Sorry to invade - but what makes level 7 writing great?

[lougle]

What do you look for, what makes you happy, what gets you nodding along as you read?

Conversely, what do you hate to see, what makes you sigh, what makes you want to fail an essay on the first page?

If you had to give someone new to level 7 one or two tips....what would they be?

or ....take your pick

[YawningKasm]

What's Level 7? Are you FE or HE or PGT or PGR?

[lougle]

Sorry, YawningKasm, I didn't realise that it wouldn't be clear. It's HE credits at masters level that can be combined to form a MSc.

[SlightlyperturbedOwl]

It difficult to describe accurately and much easier to show an example, but I would say a coherent piece of writing using critical evaluation of published work in the field and/or a set of experiential scenarios (depending on the piece of work) leading to a systematic and balanced argument for the opinions you have formed. It should be written using excellent grammar and the referencing should be impeccable. Does that help?

[MaudGonneMad]

I've never heard of this. Is this a thing?

[SlightlyperturbedOwl]

Lots of HE institutions offer short courses or PG certs or diplomas for level 7 credits which can sometimes be used towards masters degrees.

[YawningKasm]

"Level 7" etc is the technical language of the QAA Qualifications framework. As is usual with that sort of stuff, it bears little relation to actual academic day to day work.

For Masters level writing, as above:

impeccable written expression and use of scholarly referencing, and scholarly apparatus as appropriate.

The ability to make an argument, using appropriate evidence, both primary evidence (could be experimental data you've generated yourself etc etc) and secondary evidence

Communicating that you are starting to understand the shape of the field/topic you're writing about; that you're in control of the data and the argument, and you know where it fits in the larger scheme of things. For me, this is the main point: of course, work in a PGT degree (ie taught Masters) does not need to be "an original contribution to knowledge" but it must be authoritative and independent, within its limits, and it needs to know its limits.

lear simple direct language; nothing pompous to try and sound "academic" (the result is quite the reverse usually).

[lougle]

That all really helps, thank you. Maud it's a thing . In the days of my first degree, masters was level 4, but I think (please someone correct me if I'm wrong) they changed the scale to allow a more direct comparison between different types of study, such as NVQs and traditional academic study. So Masters level is now level 7.

Rather than registering for a complete MSc course, I'm doing a vocational course in critical care nursing, which gives 2 x 20 credits. As long as I do so within 6 years, I can use those alongside other level 7 course credits to make up the the 180 credits required to complete a MSc in Nursing Studies or similar.

[SlightlyperturbedOwl]

Have a look at a peer-reviewed nursing journal for some ideas maybe then? Also depending on the title you have been set, if relevant, you may need to read up on reflective writing skills as they are quite big in the health professions. Hope it goes well.

[MaudGonneMad]

Good luck lougle

[lougle]

Thank you