ASSIGNMENT

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OUMH1203
ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
MAY 2018 SEMESTER
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INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS

1. This assignment contains only ONE question that is set in English.

2. Answer in English only.

3. Learners are to submit assignment only in MsWord format unless specified otherwise. Please
refrain from converting text/phrases into picture format such as .gif / .jpeg / print screen / etc.

4. Download the language version of the assignment template concerned from the myINSPIRE for
preparation and submission of your assignment. Your assignment should be typed using 12
point Times New Roman font and 1.5 line spacing.

5. Your assignment should be between 2500 to 3000 words excluding references. The number of
words should be shown at the end of your assignment. Do not copy the assignment question
and instructions to your answer. Only assignment answer developed within the approximate
word limit will be assessed. The number of words should be shown at the end of your
assignment.

6. You must submit your assignment ONLINE via the myINSPIRE. Refer to the portal for instructions
on the procedures to submit your assignment online. You are advised to keep a copy of your
submitted assignment for personal reference.

7. You can submit your assignment ONCE only in a SINGLE file.

8. Your assignment must be submitted between 9 July 2018 until 22 July 2018. Submission after 22
July 2018 will NOT be accepted.

9. Your assignment should be prepared individually. You should not copy another person’s
assignment. You should also not plagiarise another person’s work as your own.

10. Please take note that PENALTY will be imposed on late submission of assignment as specified in
the Registrar’s Office circular 6/2012 (Refer to Registrar’s Announcement in myVLE).

11. Please ensure that you keep the RECEIPT issued upon submisson of your assignment as proof of
submission. Your assignment is considered as NOT submitted if you fail to produce the
submission receipt in any dispute arises concerning assignment submission.

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EVALUATION

This assignment accounts for 60% of the total marks for the course and shall be assessed based on
the Rubrics attached.

You would be given feedback on the assignment before the Final Semester Examination commences.

PLAGIARISM: MARKS DEDUCTION

Warning: The submitted assignment will automatically undergo a similarity check. If plagiarism is
detected, marks would be deducted as follows:

No. % Similarity Group % Marks Deduction

1 0 – 30 0
2 30.01 – 50 5
3 50.01 – 70 10
4 70.01 – 100 100

Assignments found to have similarities under any of the categories above; will not be entitled to
apply for appeal. For learners who fall into the 70.01-100 similarities group, the access for online
appeal for assignment remarking of the subject will be disabled from the appeal options.

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 ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

This assignment is intended to give you practice in academic writing. It requires you to refer
to materials / articles and include relevant ideas and quotes in your essay. You are also
required to acknowledge ideas and concepts you have picked up from sources to be
included in your writing.

TASK
Education is the fundamental necessity of life. The achievement of higher education is not
possible without studying in college or university. University is a hub of knowledge where
learners can gain vast knowledge and experience with the exposure to the right courses.
Choosing the right courses can be one of the important factors for life survival.

For this assignment you need to discuss TWO most important courses that learners should
take in university to prepare them for the future and do the following:
i. Prepare an outline for your essay
ii. Write an essay and discuss the issues related to the above topic and give reasons
for your opinion.

Notice:
Write your own essay and avoid plagiarism. The content of the essay must be written based
on the essay outline that you have prepared. Please refer to the sequenced and numbered
outline format stated on page 27 (3.1 Planning to Write Essays) of the OUMH1203 module
and refer to the attached sample outline format.

Support your discussion with evidence drawn from a review of current and related literature
(2012 – 2018). Use the APA format for in - text citations and the reference list.

Refer to the assignment rubrics as a guide to achieve cohesion and coherence.

[Total: 60 marks]

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 SAMPLE OUTLINE FORMAT

Title of Essay

Introduction
Introduction to the topic
Thesis Statement

I. Topic Sentence 1
A. Supporting Detail
i. Example
a) Sub-example (if any)

II. Topic Sentence 2 (same structure for Topic Sentence 3 and so on)
A. Supporting Detail
i. Example
a) Sub-example (if any)

III. Conclusion
The conclusion of the essay

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 Assignment Rubrics
Missing
Excellent Above average Fair Low
Item Max
Criteria Weight
4 3 2 1 0 Marks
Essay Outline 2.5 Correct and accurate Parts of the format are The content and the Outline is poorly No proper use of 10
format. correct. organisation of ideas in written and the format outline format.
Details are placed in a Details are placed in a the outline are weak. is wrong.
logical order and the logical order, but the The format is wrong. Many details are not in
way they are way in which they are Some details are not in a logical or expected
presented effectively presented sometimes a logical or expected order. The outline is
makes the outline very makes the outline less order, and this unorganised.
interesting. interesting. distracts the
organisation of the
outline.

Introduction 2 The introduction very The introduction The introduction states There is no clear Introduction 8
clearly states the thesis clearly states the thesis the thesis statement, introduction of the presents no
statement and statement and but does not main topic or structure purpose.
previews the structure previews the structure adequately preview of the paper.
of the paper. of the paper. the structure of the
paper.

Content 5 - Fully addresses all - Adequately - Generally writes - Some attempt to - A weak attempt at 20
aspects of the addresses the about the topic but address the writing addressing the
writing assignment. writing assignment. with a few assignment. writing
- Full and rich - Clear and complete digressions in parts - Development of assignment.
development of the development of of the writing. content is limited, - Off - topic for the
content. content. - Development of may be incomplete most part.
- Main points are - Main points are content adequate. or unclear.
relevant and relevant and - Some main points - Most main points
extended extended may not be fully are not fully
satisfactorily with adequately with the extended; extended, serious
the support of support of relevant supporting details lack of supporting
relevant details. details. may not be details.
- Ideas are organized - Some ideas may not relevant or - Organization of
logically and be arranged adequate. ideas lacks clarity
coherently. logically and - Ideas may not be and may lead to
coherently. arranged logically confusion.
and coherently.

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 Missing
Excellent Above average Fair Low
Item Max
Criteria Weight
4 3 2 1 0 Marks
Conclusion 2 Conclusion skillfully The conclusion is The conclusion is Conclusion is weak. Conclusion does not 8
reinforces thesis and recognizable and ties recognizable, but does tie paper together.
gives closure to essay. up almost all the loose not tie up several loose
ends. ends.

Language/ 2 - Sentence style fits - Sentences are - Sentence structures - Contains several - Contains many 8
Sentence Skills paper’s purpose. generally clear, well are generally awkward or awkward
Sentences are structured, focused, correct, but ungrammatical sentences.
varied, yet clearly though some may be sentences may be sentences. Sentence Displays general
structured and awkward or wordy or repetitive. structure is simple inability in writing
carefully focused. ineffective. - Frequent errors in or monotonous. grammatical/mea
- Language is excellent - -Language is grammar, lexical - Very frequent errors ningful sentences.
with hardly any error satisfactory with choice and in grammar, lexical - Errors in grammar,
in grammar, lexical some errors in punctuation which choice and lexical choice and
choice and grammar, lexical may impede punctuation that punctuation are
punctuation. choice and understanding and seriously impair too frequent and
punctuation which clarity. understanding and severe, making it
do not seriously clarity. highly difficult to
impede understand the
understanding and message.
clarity.

References 1.5 All the references are Most of the references References are References are References are not 6
effectively used, are effectively used, sometimes not inappropriately/unclea incorporated or
correctly cited and correctly cited and effectively used, rly incorporated. incorporated
correctly listed in the correctly listed in the and/or correctly cited inappropriately.
reference list according reference list according and/or correctly listed
to APA style. to APA style. in the reference list
according to APA style.

TOTAL MARKS 60