ASSIGNMENT

OUMH1203
ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
MAY 2021 SEMESTER

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION

1. Answer in English.

2. Number of words: 2500 – 3000 words excluding references and outline.

3. Present your responses to the task in a SINGLE file (Word format). Adhere to the
following structure:

i. Cover sheet
ii. Task 1: Essay Outline
iii. Task 2: Essay
iv. References

3. Submit your assignment ONLINE.

4. Submission date : 13 July 2021

5. This assignment accounts for 60% of the total marks for the course.

1
 ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

There are TWO (2) tasks in this assignment

TOPIC
As mass communication and social networking continue to grow, the debate of the
advantages and disadvantages is always a hot topic.
In the job vacancy scenario, a research conducted by CareerBuilder in 2018 states “7 in 10
employers (70 percent) use social networking sites to research job candidates during hiring
process, while 7% plan to start”

It seems that half of the majority believe that employers should go through the candidate’s
social media profiles during the hiring process, while another half does not agree with this
action.

Based on the above statements, plan an essay to argue the use of social media in screening
candidates’ profiles during hiring process.

TASK 1

The first initial stage of writing an essay is the Pre-Writing stage, where you brainstorm, list
your ideas and prepare any type of drafts for the essay.

Prepare an outline for the essay.

Task Requirements:
1. Prepare an outline WITH a thesis statement. You can opt for the Sample Outline
Format below.
2. The outline should be written according to the format of an essay: introduction, body
and conclusion.
3. The outline must list the points that discuss the topic given. These points must be
arranged in a logical and coherent order to show a good flow of ideas.

2
 SAMPLE OUTLINE FORMAT

Introduction
- Introduction to the topic
- *Thesis Statement
Body
I. Point 1
A. Supporting Detail
i. Example
a) Sub-example (if any)

II. Point 2
A. Supporting Detail
i. Example
a) Sub-example (if any)

* (same structure for Point 3 and so on)

Conclusion
-The conclusion of the essay

*one or two sentences encapsulation of your essay's main point, main idea, or main

message.

(this outline is NOT included in the assignment’s word count of 3000 words)
(10 marks)

TASK 2
3
Write the essay (between 2,500 words and 3,000 words) to argue the use of social media in
screening candidates’ profiles during hiring process. Elaborate comprehensively with a clear
stand.

Additionally, you must also provide another alternative for the employer to screen job
candidates.

Task Requirements:
1. The content of your essay MUST mirror the essay outline in Task 1.
2. Refer to the assignment rubrics as a guide to achieve cohesion and coherence.
3. Avoid plagiarism. You MUST support your essay with AT LEAST TWO (2) evidences
from current and related literature (2014 – 2020). Use the APA format for in - text
citations and the reference list. There are many website and videos on APA
referencing, this is one example:
https://youtu.be/bYk86hC9GzE
4. Remember to refer to Topics: 3, 4 and 5 of OUMH 1203 Module

(50 marks)

[Total: 60 marks]

4

OUMH1203 ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION / MAY 2021
Excellent
QN CLO Criteria Weight
4 3
TASK 1 1 Essay Outline 2.5 Well-prepared outline
with a comprehensively
written thesis statement.
Details are placed in a
logical order and the way
they are presented
effectively makes the
outline very interesting.
TASK 2 1 Introduction 1.75 The introduction very
clearly states the thesis
statement and previews
the structure of the
paper.
TASK 2 2 Content: 4 Fully addresses all aspects
of the writing assignment.
Arguments for or
against - the use of
social media in
screening Ideas are very
candidates’ profiles comprehensive, coherent
during hiring and organised logically.
process.
There is a clear and
convincing stand discussed discussed throughout the
throughout the
ATTACHMENT
ASSIGNMENT RUBRICS
Unsatisfactory
Good Fair Poor Or
Max
No response
Marks
2 1 0
Well-prepared outline with A moderately-prepared Outline is poorly written. No proper 10
a good thesis statement. outline with a thesis outline
statement that requires Wrong understanding of
further understanding. a thesis statement.
Details are placed in a Some details are not in a Many details are not in a
logical order, but the way in logical or expected order, logical or expected
which they are presented and this distracts the order. The outline is
sometimes makes the organisation of the unorganised.
outline less interesting. outline.
The introduction clearly The introduction states There is no clear Introduction 7
states the thesis statement the thesis statement, but introduction of the main presents no
and previews the structure does not adequately topic or structure of the purpose.
of the paper. preview the structure of paper.
the paper.
Adequately addresses the Generally writes about the Some attempt to address A weak attempt 16
writing assignment. topic but with a few the writing assignment. at addressing
digressions in parts of the the written
writing. assignment.
Some ideas may not be Development of ideas is Organisation of ideas
arranged logically and adequate. lacks clarity and may lead
coherently. to confusion.
There is a clear stand The stand is not very clear No stand
throughout the
paragraphs. paragraphs.
5
 paragraphs.
TASK 2 2 Content: 1.5 Logical, full and rich
another alternative development of
for the employer to suggestion or suggestions
screen job
candidates
TASK 2 1 Conclusion 1.75 Conclusion skillfully
reinforces thesis and gives
closure to essay.
TASK 2 1 Language/ 2 Sentence style fits the
Sentence Skills paper’s purpose.
Sentences are varied, yet
clearly structured and
carefully focused.
Language is excellent with
hardly any error in
grammar, lexical choice
and punctuation.
TASK 2 2 References 1.5 A reference of more than
2 relevant articles.
All the references are
Logical, clear and complete Adequate suggestion or Development of No suggestions 6
development of suggestion suggestions given. suggestion or suggestions or incomplete
or suggestions limited, may be
incomplete or unclear.
The conclusion is The conclusion is Conclusion is weak. Conclusion is 7
recognizable and ties up recognizable, but does out of topic /
almost all the loose ends. not tie up several loose unrecognisable.
ends.
Sentences are generally Sentence structures are Contains several Contains many 8
clear, well structured, generally correct, but awkward or awkward
focused, though some may sentences may be wordy ungrammatical sentences.
be awkward or ineffective. or repetitive. sentences. Sentence Displays general
structure is simple or inability in
monotonous. writing
grammatical/m
Language is satisfactory Frequent errors in Very frequent errors in eaningful
with some errors in grammar, lexical choice grammar, lexical choice sentences.
grammar, lexical choice and and punctuation, which and punctuation that
punctuation, which do not may impede seriously impair Errors in
seriously impede understanding and understanding and grammar,
understanding and clarity. clarity. clarity. lexical choice
and punctuation
are too
frequent and
severe, making
it highly difficult
to understand
the message.
A reference of 2 relevant A reference of 2 articles, A reference of LESS than No articles used 6
articles. but not necessarily 2 articles, but not as reference.
relevant. necessarily relevant.
Most of the references are References are References are References are
6
 effectively used, correctly
cited and correctly listed
in the reference list
according to APA style.
Total 15
*QN = Question Number
effectively used, correctly
cited and correctly listed in
the reference list according
to APA style.
sometimes not effectively inappropriately/unclearl not
used, and/or correctly y incorporated. incorporated or
cited and/or correctly incorporated
listed in the reference list inappropriately.
according to APA style.
60