ASSIGNMENT

_________________________________________________________________________
HMEL5043
SEMINAR PAPER IN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
SEPTEMBER 2022 SEMESTER

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION

1. Answer in English or Bahasa Malaysia.

2. Number of words: 3000 – 5000 words, excluding references for EACH question.

3. Submit your assignment ONCE only in a MULTIPLE file.

4. Submit your assignment ONLINE.

5. Submission date : 3 December 2022.

6. This assignment accounts for 100% of the total marks for the course.

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 ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

The objective of the assignment is to expose learners to the academic writing process,
which encompasses research topic, statement of problem, literature review, and
research methodology, in the area of concentration. The assignment will enhance the
learners’ ability to analyse and synthesise journal articles and help in future writing of
their project paper/research paper/dissertation/thesis.

PART 1: PROPOSAL FOR SEMINAR PAPER (70%)

Search for relevant information from various sources, namely dissertations, journal
articles, newspapers, and books. With the information collected, write a Seminar Paper
with a length of roughly 20 pages or 6,000 words.

The following explains the important steps involved in preparing a Seminar Paper:

Research Topic

Ensure that your research topic for this seminar paper is what you intend to do in your
final M.Ed. project paper. This paper will be related to your future EdD./PhD topic. thesis.

The research topic should be exactly in the smallest possible number of words, and it
should not be more than 15 words. Use the title format writing as the example below.

Example:
1. “A Study of the Effectiveness of School Leadership: Teachers’ Perspectives and
Experience in Petaling Perdana District”
(Suitable for the qualitative approach as the data is obtained through in-depth interviews. There are no
variables, and the keyword is the effectiveness of school leadership)

2. “The Impact of School Leadership on Students’ Academic Performance on Students in

Petaling Perdana District”
(Suitable for the quantitative approach as the data is obtained through questionnaires. ‘School Leadership’
is the independent variable, while ‘Students’ Academic Performance’ is a dependent variable)

Abstract

The abstract should state the most important facts and ideas in your paper. It should be
complete in itself. The length of the abstract should be about 200 words, written
continuously in one paragraph. The abstract should state clearly the following sequence:

 Background of the Study,

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  Problem Statement,
 Research Objectives,
 Research Questions,
 Research Method,
 Main Findings,
 Conclusion
 Significance of the Study.

Do not put information in the abstract that is not in your paper’s main text. Do not put
references, figures, or tables in the abstract.

Problem Statement

A problem statement is a statement that briefly sums up the problems or issues relating
to the study under investigation. Problem statements can be either formal--like a thesis
statement--or informal--usually a sentence that explains how your words will impact the
reader. A carefully crafted problem statement will help you to connect with your
audience. It will help your audience see why your document is important. 

Example: There are four components (fact, expectation, reality, and consequences) in the
problem of the statement. The real issue is highlighted in component 3 (in reality) and
continues with the impact (if the issue is not resolved). Please ensure your problem
statement is supported by reliable sources like the examples below (author, year).

Fact Early childhood is one of the most critical phases of a child’s

development (author 1, year). The domains of a child’s development are
spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, and social (SPIES). The current
public preschools cannot cater to all preschooling children because the
place is limited. 

Expectation Private ECCE operators/principals take risks to fulfil the demand of

preschooling children. They set up their ECCE centres in residential areas
to ensure that all preschooling children have another alternative to start
their early childhood education. 

In reality However, in reality, the ECE operators/principals face many challenges,

which can sometimes be very discouraging (author 2, year). Among the
challenges are dealing with parents, the quality of teachers, and financial
constraints.

Consequences If the situation persists without any countermeasure, these private ECCE
centres cannot sustain themselves in the industry.  

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In this section, your write-up will be as follows.

Early childhood is one of the most critical phases of a child’s development which
determines the characteristics and traits in the future (Ahmad, 2019). The domains of a
child’s development are spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, and social (SPIES). The
current public preschools cannot cater to all preschooling children because the place is
limited (MOE, 2020). 

