Academic Advice in Social Sciences
Undergraduate and postgraduate taught students in Social Sciences can make an appointment or come to a class with the Effective Learning Adviser for the College (or his Graduate Teaching Assistants) to talk about anything related to their academic work. Common topics include:
- academic writing (essays, dissertations, research proposals)
- argumentation
- engagement with literature, referencing and using/critiquing sources
- time and project management
- effective, evidence-based study and revision methods
Dr Aleix Tura Vecino
Effective Learning Adviser (College of Social Sciences)
Semester 2 Class Timetable
Class timetable
Dissertation Classes
This course walks you through the process of writing a dissertation for the Arts & Humanities or the Social Sciences. The course consists of a combination of lectures and workshops where you will have a chance to practice the skills you learn.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=12843
| Date | Time | Class | Class Description | Location |
| Tuesday 14th January | 12:00-13:00 | Dissertation Topic & Question | This session explores how to find a dissertation topic and then turning this topic into a research question you can answer in your dissertation. | 256 Fore Hall (Main Building) |
| Wednesday 15th January | 12:00-13:00 | Workshop (sign-up in advance) | This workshop offers you a space to think about your research topic and practice turning your topic into a productive research question | Click here to sign up (Moodle login required) |
| Tuesday 21st January | 12:00-13:00 | Literature Review | This class focuses on the literature review: what it is and its purpose within your dissertation. | 256 Fore Hall (Main Building) |
| Wednesday 22nd January | 12:00-13:00 | Workshop (sign-up in advance) | In this workshop you will practice mapping your research to write a better literature review. Bring a selection of articles or book chapters you are working or planning to work with. | Click here to sign up (Moodle login required) |
| Tuesday 28th January | 12:00-13:00 | Theory | This class focuses on the purpose of theory in academia and how to use it in your writing. | 256 Fore Hall (Main Building) |
| Wednesday 29th January | 12:00-13:00 | Workshop (sign-up in advance) | In this workshop you will practice mapping your research to write a better literature review. Bring a selection of articles or book chapters you are working or planning to work with. | Click here to sign up (Moodle login required) |
| Tuesday 4th February | 12:00-13:00 | Methodology | This class focuses on the methodology: what it is, what the difference is between methods and methodology, and how to write about, explain, and justify your methodology. | 256 Fore Hall (Main Building) |
| Wednesday 5th February | 12:00-13:00 | Workshop (sign-up in advance) | This workshop will give you a space to think with peers about what are the elements of a strong methodology and give you a framework to organise the information of your methodological chapter or section. | Click here to sign up (Moodle login required) |
| Tuesday 11th February | 12:00-13:00 | Argument | This class explains how to construct a convincing argument that answers your research question. | 256 Fore Hall (Main Building) |
| Wednesday 12th February | 12:00-13:00 | Workshop (sign-up in advance) | This workshop will give you a space to work on strengthening argumentation and criticality in your dissertation. | Click here to sign up (Moodle login required) |
| Tuesday 18th February | 12:00-13:00 | Structure | This class explains how to ensure your argument connects and links all of your dissertation chapters together within a robust structure. | 256 Fore Hall (Main Building) |
| Wednesday 19th February | 12:00-13:00 | Workshop (sign-up in advance) | This workshop will allow you to practice how to find the connections between your different chapters. Bring a dissertation plan to the session. | Click here to sign up (Moodle login required) |
Essay Writing
Our Essay Writing course is designed to give you a step-by-step guide on how to write a successful essay in the Social Sciences or the Arts & Humanities. This course will run once in Semester 1 and again in Semester 2.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=10314
| Date | Time | Class | Class Description | Location |
| Thursday 23rd January | 12:00-13:00 | ILOs & Essay Questions | This class covers the importance of Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) and how to deconstruct and interpret essay questions. | 109 Molema Building |
| Thursday 30th January | 12:00-13:00 | Researching your Essay | This class focuses on how to identify and review academic literature for your essay. | 109 Molema Building |
| Thursday 6th February | 12:00-13:00 | Planning your Essay | This class explores how to create an effective plan to write your essay assignments successfully. | 109 Molema Building |
| Thursday 13th February | 12:00-13:00 | Argumentation | This class discusses what we understand by an argument, what are its main distinctive features. | 109 Molema Building |
