ASSIGNMENT

OUMH1203

ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

MAY 2022 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:

4. Submit your assignment ONLINE.

5. Submission date : 19 JULY 2022.

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

ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

PURPOSE

The purpose of this assignment is to expose students to proper essay writing skills and introduce them to the step-by-step guide to writing an essay.

PART I:

QUESTION 1 - ESSAY OUTLINE (10%)

st
Starting 1 April 2022 Covid-19 has become endemic in Malaysia. All restrictions and bans on travelling and crossing national borders have been lifted.

Everyone is now free to travel domestically and internationally.

1. Based on the above statement, plan an essay to discuss the pros and cons of relaxing travel

restrictions in Malaysia.

2. Prepare an outline WITH a thesis statement. You can opt for the Sample Outline Format

below.

3. The outline should be written according to the format of an essay: introduction, body and

conclusion.

4. 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.

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 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 inclusive of the assignment word count of 3000 words)

[Total: 10 marks]

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QUESTION 2 - ESSAY (40%)

Write an essay (between 2,500 words and 3,000 words) to discuss the pros and cons of relaxing travel restrictions in Malaysia.

Task Requirements:

1. The content of your essay MUST resemble the essay outline in Task 1.

2. Refer to the assignment rubrics as a guide to achieving cohesion and coherence.

3. Avoid plagiarism. You MUST support your essay with AT LEAST TWO (2) pieces of

evidence from current and related literature (2017 – 2022). Use the APA format for in-

text citations and the reference list.

[Total: 40 marks]

PART II

ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)

Discuss the following topic(s) in the forum and submit proof of your participation in the online discussions:

1. Which written communication do you prefer the most? Why?

2. What are the challenges that you, as a student, encounter when writing an essay? Explain in detail.

3. Give one example of a collaborative writing activity which you would engage in with your classmates. Explain the collaborative writing activity using the guide

below:

 Name of the activity

 Rationales for engaging in the collaborative activity

 Number of classmates in the activity

 The role each of the classmates plays in the activity

 A brief reflection on the pros and cons of conducting the activity

[Total: 10 marks]

[TOTAL: 60 MARKS]

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 ATTACHMENT

ASSIGNMENT RUBRIC

OUMH1203 ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION / MAY 2022 SEMESTER

PART I:

Unsatisfactory

C Excellent Good Fair Poor Or

L Criteria Weight No response Max Marks

QN
O
4 3 2 1 0

QUESTION 1 - ESSAY OUTLINE (10%)

1 1 Essay Outline 1.0 Well-prepared outline with a Well-prepared outline with a good thesis A moderately-prepared outline with a thesis The outline is poorly written. No proper outline 4

comprehensively written thesis statement. statement. statement that requires further

understanding. Wrong understanding of a thesis

. statement.

1.5 Details are placed in a logical order and the Details are placed in a logical order, but the Some details are not in a logical or expected 6

way they are presented effectively makes way in which they are presented sometimes order, and this distracts the organisation of Many details are not in a logical or

the outline very interesting makes the outline less interesting. the outline. expected order. The outline is unorganised.

4
QUESTION 2 - ESSAY (40%)

2 1 Introduction 1.0 The introduction very clearly states the The introduction clearly states the thesis The introduction states the thesis statement There is no clear introduction of the main The introduction presents 4

thesis statement and previews the statement and previews the structure of the but does not adequately preview the topic or structure of the paper. no purpose.

structure of the paper. paper. structure of the paper.

2 Content: Pros of 2.0 Fully addresses all aspects of the writing Adequately addresses the writing assignment. Generally writes about the topic but with a Some attempt to address the writing A weak attempt at 8

relaxing travel restrictions in assignment. Some ideas may not be arranged logically and few digressions in parts of the writing. assignment. addressing the written

Malaysia Ideas are very comprehensive, coherent coherently. The development of ideas is adequate. The organisation of ideas lacks clarity and assignment.

and organised logically. may lead to confusion.

The explanations are supported by The explanations are supported by clear and The explanations are somewhat supported

authentic, clear and appropriate examples appropriate examples in the Malaysian by a few examples in the Malaysian context. Lack of examples in the Malaysian context.

in the Malaysian context. context.