Private ECCE operators/principals take risks to fulfil the demand of preschooling children.
They set up their ECCE centres in residential areas to ensure that all preschooling

However, in reality, the ECE operators/principals face many challenges, which can
sometimes be very discouraging (Abu et al., 2021). Among the challenges are dealing
with parents, the quality of teachers, and financial constraints.

If the situation persists without countermeasure, these private ECCE centres cannot
sustain themselves in the industry.  

Research Questions

You need to prepare THREE (3) research questions. The research questions must be
stated and answered clearly and precisely in the paper. The main points and the course
of the investigation must remain clear throughout the paper. Below are two examples of
research questions.

Example:
1. Typical research questions for the qualitative research method - you may think of
what, how, to what extent, and why questions.

(i) What are the challenges that the private ECCE owners/principals face?

(ii) To what extent do these private ECCE owners/principals strategies those

challenges?

2. Typical research questions for the quantitative research method are as follows:

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(i) Is there any significant relationship between the challenges and the performance
of ECE centres?

(ii) Is there any significant relationship between the strategies and the performance
of ECE owners?

Literature Review

Literature review in any research endeavour is the base that gives information support to
the research and its possible claim. Ideally, the literature review should consolidate the
entire research and weigh what already exists and how what is being presented matters
in the future. To write a good seminar paper, you are requested to review existing works
relevant to the study.

Insufficient literature does not help your research. On that note, you need to obtain
detailed literature from various sources relevant to your study to legitimise your claim
and significantly make your viewpoint stronger. It is rather scholarly advisable to increase
the landscape of your literature review.

In reviewing each piece of literature, the following are the components that you need to
answer.
 What is it about?
 Why is the topic important?
 What was done?

Theoretical Framework

A theoretical framework consists of concepts and, with their definitions and reference to
relevant scholarly literature, the existing theory used for your particular study. The
theoretical framework must demonstrate an understanding of theories and concepts
relevant to your research paper’s topic and that relate to the broader areas of knowledge
being considered.

Conceptual Framework

A conceptual framework is used to make conceptual distinctions and organise ideas. It

outlines how you plan to conduct the research for your thesis. Still, it goes further than
that by positioning your work within the larger field of research. Writing a conceptual
framework can help to guide your thesis to ensure that your research stays on track. It

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can also help guide fellow researchers or advisers analysing your thesis. Below is an
example of a typical conceptual framework for the quantitative research method.

Challenges

Performance

Strategies

Independent variables Dependent variables

Research Method

The methodological approach should state the following:

(1) Research Method – qualitative, quantitative or mixed?
(2) Research Instrument – questionnaires, in-depth interviews, observation etc.
(3) Sample and Sampling Method – purposive sampling, sample and population?
(4) Reliability and Validity (for quantitative)
(5) Statistical measures and Analysis (for quantitative)
(6) Data Collection Procedure
(7) Data Analysis Procedure

Conclusion

You can conclude several ways that will be helpful and interesting to your readers.

 Synthesise what you have discussed and explain what other lessons might be gained
from your argument.
 Explain why your topic matters to help your readers see why this topic deserves their
attention.
 Revisit that opening discussion and explore how the information you have gathered
implicates that discussion.

References

You must give references to all the information that you obtain from books, papers in
journals, and other sources.

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For a journal paper provide (i) the names of the authors, (ii) the year of publication, (iii)
the title of the paper, (iv) the title of the journal, (v) the volume number of the journal,
(vi) the first and last page numbers of the paper.

For a book, provide (i) the author, (ii) the year of publication, (iii) the title and the edition
number if there is one, (iv) the name of the publisher, (v) the page numbers for your
reference.

For an internet reference, provide (i) the author of the web page, (ii) the date of the web
page, (iii) the title of the web page, and (iv) the complete URL.

Every reference in your main text must appear in the reference list at the end of your
paper. Likewise, every reference in the list must be mentioned in your main text.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Tables

Tables must have a number and a caption above the table. Every table must be
mentioned in the main text. The reader should be able to understand the table by
reading the caption without looking at the main text.

Figures

Figures must have a number and a caption below the figure. Every figure must be
mentioned in the main text. The reader should understand the figure by reading the
caption without looking at the main text.

