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Using Sources in your Work at University

Find out why we use sources to support our work at university and how to do it successfully.

Girl reading many textbooks on table
  • Duration

    1 week
  • Weekly study

    7 hours

Improve your work by supporting your arguments with expert opinion

This online course from Coventry University introduces why and how we use other peoples’ work to improve our own writing.

You will develop effective reading and note-taking strategies to help you identify appropriate sources and use and cite the information you find in a range of academic tasks.

What topics will you cover?

  • Introduction to different types of academic text
  • Using reading lists to find appropriate texts for your task
  • Expand your vocabulary range
  • Reading academic texts to find key information
  • Note-taking skills
  • The mechanics of referencing
  • Language for incorporating sources into your writing

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Develop appropriate reading strategies in order to successfully navigate a range of texts.
  • Produce effective notes from reading and use these to respond appropriately to academic tasks.
  • Identify relevant information from academic reading texts and use and cite it appropriately in a range of academic tasks.
  • Identify the meaning of academic vocabulary from context.

Who is the course for?

This course is for students on the Coventry University pre-sessional English award. It is relevant for students who will be continuing their studies online and on-campus.

Please note that the staff described in the ‘Who will you learn with?’ section below may be subject to change.

What software or tools do you need?

To take part in this course you’ll need to have access to a computer or laptop with a webcam, a reliable internet connection, speakers, and a microphone.

Live discussions and tutorials will take place through ‘Big Blue Button’, and parts of the assessments processes will require this as well.

Who will you learn with?

Helen has been working in Higher Education since 2012. She is eager to work with students from all backgrounds to develop a supportive, creative and well-informed community of learning.

Who developed the course?

Coventry University

Coventry secured 5 QS Stars for Teaching and Online Learning in the QS World University Ranking 2020 and has received No. 1 in the world for Massive Open Online Courses in MoocLab’s World University Ranking 2021.

  • Established

    1992
  • Location

    Coventry

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control

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