EXERCISE 1

Read the excerpt below and summarise Warner’s idea on Writing Successfully in a
University. Add an in-text citation according to the APA style.

Source : Article

Author : Morley Warner

Date of publication : February 2011

Title : Academic Writing: A Guide to Writing in a University Context

To write successfully in a university, students need to have a sense of what the final product
should look and sound like. If possible read model assignments, or if these are not available,
study the way in which journal articles have been written in their field of study. These articles
maybe lengthy and some may be based on research rather than discussion issues, but from them
they will get a sense of how academic writing ‘sounds’, that is, its tone and how respected
writers in their field assemble information. This will enable the students to build their writing
skills.

Warner (2011) suggests that university students to write effortlessly, they should understand
how academic writing is written by reading other author’s writing in same field of study. This
will help them vision a complete academic writing and enhance writing skills.
EXERCISE 2

Read the excerpt below and write a summary on The Toxic Danger of New Cars. Add an in-
text citation according to the APA style.

Source : Online article

Author : The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research

Organisation in Australia (CSIRO)

Date of publication : January 2010

Title : Toxic Danger of New Cars

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia (CSIRO)

warned drivers and passengers of new cars that danger lies within their brand new vehicles. It
is not the soft fabric or leather, the shining new dashboard or the designs of the sporty steering
wheel that harbour the danger. It is the reassuring smell of the new car that spells danger. The
odour actually contains high levels of toxic air emissions that can make the driver and
passengers ill.

CSIRO conducted comprehensive research on three cars. Drivers were asked to keep logs on
how they felt and reacted to the luxurious interiors of their cars. The researchers also carried
out observations on the reactions of the drivers and at the same time interviewed them.

Evidence was therefore carefully gathered and analysed. The results revealed that the very
smell of a new car that captivates the new owner contains high levels of toxic emissions. What
is even more alarming is the fact that these toxic emissions are present in cars even after 6
months or longer of leaving the showroom. The study also revealed that drivers were becoming
ill when they drove their new cars. The toxic emissions contain many chemicals such as
benzene that can cause cancer and lung failure.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research (2010) states that the smell of newly
bought car contains high levels of toxic air emissions and can be found up to six months or
more after leaving showroom. The study also shows that the toxic emission can cause illness
such as cancer and lung failure to the drivers.
EXERCISE 3

Read the excerpt below and write a summary on The Impact of Cultural Diversity in the
Workplace. Add an in-text citation according to the APA style.

Source : Journal Article

Author : Gillian Coote Martin and Mary Robinson

Date of Publication : December 2014

Title : The Effects of Cultural Diversity In The Workplace

Cultural diversity in the workplace has grown as a trend over the passage of time with the
increase of globalisation in the world. A positive effect of cultural diversity in the workplace
is that employees belonging to different cultures usually have different ways of thinking and
can thus analyse a matter at hand from a variety of perspectives. This is hard to achieve when
employees belonging to the same culture are asked to analyse the same matter. Employees
coming from different cultures have different experiences which can be beneficial by providing
the organisation with a sound and vast knowledge base. For example, a study conducted on the
impact and scope of cultural diversity in organisations in the UAE showed that most of the
workers agreed that group work with culturally diverse people helps to overcome cultural
differences through shared experiences when working within a team.

Another positive effect of cultural diversity in the workplace is the increased tendency of
organisational personnel to overcome culture shock as the business expands in other countries
and becomes international. This is a very important benefit derived from cultural diversity of
the employees because many modern companies have global expansion on their corporate
agendas. With expansion into other countries comes a range of obstacles including, but not
limited to, gathering information about local customs and laws in the foreign country, assessing
risks and designing strategies to overcome those risks. When an organisation has a culturally
diverse workforce, it can use the information and knowledge of the individual workers to
achieve these objectives and overcome the aforementioned obstacles. For example, an
American company trying to expand its business in India can draw information about the Indian
federal and provincial laws that apply to the business, insurances required and applicable tax
regulations from its workforce of Indian nationality.
In addition, a culturally diverse working environment in organisations can drive business
growth and improve customer service by involving a diverse workforce. This means making
use of language skills, cultural information, knowledge of the business networks and
knowledge of the business market of the employees’ home countries. With these key assets,
organisations will have competitive advantages in marketing goods and services to a growing
migrant community as well as to the global market. The Avon Company, for example, was able
to turn around its unprofitable inner city markets in the United States by putting African-
American and Hispanic managers in charge of marketing to these populations. Just as ethnic
minorities may prefer to work for employers who value diversity, they may also prefer to buy
from such organisations.

Martin and Robinson (2014) found that employees from other cultures have distinct mindset
which can vary and beneficial. The study shows as a company develops into other nations and
becomes globalized; its employees are likely to overcome cultural differences. Besides, by
employing a diverse team, businesses can boost business growth and enhance customer service
in a culturally diverse working environment.