ENG1503/Assignment 2/2022

Tutorial Letter 001/3/2022

ENG1503

Semester 2

Department of English Studies

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This tutorial letter contains important information about the
ENG1503 Assignment 2 for Semester 2
 ENG1503/001/3/2022

CONTENTS

Page

1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................................... 3
2 PURPOSE OF TUTORIAL LETTER............................................................................................3
3 ASSIGNMENTS............................................................................................................... …………..4
3.1 Semester 2 Assignment 2 ...............................................................……………........................... 4
3.2 Examination………………………………………………………………………………………………..6
3.3 Other information………………………………………………………………………………………….6
4 CONTACT WITH THE UNIVERSITY………………………………………………………………………………….6
5 CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................6

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1 INTRODUCTION

Dear Student

Welcome to UNISA and to the ENG1503 module. We hope that you are going to find this
ENG1503 module informative and enjoyable. The purpose of this module is to develop your ability
for critical reading and critical writing which are essential academic skills, improve your academic
English competence (academic discourse and literacy) and develop your abilities to read and
write academic genres (for disciplines and various contexts), such as argumentative and essay
writing, research based essays, research articles, lectures, using appropriate conventions, such
as citation, and research skills. Please refer to the specific outcomes (SO) and assessment
criteria (AC) in your module form (Addendum B in your TL101) to understand more of what we
will be teaching you and assessing you on.

To ensure your success in this module, you should work with all your learning material
continuously, read the announcements that we post regularly, engage with your eTutors,
download and read all additional resources, attend Teams meetings with us and participate with
your lecturers on the ENG1503 site.

2 PURPOSE OF TUTORIAL LETTER

The purpose of this tutorial letter is to provide you with details of assignments and their due
dates for Semester 2. Please keep this tutorial letter safe and check it regularly so that you do
not miss assignment submission dates. Please read your mylife emails regularly as we will
post information if there may be changes in due dates. It is your responsibility to keep
up to date with all announcements.

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3 ASSIGNMENT

3.1 Semester 2 A s s i g n m e n t :

Assignment number Unique Number Due Date

Assignment 2 860252 16 September 2022

ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS

Assignment: 02
Assessment Criteria: SO1 (AC1, 2, 3, 4), SO2 (AC1, 2, 3), SO3 (AC1, 2, 3), SO4 (AC1, 2, 3)
Compulsory: Yes
Due Date: 16 September
2022

Research-based essay
Instruction

In this question, you are expected to write an essay of 500 words in length. Your essay should
demonstrate the conventions you have learned from the module about essay structure and layout.
This includes forming a thesis statement, clarity of message, taking a clear position and stance,
using the appropriate words for the type of essay; cohesion and logical organisation of information,
proper paragraphing, correct sentence structure and referencing.

In order to answer this question, find at least FIVE academically valid sources. These sources
should be cited in the body of your essay. These citations must be fully included in a
reference list at the end of your essay. Please note that Unisa follows the Harvard style of
referencing. You will not be credited for your reference list if the references are not cited
in the body of your text (and vice versa). At least one source must be from a printed book or
journal. Website sources are allowed as a main source only if they are authored articles from
journals or books from nationally/internationally recognised institutions. Articles from newspapers,
magazines or civic organisations that are not credible may not be used as a reliable source of
scientific information. Website articles written by unidentified individuals or authors may not be
used.

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Your essay should demonstrate the conventions you have learned from the module about essay
structure and layout. This includes forming a thesis statement, clarity of message, taking a clear
position and stance, using the appropriate words for the type of essay; cohesion and logical
organisation of information, proper paragraphing, correct sentence structure and referencing. Your
essay will be marked using an assessment rubric. Before you submit your assignment, please
refer to the rubric in TL101 to make sure that you have addressed all the aspects we will be looking
for.
Choose one of the following topics:

Read the extract below and answer the question that follows:
The outbreak of Covid-19 has had an immense impact on the entire globe. The pandemic has not
only exacerbated social inequalities but has also thrown global economies into disarray. In
addition, in South Africa, it also made gaps and deficiencies in the education system quite glaring.
It brought about a need to rethink education to ensure that the current generation of students are
adequately prepared for the irreversible changes brought by the pandemic.

Question 1:

Using the extract above as a starting-point, discuss THREE different gaps in the education system
that were exposed by the pandemic. Conclude by providing recommendations to address these
gaps. The focus of your essay should be in a country of your choice.
(100 Marks)

OR
Read the extract below and answer the question that follows:

“Not all technologies can be adopted from abroad, which is another reason why the technological
adopters stay behind the technological leaders: Much of what the technological leaders are
producing is not necessarily relevant to the adopter’s needs if the ecological settings are quite
different. If US inventors develop new processes for raising wheat productivity, that may have
little direct benefit for cassava growers in Africa. Local needs require local innovations in many
sectors” (Sachs & McArthur, 2002).

Extracted from: Sachs, J.D. & McArthur, J.W. 2002. Technological advancement and long-term
economic growth in Asia. Available on https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251862885.
Accessed 2021, March 23.

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Question 2:

Using the extract above as a starting-point, Evaluate the last line of the above quotation which
reads: “Local needs require local innovations in many sectors”. In your essay, argue the
validity/invalidity of this statement by referring to relevant examples in your context.

(100 Marks)

3.2 Examinations

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Unisa resolved that all examinations will be held online. Thus,
no venue-based examinations will be written in 2022. Please select the exam centre code (36013)
for 'Online Examination' when registering online. Please note the following important information
regarding examinations:

- The marks for the assignments and the examination are equally weighted according to a
40/60 ration. Please refer to module specific tutorial letters for specific details.
- The 2022 final examination will take place during October/November 2022.

3.3 Other information

- All your study material (tutorial letters, study guide and information on prescribed books)
can be accessed on myUnisa.
- If you are facing difficulty with registering for any of the modules, please email the
Department of English Studies at: englishstudieshelp@unisa.ac.za

4. CONTACT WITH THE UNIVERSITY

You can contact your lecturers using the details found on myUnisa. Never use your private email
accounts to reach your lecturers; always use your allocated MyLife email account. Lecturers
will not be responding to private emails used by students.

5. CONCLUSION

We will be uploading resources on myUnisa under Additional Resources, Announcements,

Podcasts and FAQs. Therefore, it is important to check your mylife email throughout the year so
that you do not miss out on any communication from us. In addition, join the online tutorial groups
and other online learning activities to gain more knowledge. Do not hesitate to contact us via email
if you are experiencing problems with this tutorial letter's content or with any academic aspect of
the module.

We wish you all the best in your studies

ENG1503 TEAM