An excellent attempt to discuss points all A moderate attempt to discuss points.

throughout the paragraphs. A good attempt to discuss points throughout

the paragraphs.

2 Content: Cons of 2.0 Fully addresses all aspects of the writing Adequately addresses the writing assignment. Generally writes about the topic but with a Some attempt to address the writing A weak attempt at 8

relaxing travel restrictions in assignment. Some ideas may not be arranged logically and few digressions in parts of the writing. assignment. addressing the written

Malaysia Ideas are very comprehensive, coherent coherently. Development of ideas is adequate. Organisation of ideas lacks clarity and may assignment.

and organised logically. lead to confusion.

The explanations are supported by The explanations are supported by clear and The explanations are somewhat supported

authentic, clear and appropriate examples appropriate examples in the Malaysian by a few examples in the Malaysian context. Lack of examples in the Malaysian context.

in the Malaysian context. context.

An excellent attempt to discuss points A moderate attempt to discuss points.

throughout the paragraphs. A good attempt to discuss points throughout

the paragraphs.

1 Conclusion 1.5 Conclusion skillfully presents a neutral The conclusion is recognizable and neutral in The conclusion is recognizable but does not The conclusion shows bias either to pros or The conclusion is out of 6

approach of pros and cons and gives summarizing the pros and cons. sound neutral at some points. cons. topic / unrecognisable.

closure to the essay.

1 Language/ 2 Sentence style fits the paper’s purpose. Sentences are generally clear, well structured, Sentence structures are generally correct, Contains several awkward or Contains many awkward 8

Sentence Skills Sentences are varied, yet clearly focused, though some may be awkward or but sentences may be wordy or repetitive. ungrammatical sentences. Sentence sentences. Displays general

structured and carefully focused. ineffective. Frequent errors in grammar, lexical choice structure is simple or monotonous. inability in writing

Language is excellent with hardly any error Language is satisfactory with some errors in and punctuation, which may impede Very frequent errors in grammar, lexical grammatical/meaningful

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 in grammar, lexical choice and grammar, lexical choice and punctuation, understanding and clarity. choice and punctuation that seriously sentences.

punctuation. which do not seriously impede understanding impair understanding and clarity. Errors in grammar, lexical

and clarity. choice and punctuation are

too frequent and severe,

making it highly difficult to

understand the message.

2 References 1.5 A reference of more than 2 relevant A reference of 2 relevant articles. A reference of 2 articles, but not necessarily A reference of LESS than 2 articles, but not No articles used as 6

articles. Most of the references are effectively used, relevant. necessarily relevant. reference.

All the references are effectively used, correctly cited and correctly listed in the References are sometimes not effectively References are inappropriately/unclearly References are not

correctly cited and correctly listed in the reference list according to APA style. used, and/or correctly cited and/or correctly incorporated. incorporated or

reference list according to APA style. listed in the reference list according to APA incorporated

style. inappropriately.

Total 12.5 50

*QN = Question Number

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INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SUBMIT PROOF OF ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)

Do the following:

1. Select the best FIVE (5) your own postings from the forum discussion set up by your tutor.

2. Do screenshots of the postings and include them as images in your assignment.

3. The screenshots should be in an image file (either in JPG or PNG format). Refer to the sample of Screen Grab below

4. The screenshots should contain: Name, Title of the discussion, Day, Date and Time.

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 ATTACHMENT

PART II: ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)

Excellent Good Fair Poor Unsatisfactory

*QN CLO Criteria Weight Max Marks
4 3 2 1 0

1-3 3 Quality of Postings 2.5 All five comments are good, appropriate, Four of the comments are good, appropriate, Three of the comments are somewhat good, None of the comments is good and No postings are given as proof 10

relevant, meaningful, and relevant, meaningful, and appropriate, meaningful, and respectful relevant. / Comments are short of participation in the

Learning Domain: A4 respectful respectful responses that are not substantial nor discussion

meaningful. Minimum effort (e.g. “I

agree with Tina”)

Total 2.5 10

*QN = Question Number / *NS = Nombor Soalan