General Guidelines of the Seminar Paper

1. Write your title first. Then define your topic clearly and focus your mind on exactly
what you want the paper to contain.
2. Search the literature and select the references on which the contents of your paper
will be based. Write your list of references.
3. Make a list of your section headings and subheadings. This list will define the
organisation of the contents of your paper. The sections and subsections will contain
material collected from other sources and accounts of new work you have done: your
observations, Analysis of data, and conclusions.
4. Write the sections and subsections one by one in a simple, clear style. Remember
that the reader does not know in advance any of the details of your work, so your
account must be complete and easy to understand.
5. Write the abstract last by picking out the main points in your paper.

At the of the writing process, the student is required to come out with a Seminar Paper
which comprises the following sub-components as depicted in Table 1:

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Table 1: Sub Components of a Seminar Paper

1 Abstract
2 Introduction
3 Problem Statement
4 Research Objectives
5 Research Questions
6 Literature Review
7 Theoretical Framework
8 Conceptual Framework
9 Research Method
10 Conclusion

The overall formal structure of a seminar paper is stated as below:

(1) Title
(2) Cover page
(3) Table of contents
(4) Table of figures and tables (when applicable)
(5) Text (refer to Table 1 above)
(6) References
(7) Appendix (Research Instrument / Articles)

Title page and Table of Contents

A title and writers are centred in the middle of the title page.

 On the centre bottom, set one below another a course code, a course name,
Department, University, and a date.
 The second page is for a Table of Contents
 No page numbers on these pages

Body text
 Times New Roman, 12 point
 Line spacing 1.5
 Page margins: left 3.5 cm, right 2.5 cm, top 3.5 cm, bottom 3.0 cm.
 Set the text in full justification and turn on hyphenation.
 Page numbers are set on the centre bottom corner, starting from the second body
text page.
 The indentation should be 1.0 cm in the first line of a new paragraph. However, no
indentation after titles, figures, tables, lists or in the first line of a new page. No
empty lines between the paragraphs.

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Figures, tables and appendices
 Consecutively numbered.
 Tables’ text in smaller font and in smaller line spacing
 Set legends below the figures, captions above the tables and appendices.
 Legends and captions are in boldface, in font size 11 pt and line spacing 1.0.

Citation and References

Within the text, references are made by giving in parentheses the author’s last name, the
year of publication, the colon, and the page or pages you refer. Page numbers are left out
if the reference is to the whole work. An example: (Campbell 2002: 46-48).

The citation should be in line with the guidelines of the American Psychological
Association (APA). If a sentence contains an indirect citation, the citation is part of the
sentence, and the sentence ends after the citation with a punctuation mark. If you
indirectly quote several sentences or an entire paragraph, the reference follows after the
punctuation mark. The respective paragraph is to be demarcated clearly (e.g. using
circuits). The same applies to direct citations. Suppose the content of an entire section is
taken from a single reference. In that case, you have to indicate it in the section heading.
However, you are advised to use more than one reference for each section.

[Total: 70 marks]

PART 2: POWERPOINT SLIDES AND PRESENTATION (20%)

The purpose of Seminar Paper Presentation concentrates on teaching something to the

audience. A good presentation means that the audience understands the message. The
student has to understand that a good PowerPoint should be brief, concise, and
attractive to the audience to deliver the information effectively. The PowerPoint should
be developed professionally to showcase the learner’s proficiency in synthesising
academic literature and making connections with practice in educational institutions of
their research topic.

In this part, you are requested to prepare a PowerPoint Presentation based on the
content in Question 1 and present your PowerPoint slide between 10 and 15 minutes
with 5 minutes for a questions and answers session (Q&A). You should demonstrate good
oral presentation skills and an understanding of educational management concepts in
the Seminar Paper. The goals of professional speaking are to entertain, inform, inspire,
and get the audience to take action. The truth is, for your presentation or speech to have
its greatest effect, you need to be able to entertain and wow your audience. In the

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seminar, you are encouraged to speak from the outline notes. But bring both sets of
notes and your original paper to the seminar. Look at your audience when you are saying
it and make a strong ending. The evaluation will be on the effectiveness of the delivery of
the oral presentation, Q&A session, and PowerPoint content.

