Foundation Unit Skills List

• the motivation, self-discipline and organisation needed to sustain independent study

• the presentation of reports and arguments, participation in discussion and debate, and respect and tolerance for differing viewpoints

• the ability to use and criticise concepts in order to explore issues associated with a particular area of study

• the preparation of essays and assignments, including the framing and researching of problems, the organisation of material and the development of arguments

• the use of library resources, including catalogues, reference material, electronic data bases and CD ROMS, for the location and retrieval of information

• the use of computers, including word-processing and spread sheet packages, in learning activities, as appropriate

• the critical reading and evaluation of different forms of published print and audio-visual material

• the understanding and avoidance of plagiarism

• the citation of reference

• the capacity to make sense of graphs and tables and related forms of numeracy

• the preparation for and participation in formal examinations

Development of these skills in first year is the first step in the acquisition of graduate attributes.