The Possible Impact of In-Class Participation on Academic Performance at the Tertiary Level 1

INTRODUCTION Attention
Grabber
Teaching is hard. Not only because of the curriculum, . . . new tests, new rules,
new measures. . . . But because it so often feels like an insurmountable, thankless,
stressful endeavor (sic). And the blame for anything and everything that goes
Link to
wrong usually falls squarely on our shoulders (Neyda Borges, cited in Strauss, Attention
2013). Grabber

In the above quotation, Borges suggests that teaching is a frustrating task. This may be
because its effectiveness is dependent on so many issues, some of which may be outside the
teachers’ control. Among the potential problems is the difficulty associated with getting
students to actively participate in the learning process. Some learners, even at the tertiary
Background
level, believe that it is the responsibility of instructors to get them to learn (Sinclair, 2011). information
However, since learning is a cognitive process that occurs within the student,
Introduction
educators believe that active participation, including completing and evaluating
of essay topic
practice activities, can assist learning (Clarke & Matthews, 2014). This result
may occur since class participation can allow for greater interaction
Thesis
Statement
with other learners, provide opportunities for clarifications, as well as
influence instructor effort.
Linking words &
phrases

Parts of the Introduction

A. Attention Grabber or Lead-in
• Serves to pull the readers’ attention and lead them to focus on the broad topic

• May take the form of

ü a quotation from an article, song, poem, and so on
ü surprising statistics
ü an interesting definition
ü short anecdote (brief story of about 3-4 lines)

• Must relate to the topic of discussion, but must not disclose any of the points
to be introduced for the first time in the thesis statement

Dr. C. Jones McKenzie, December 2015
 The Possible Impact of In-Class Participation on Academic Performance at the Tertiary Level 2

Example from Essay

Teaching is hard. Not only because of the curriculum, . . . new tests, new Focuses broadly
rules, new measures. . . . But because it so often feels like an on the
insurmountable, thankless, stressful endeavor (sic) And the blame for difficulties of
anything and everything that goes wrong usually falls squarely on our teaching
shoulders (Neyda Borges, cited in Strauss, 2013).

B. Connection to Attention Grabber

• Consist of a sentence or two that link the attention grabber to the background
information, which must begin with an issue related to the attention grabber.

Example from Essay

In the above quotation, Strauss suggests that teaching is a frustrating task.
This may be because its effectiveness is dependent on so many issues, some of
which may be outside the teachers’ control.

C. Background Information
• Provides information on aspects of the broad topic
• Must not begin to focus on the narrowed topic, but should relate to it in some
way

Example from Essay

Focuses on
Among the potential problems is the difficulty associated with active
getting students to actively participate in the learning process. participation in
Some learners, even at the tertiary level, believe that it is the learning, but
responsibility of instructors to get them to learn (Sinclair, 2011). not its effect

D. Introduction of narrowed focus/essay topic

• This is delivered in the form of a complete sentence that should flow from the
background information

Example from Essay

However, since learning is a cognitive process that occurs within the student,
educators believe that active participation, including completing and
evaluating practice activities, can assist learning (Clarke & Matthews, 2014).

Dr. C. Jones McKenzie, December 2015
 The Possible Impact of In-Class Participation on Academic Performance at the Tertiary Level 3

E. A clear thesis statement that answers the question raised by the topic

Example from Essay Question being answered

This result may occur since class participation can allow for
How can active
greater interaction with other learners, provide opportunities participation result in
for clarifications, as well as influence instructor effort. higher academic
performance?

BODY

Main Idea 1
/Topic Involvement in class may result in greater interaction with classmates, which
Sentence
can then enhance learning. Regardless of the subject area, there is a requirement for
some interrogation of content. With greater access to information, it is impossible for each
student to go through all the available sources. Saunders (2013) postulates that sharing Explanation

ideas in class, whether orally or in writing, can allow for exposure to a wider range of
material. This interaction can be enhanced when participants possess varying abilities and
interests. At the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Ja.), for example, Example/
Illustration
students within general education classes, come from various disciplines and
educational background. An in-class conversation can therefore elicit contributions from
computing, engineering, health, business or education trainees with varied educational
accomplishments. Experiments conducted by Wellington, Smith and Pious
Evidence &
(2010) among six groups of American university students show that this type Concluding
sentence
of exposure can serve to enhance the breadth and depth of students’ knowledge
of a particular topic.

Dr. C. Jones McKenzie, December 2015
 The Possible Impact of In-Class Participation on Academic Performance at the Tertiary Level 4

Parts of the Body Paragraph

A. Topic Sentence
• Is the first sentence in the formal/academic essay
• Names the main idea that will be discussed in the paragraph or section of the
essay

• Presented in the same order as named in the thesis

Example from Essay

Involvement in class may result in increased interaction with classmates,
which can then enhance learning.