The PowerPoint slides should not exceed 20 slides. Suggested PowerPoint slides are as
follows:

 Topic & Writer’s Particulars (1 slide)

 Introduction (1 slide)
 Background of the Study / Problem Statement (1 slide)
 Research Objectives and Questions (1 slide)
 Theoretical framework (2-3 slides)
 Conceptual framework (1-2 slides)
 Research Method (1-2 slides)
 Conclusion (1 slide)
 References (1 slide)

PowerPoint General Guidelines

Apply a 6-6 Rule. This "Rule" simply says that each PowerPoint slide should have one
main idea, a maximum of six bullet points, and a maximum of six words per bullet point.

Presentation Guidelines

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There are seven steps to guide you to become an effective presenter:

1. Say something that connects to the audience

2. Connect with emotions
3. Tell the audience how good they are
4. Link back to your opening during your speech
5. Relate to the audience self’s interests
6. Always give a synthesis or conclusion
7. Answer questions thoroughly and thoughtfully

[Total: 20 marks]

PART 3: ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)

This part requires students to participate actively in the MyINSPIRE eforum. Discuss the
following topics in the forum and submit proof of your participation with your tutor and
peers in the eforum online discussions:

1. Discuss the features of academic writing.

2. Discuss what the functions of the literature review are.
3. There are many comments from reviewers, examiners, and supervisors to alert
writers of the perils of not meeting the demand of doing a literature review.
Elaborate on those comments.
4. In your own words, summarise in 150 words the features of three mainstream
reading processes – traditional, cognitive, and metacognitive.
5. Explain the fundamental reasons for reading.

Instruction on how to submit proof of online class participation:

1. Select the best five (5) of your postings from your forum discussion set in the
assignment.
2. Do screenshots of the postings and include them as images in your Part 1 and Part 2
assignment file.

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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 the name, title of the discussion, day, date, and time.

[Total: 20 marks]

[TOTAL MARKS: 100 MARKS]

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HMEL5043 SEMINAR PAPER IN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP / SEPTEMBER 2022 SEMESTER
PART 1: PROPOSAL FOR SEMINAR PAPER (70%)
Excellent
*QN CLO Criteria Weight
4 3
1 1 Topic Research 0.5 The topic very clearly
reflects the focus of the
study, revealing adequate
information about
research variables,
subjects & setting of the
study
1 Abstract 1.0 The abstract captures all
the relevant and essential
points of the seminar
paper
1 Introduction 1.5 The introduction provides
very clear information
from general to specific
1 Problem 2.5 Issue and problems are
Statement very relevant and provide
a very clear lead-in to the
research problem
1 Research 2.5 Research objectives &
Objectives / questions are highly
Questions focused
and clear
2 Literature 2.5 The literature review is
Review very relevant to the study.
What is it The explanation is very
about? detailed and clear
Why is the topic
ATTACHMENT
ASSIGNMENT RUBRIC
Good Fair Poor Unsatisfactory
Max
2 1 0 Marks
The topic clearly The topic reflects the The topic hardly reflects No submission. 2
reflects the focus of focus of the study, the focus of the study,
the study, revealing revealing some revealing little
fairly adequate information about information about
information research variables, research variables,
about research subjects & setting of the subjects &
variables, subjects & study The setting of the study
setting of the study
The abstract captures The abstract captures The abstract hardly No submission. 4
most of the relevant some of the relevant and captures the relevant
and essential points of essential points of the and essential points of
the seminar paper seminar paper the seminar paper
The introduction The Introduction The introduction does No submission. 6
provides clear provides some not
information from information from provide any information
general to specific general to specific from general to specific
Issue and problems are Issue and problems are Issue and problems are No submission. 10
relevant and provide a fairly relevant but do not hardly relevant and do
clear lead-in to provide a clear lead-in to not
research problem the research problem provide a clear lead-in to
the
research problem
Research objectives & Research objectives & Research objectives & No submission. 10
questions are focused questions are fairly questions are hardly
and focused and clear focused and clear.
clear
The literature review is The literature review is The literature review is No submission. 10
very relevant to the fairly relevant to the hardly relevant to
study. The explanation study. The explanation is the study. The
is detailed and clear fairly detailed and clear explanation is sketchy
and vague
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 important?
What was
done?
Key result
2 Theoretical 1.0 The explanation is very The explanation is The explanation is fairly The explanation is No submission. 4
Framework detailed and clear. It is detailed and clear. It is detailed and clear. It is sketchy and vague. It is
very much related to the related to the title. quite related to the title. not related to the title.
title.
3 Conceptual 1.0 The explanation is very The explanation is The explanation is fairly The explanation is No submission. 4
Framework detailed and clear. detailed and clear. detailed and clear sketchy and vague.

