INDEPENDENT STUDY

COM656
GUIDELINES

BACHELOR’S DEGREE
(HONOURS)

FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
FEBRUARY 2021
 COM656 INDEPENDENT STUDY

1 INTRODUCTION
The main objective of this Independent Study Guidelines is to provide a reference to
students who are working on their COM656 Independent Study report.
Students must follow the specifications outlined here to ensure their completed report
meets the academic standards expected of a bachelor’s degree (Programme
Standards).
With effect from March 2021, students of the Faculty of Communication and Media
Studies (FKPM), UiTM are required to work on and complete their independent study
report while on internship. For practical reasons, they are advised to explore and
choose a topic/title, or a theme related to the organisations they are attached to for
their reflective and analysis piece. However, should they choose to, students may write
on topics not related to their internship organisation. The topic must still be based on
their field of study and must be discussed with their supervisor aforehand. For
example, the topic can be, ‘New Media laws and policies in Southeast Asian countries
– a comparative analysis’. Students must choose a substantial topic and prepare to
write a significant analysis to fulfil the required credits.

2 INDEPENDENT STUDY
Independent study is a type of instructional practice conducted by an independent
student with minimum guidance. The student and his or her lecturer would need to
agree on a subject for the student to study, with limited supervision and advice from
the lecturer. Independent studies carried out on the accepted number of academic
credits offer an avenue for well-motivated students to explore an in-depth theme.
Independent study gives opportunities for students to discuss topics of their own
interests at a deeper level. Lecturers may vary in the manner they hold discussions,
but students are expected to take the lead in these discussions. Lecturers will ask
questions to help students understand the merits of the chosen topics and the issues
they wish to address.
As communication majors, FKPM students are advised to focus on media and
communication issues. For example, students doing a report on organisation-related
topics can study campaigns, events or programmes initiated by the organisations.
They may also study in-house policies which have direct implications on the
communication industry. Thematic or content analyses may be used for such data.
Once they have decided on the topic or theme which is approved by the supervisor,
students will continue to engage in discussions with their supervisor to complete the
assessment given. The central theme of the report will be based upon reflective
examination and analysis of different studies in the area of communication and media.
The fundamental of your writing must be supported by 1 (ONE) theory in various
communication and media field of studies. Theories are formulated to explain, predict,
and understand phenomena. Therefore, it is vital to highlight your findings based on
your selected theory to challenge and extend existing knowledge of your desired
topics.
 COM656 INDEPENDENT STUDY

The whole assessment will be based upon how students propose their ideas according
to the related field, and how they portray these thoughts and ideas while incorporating
theories learned throughout their studies. Students should maintain constant contact
with their supervisor as this assessment requires discussion and approval through the
different stages of writing. At the end of the semester, students will be required to
submit their reflective piece and analysis of their chosen topic.

3 CONTENTS
The student’s reflective and analysis piece, i.e., term paper or essay, must contain the
following content: Introduction to the area of interest, Issues related to the area of
interest, Objectives, Discussion, Suggestions, Conclusion, and References.

i. Introduction to the area of interest – In the introduction section, students can

begin by stating the topic or issue that they are interested in and explain why
the issue is important. The topic or issue can be obtained from the course
readings in their field of study. Students must critically discuss and criticise the
views of AT LEAST one of the authors in the course readings.

ii. Issues related to the area of interest – In this section, students need to identify
and summarise the appropriate views and arguments in their programme's
course readings or in other readings from academic scholars that they believe
are important to support their thoughts and ideas.

iii. Objectives – In this section, students must present the objectives of their paper,
the questions they hope to answer, as well as provide the structure of the paper.

iv. Discussion – In this section, students should carefully provide their thoughts
and ideas on the topic of this paper and apply the insights they have learned
from the courses they have attended. Their opinions or best judgments must
be supported and justified with facts that are relevant to their issue/topic. The
discussion must be descriptive and reflect real knowledge of a particular topic.

v. Suggestions – In this section, students should provide rational suggestions of

how the findings can be used in the real world.

vi. Conclusion – In this section, students should summarize the results of their
findings or evidence and the significance of the issues which lead to logical
conclusions.

vii. References - Students should list down all their resource materials in
alphabetical order by following the American Psychological Association (APA)
format.
 COM656 INDEPENDENT STUDY

4. WRITING FORMAT
The COM656 Independent Study report format follows the American Psychological
Association (APA) documentation system. Further information on the APA style can
be retrieved from www.apastyle.org.

5. LANGUAGE AND LENGTH OF WRITING

As a general guideline, the report should be written in English and the length should
be between 20–25 pages or 8,000–10,000 words EXCLUDING the references and
appendices.

6. TURNITIN SIMILARITY INDEX

Students are required to check for Turnitin similarity index of their completed
Independent Study report using the Turnitin software, which will be made available
through their appointed supervisors.
The Turnitin similarity index must not exceed 30% (UiTM’s requirement) but must not
be less than 5%. The supervisor will provide support to the student to help interpret
the report and where required, offer advice on paraphrasing and citing sources in an
attempt to help reduce the index to 30% and below.
The Turnitin similarity index result (only the front page that states the index score) is
required to be submitted together with the completed Independent Study report, and
approved by their supervisor.
Any submission of the report without the Turnitin similarity index score will not be
accepted and the assessment will be considered as null and void.