| Thursday 20th February | 12:00-13:00 | Structuring your Essay | This class explores different ways to structure your essay to make sure it is organised around a central and coherent argument. | 109 Molema Building |
| Thursday 27th February | 12:00-13:00 | Referencing | This class discusses why we reference in academia and how to reference your essay adequately. | 109 Molema Building |
| Thursday 6th March | 12:00-13:00 | Editing your Essay | This class focuses on the editorial process: how to go from a first draft to the final submission. | 109 Molema Building |
| Monday 10th March | 15:00-16:00 | ILOs & Essay Questions | This class covers the importance of Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) and how to deconstruct and interpret essay questions. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
| Tuesday 11th March | 15:00-16:00 | Researching your Essay | This class focuses on how to identify and review academic literature for your essay. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
| 15:00-16:00 | Planning your Essay | This class explores how to create an effective plan to write your essay assignments successfully. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
|
| Tursday 13th March | 15:00-16:00 | Argumentation | This class discusses what we understand by an argument, what are its main distinctive features. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
| Monday 17th March | 15:00-16:00 | Structuring your Essay | This class explores different ways to structure your essay to make sure it is organised around a central and coherent argument. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
| Tuesday 18th March | 15:00-16:00 | Referencing | This class discusses why we reference in academia and how to reference your essay adequately. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
| Wednesday 19th March | 15:00-16:00 | Editing your Essay | This class focuses on the editorial process: how to go from a first draft to the final submission. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
Mastering Academic Writing
> Moodle page for this series - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=12516
Our Mastering Academic Writing course consists of a series of resources and recorded lectures for those wanting to fine-tune their writing skills to an advanced level.
| Session Title |
| Explaining Yourself in Writing |
| Grammar in Writing |
| Sentence Structure in Writing |
| Logic and Flow in Writing |
| Formality in Writing |
Academic Development
> Moodle page for this series - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=10312
Our Academic Development course includes resources and recordings on how to become an effective independent learner, studying for exams, carrying out effective group work, among other key skills you will need to master in your degrees.
| Session Title |
| Studying at the University of Glasgow |
| Learning Independently |
| Working in Groups |
| Presenting Effectivley |
| Reflecting and Revising for Assessment |
| Statistics for Art & Humanities and Social Sciences |
Key Concepts in the Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences
> Moodle page for this series - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=41660
This course introduces students in the Arts & Humanities and the Social Sciences to some of the fundamental concepts they will encounter throughout their degree, no matter what they are studying.
| Session Title |
| Argument |
| Statistics |
| Critical Theory |
| Sources |
Appointments
Undergraduate and PGT students can make an appointment with one of the advising team (GUID required). The booking diary shows appointments available in the next 21 days only.
Dr Aleix Tura Vecino
Aleix Tura Vecino is the Effective Learning Adviser for the College of Social Sciences. He works with students from all five Schools in the College in classes, workshops, individual appointments and creating online resources to develop academic literacies, including critical reading and writing, independent and active learning, and good academic practice, among others. He is also a member of the organising committee for Let's Talk About [X], the University of Glasgow's annual undergraduate research conference.
Aleix has a PhD in English Literature from the University of Stirling (2020) and, prior to working in SLD, taught in the English Departments of the Universities of Stirling and Glasgow (2018-2022). Aleix's research looks at short fiction and discourses of identity, exploring the ways in which we construct who we and others are through stories. He has published book chapters and critical articles on this topic in various academic journals.
Teaching Requests
Aleix currently lectures on undergraduate and postgraduate degrees across the College of Social Sciences.
To find out what teaching he can offer on your course, get in touch via email.
Aleix.turavecino@glasgow.ac.uk
Room 308
McMillan Reading Room
University Avenue
University of Glasgow
G12 8QQ