3 Research 2.5 The research method is The research method is The research method is The research method is No submission. 10
Method very appropriate. The appropriate. The fairly appropriate. The hardly appropriate. The
explanation is very clear explanation is clear explanation is fairly clear explanation is rather
with adequate relevant with quite adequate with some vague with
justification relevant justification relevant justification minimal or no relevant
justification

3 Conclusion 1.5 The conclusion provides The conclusion The conclusion provides The conclusion does not No submission. 6
very clear information of provides clear some information of provide any information
reflections and information of reflections and of reflections and
suggestions reflections and suggestions suggestions
suggestions
3 References 1.0 The references are very The references are The references are fairly The references are No submission. 4
relevant and current to relevant and current to relevant and current to hardly relevant and
the area of study. The the area of study. The the area of study. The current to the area of
citation method is very citation method is citation method is fairly study. The citation
accurate according to the accurate according to accurate according to method is not accurate
APA style the APA style the APA style according to the APA
style

Total 17.5 70
*QN = Question Number

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PART 2: POWERPOINT SLIDES AND PRESENTATION (20%)
Excellent Good Fair Poor Unsatisfactory
Max
*QN CLO Criteria Weight
4 3 2 1 0 Marks
2 4 Quality of the 1.0 The PowerPoint slides are The PowerPoint slides The PowerPoint slides The PowerPoint slides No submission. 4
PowerPoint very attractive to the are attractive to the are fairly attractive to are hardly attractive to
slides audience audience the audience the audience
4 Ability to 1.0 The literature presented is The literature The literature presented The literature presented No submission. 4
explain the very relevant to the study. presented is is fairly relevant to the is hardly relevant to the
theoretical The explanation is very very relevant to the study. The explanation is study. The explanation is
framework/ detailed and clear study. The explanation fairly detailed and clear sketchy and vague
conceptual is detailed and clear
framework
4 Ability to 1.0 The explanation is very The explanation is The explanation is fairly The explanation is No submission. 4
explain the detailed and clear. detailed and clear. detailed and clear sketchy and vague.
research design
4 Ability to 1.0 The answer provided to The answer provided The answer provided to The answer provided to No submission. 4
answer the question asked is very to the question asked the question asked is the question asked is not
questions relevant is relevant fairly relevant relevant
appropriately
4 Overall 1.0 The presentation reflects The presentation The presentation fairly The presentation hardly No submission. 4
presentation the focus of the study very reflects the focus of reflects the focus of the reflects the focus of the
well. the study. study. study.
Total 5.0 20
*QN = Question Number

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PART 3: ONLINE CLASS PRESENTATION (10%)

Unsatisfactory
Max
Excellent Good Fair Poor Or
Marks
QN CLO Criteria Weight No response
4 3 2 1 0
3 4 Quality of Postings All five comments are Four of the Two or three of the One post Postings done
good, appropriate, comments are good, comments are submitted. OR All past assignment
relevant, meaningful, appropriate, somewhat good, posts done in one timeline. 
Kualiti  and respectful.  relevant, meaningful, appropriate, day. OR No postings
Postings Postings reflect and respectful. meaningful and  OR None of the given as proof
active participation Postings reflect respectful.  comments are of participation
within assignment participation within Postings show good and in discussion
timeline. assignment timeline.  relatively short relevant. 
2.5 10
participation time.  OR Comments are
short responses
that are not
substantial  nor
meaningful.
Minimum effort
(e.g. “I agree with
Tina”)
Total 2.5 10

*QN = Question Number

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