7. TYPEFACE, FONT SIZE, PAPER AND PAGINATION LINE/SPACING

TYPEFACE/ FONT SIZE AND PAGINATION

Line/Spacing: 1.5 spacing between lines, single spacing for quotation longer than 3
lines in a block and single spacing for bibliography.
Typeface/Font Size: Arial - size 11.
Pagination: Preliminary pages must be numbered in Roman numeral (i, ii, iii) and all
other pages in the main text in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
 COM656 INDEPENDENT STUDY

8. SUBMISSION OF INDEPENDENT STUDY REPORT

The independent study report should be submitted by the end of the semester (date
to be advised). The report must be given to the supervisor, and the soft copy must be
carbon copied (CC’ed) to Programme Coordinator and Head of Centre. An ‘F’ grade
will be given for failure to submit the full report on time.

9. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY, ETHICS AND PLAGIARISM ISSUES

Ethics and academic integrity are central principles guiding the educational mission of
this university. Academic integrity must be cultivated among academics and students.
Continual and systematic communication and reinforcement is necessary to realise
this institutional value.
Plagiarism is copying the work of another author without acknowledging or crediting
the original source. Students who are found guilty of plagiarism will be given an ‘F’
grade (refer to Academic Regulation – Revised 2010; pp 12 & 27, Section 2.22.3).
UiTM Plagiarism policy expands on Section 8A of the Education Institutions
(Discipline) Act 176 (which came in force in December 2010) and outlines different
types of plagiarism. Plagiarism includes using the work of others (and also one’s own
previous work) without appropriate acknowledgement or citation or permission;
paraphrasing, translating, resubmitting one’s own work, claiming work done by others
(including for a fee) as one’s own; fabricating data and doctoring data.
It is important to recognise that paraphrasing, summarising, translating, quoting, etc.
are important writing skills to have. But these skills must be exercised without seeking
to appropriate ideas and opinions of others without acknowledgement.
 COM656 INDEPENDENT STUDY

Criteria Item Excellent Good Moderate Poor

The introduction is The introduction

inviting, states the main states the main topic There is no
The introduction
Introduction to topic, and provides an and provides an clear
states the main topic
area of interest: overview of the area of overview of the area but does not introduction on
10% interest. Information is of interest, but is not capture supervisor’s the area of
Proposal: relevant. particularly inviting. attention. interest.
30% (10-8 marks) (7-5 marks) (4-3 marks) (0-2 marks)
(CLO 1)
Identifies and
3400 – 4000
Issues related to Identifies and Identifies and understands few
words Identifies and
the area of understands all of the understands most of understands some of of the issues
interest: 15% issues related to the the issues related to the issues related to related to the
area of interest. the area of interest. the area of interest. area of interest.
(15-12 marks) (11-8) marks (7-4 marks) (0-3 marks)
Objectives are Objectives are
Objectives are
somewhat Objectives are not very hard to
Objectives: 5% clear/understandable.
clear/understandable. clear/understandable. understand.
(5 marks)
(4-3 marks) ( 2 marks) (0-1 mark)
Insightful and thorough Superficial discussion Incomplete
Discussion: 20% discussion of all the Thorough discussion of some of the discussion of
issues. of most of the issues. issues. the issues.
Report: 40% (15-11 marks)
(20-16 marks) (10-6 marks) (0-5 marks)
(CLO 2)
Logical and Suggestions of how Suggestions of how Suggestions of
4600 – 6000
comprehensive the findings can be the findings may be how the findings
words Suggestions:
suggestions of how the applied to the applied to the real may be applied
10%
findings can be applied real world, albeit not world mentioned only to the real world
in the real world. as thorough. in passing. are vague.
(10-8 marks) (7-5 marks) (4-3 marks) (0-2 marks)
 COM656 INDEPENDENT STUDY

An effective A summary is A summary or

summary of the The main arguments presented with a concluding
Conclusion: 10% evidence leads to are reiterated and a concluding statement is
logical conclusions. conclusion is present. statement. present.
(10-8 marks) (7-5 marks) (4-3 marks) (0-2 marks)
All information from Embedded Only some
outside sources are references are used embedded references An attempt was
References: 5% properly identified in for most sources and are used and/or made at
the text and listed at are listed at the end formatting errors referencing
the end of the paper. of the paper. occurred. sources.
(5 marks) (4-3 marks) ( 2 marks) (0-1 mark)
Report :10%
(CLO 3) Language use
Language use is Language use is
Language use is is below grade
advanced and satisfactory. There
appropriate. There level. There are
Spelling and appropriate. There are some significant
are minor spelling or many spelling
Grammar: 5% are no spelling or spelling and
grammar errors. and grammar
grammar errors. grammar errors.
(4-3 marks) errors.
(5 marks) (2 marks) (0-1 mark)
Does not have
Demonstrates full Uncomfortable with grasp of
knowledge of the study, At ease with explaining information and
Consultation: Consultation: able to answer all explaining the study information and is cannot answer
20% 20% questions with and is able to answer able to answer questions about
(CLO 4) explanations and all questions, but only basic subject. No
elaboration. More than without elaboration. questions.1-2 times consultation with
7 times supervision. 4-5 times supervision. supervision. supervisor at all.
(20-16 marks) (15-11 marks) (10-6 marks) (0-5 marks)