B. Explanation
• This provides clarification of the idea named in the topic sentence
• It may define, or show why or how the idea works

Example from Essay

Regardless of the subject area, there is a requirement for some interrogation
of content. With greater access to information, it is impossible for each
student to go through all the available sources. Saunders (2013) postulates
that sharing ideas in class, whether orally or in writing, can allow for
exposure to a wider range of material. This interaction can be enhanced
when participants possess varying abilities and interests.

C. Illustration/Example
• Seeks to provide a clear picture of what is being explained
• Can be anecdotal (not necessarily factual)
• Must be related to point being discussed

Example from Essay

At the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Ja.), for example, students
within general education classes, come from various disciplines and


Dr. C. Jones McKenzie, December 2015
 The Possible Impact of In-Class Participation on Academic Performance at the Tertiary Level 5

educational background. An in-class conversation can therefore elicit

contributions from computing, engineering, health, business or education
trainees with varied educational accomplishments.
D. Evidence
• Aims to provide proof for statements being made
• Must be factual
• Can take the form of a logical explanation or facts from research
• Sometimes overlap with the explanation

Example from Essay

Experiments conducted by Wellington, Smith and Pious (2010) among six groups of
American university students show that this type of exposure can serve to enhance the
breadth and depth of students’ understanding of a particular topic.

Note
Except for the topic sentence, which must come first in the paragraph, there is no
special ordering of the rest of the elements. Therefore, evidence does not have to be
placed last, for example.

CONCLUSION

It appears as if active class participation may contribute to effective learning. When

students’ understanding of content is deepened through vibrant discussions and presentations,
which permit exposure to new information and opportunities for enlightenment, if there are
misunderstandings or confusion, their academic performance may be positively impacted.
Moreover, the actions of students who show interest by being prepared for and actively
participating in classes, can positively impact the attitude of facilitators. This could lead to
improved teacher input, which may then create a more beneficial learning environment.
Consequently, each set of stakeholders may inspire the other, perhaps making their tasks
seem less difficult, “insurmountable” and “stressful” (Strauss, 2013).


Dr. C. Jones McKenzie, December 2015
 The Possible Impact of In-Class Participation on Academic Performance at the Tertiary Level 6

Role and Parts of the Conclusion

• The conclusion summarizes the essay

• It reminds the audience of the ideas that were shared
• No NEW ideas should be presented

A. Opening
• Sentence that summarizes the overall message of the essay

Example from Essay

It appears as if active class participation may contribute to effective learning.

B. Restatement of Main Points

• Depending on the length of the essay, 3-4 sentences that remind the reader of
the ideas that led to the overall conclusion given in sentence 1.

• Repeat of main ideas given in the body, using different words, as far as
possible

• ( Restatement, NOT “copy and paste”)

• No new ideas should be included

Example from Essay

When students’ understanding of content is deepened through vibrant

discussions and presentations, which permit exposure to new information and
opportunities for enlightenment, if there are misunderstandings or confusion,
their academic performance may be positively impacted. Moreover, the
actions of students who show interest by being prepared for and actively
participating in classes, can positively impact the attitude of facilitators. This


Dr. C. Jones McKenzie, December 2015
 The Possible Impact of In-Class Participation on Academic Performance at the Tertiary Level 7

could lead to improved teacher input, which may then create a more beneficial
learning environment.
C. Wrap up/ Closing

• 1-2 sentences that serve to shut down the entire

• Can comprise of a quote/extract, interesting statistics or statement on the topic

based on the ideas presented

• If the essay is EXPOSITORY, there should be NO recommendation or call to

action

• If ARGUMENTATIVE, call to action or recommendation is allowed

Example from Essay

Consequently, each set of stakeholders may inspire the other, perhaps making
their tasks seem less difficult, “insurmountable” and “stressful” (Strauss,
2013).

Organization is extremely important in formal messages, so ensure that

ü each sentence is linked to the previous one
ü each paragraph begins with a link to the previous section
ü all the required parts are included in their correct positions
ü all ideas are relevant to the topic
• thesis should answer the topic
• main points should discuss the points named in the thesis
• only one main idea should be discussed in each paragraph

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 The Possible Impact of In-Class Participation on Academic Performance at the Tertiary Level 8

Clarity of Content must be achieved through

ü clearly stated ideas that relate to the topic/focus of the paragraph
ü the use of effective words
ü the use of grammatical English sentences

Edit & proofread your work to ensure that all

is well before submitting it for grading.

Happy Writing and Good luck!

Dr. C. Jones McKenzie, December 2015