13. Critical Thinking and Writing

13.2. Course Content

CTWL for All PG Law Students

While CTWL is mandatory for students with a language condition attached to their offer, the programme is open to all PG Law students, regardless of entry status. This includes native English speakers, many of whom have found the programme beneficial and have attended regularly over the years.

Semester 1 – EAL4791: CTW Literacy Development

This 10-week module focuses on building foundational academic skills for postgraduate study in Law. Key areas include:

  • Locating authoritative legal sources early in the module
  • Reading strategies for engaging with statutes, cases, and academic journals
  • Understanding structure and organisation of legal texts
  • Efficient and critical reading to identify relevant material with confidence
  • Exam writing techniques and
  • Preparing a research proposal for the 10,000-word dissertation

Students will complete weekly writing tasks, receive individual feedback, and engage in online exercises to reinforce language and writing skills covered in class.

Semester 1 – Dissertation Proposal Writing (Supplementary Session)

As PG Law students are required to submit their dissertation proposals by late November/early December, the Language Centre offers a dedicated session to support this process.
This session covers:

  • Structure and components of a QMUL dissertation proposal
  • Academic style and tone
  • Planning and approach

Exact dates and times will be published on the CTWL section of the QMplus Dissertation Support Noticeboard.

Semester 2 – EAL4792: CTWL Dissertation Writing

Although titled “Dissertation Writing,” this module is open to all PG Law students, whether or not they are writing a dissertation. Many students take both Semester 1 and Semester 2 modules to strengthen their academic writing across essays and longer research papers.

This 10-week module (February–April) focuses on:

  • Planning and structuring dissertations and coursework essays
  • Applying academic writing skills developed in Semester 1
  • Addressing common challenges in legal writing at postgraduate level
  • Improving clarity, accuracy, and formality in written work

Students attend one 2-hour class per week, with opportunities for feedback and practical application of skills.

CTWL Registration

Semester 1 Registration

  • Opens: Late September 2025
  • Classes begin: Week commencing 29 September 2025
  • Register via: MySIS – In-sessional Course Bookings
  • Class listings (EAL4791) with times and locations will be available on MySIS
  • Class sizes are limited (20–25 students) and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis

Semester 2 Registration

  • Opens: Late December 2025
  • Classes resume: Late January/Early February 2026, following the exam period