will focus on the differences between descriptive and critical writing, using practical examples. We’ll examine how to insert your voice into your writing to provide your own perspective on the topic and give you some tips on what type of language to use when writing critically. 

Improving clarity in writing
This workshop will help you understand the common problems in sentence-level writing that might cause difficulties for your reader. You will then learn the foundations and rules of what makes a sentence clear. Both native and non-native English speakers will greatly benefit from this workshop. 

Afternoon writing practice sessions:

Each afternoon session will allow you to practise the theory introduced in the morning through guided interactive activities. In addition, you will develop a ‘mini’ essay to use as an example for your future assignments. 

Planning and structuring your presentation
This workshop will teach you how to logically and systematically plan and structure your presentation. You will have an opportunity to begin practising your skills and will receive feedback for improvement.

Creating engaging content
What’s the point in giving a presentation if no one wants to listen to what you’re saying? This workshop will teach practical strategies for creating content that engages your audiences and makes them want to listen to what you have to say.

Delivering effectively 
This workshop will examine ways to reduce nerves and deliver your presentation confidently. Here we will delve more deeply into non-verbals (body language) and other strategies make your delivery more impactful.

Putting it all together
Now that you’ve examined how to structure, present confidently and be more engaging, this workshop gives you the opportunity to practise and get feedback on what you’re doing well and what you need to keep working on. 

How to be engaging with your voice and materials 
This session will cover the best speaking techniques for delivering a presentation to keep your audience engaged.  We’ll also discuss strategies for creating content that can capture your audience's attention for the duration of your presentation.

Planning and starting a presentation
This workshop will first discuss and then give you practice at planning a presentation that is clearly and logically structured in a way that helps your reader understand your main points. You will then learn the best ways to immediately capture your audience’s attention when commencing a talk.

Intonation and word and sentence stress
Make your speech clearer and easier to follow by learning the correct way to use intonation and word stress. 

Structuring your presentation and delivering effectively
This workshop will look at different ways you can structure your presentation and teach you how to deliver your message more powerfully to you audience using a variety of voice techniques and body language.