Presentation of assignments

A GUIDE ON HOW TO PROPERLY RESEARCH AND

WRITE YOUR ASSIGNMENTS without getting in trouble!

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 COVER PAGE
SURNAME: CHIMUTI
FIRST NAME: MAONEI
DEGREE PROGRAMME:
REGISTRATION NUMBER:
DATE ASSIGNMENT DUE:
DATE SUBMITTED:
LECTURER:
QUESTION:
Assignments should be typed
Use font size 12
Use paragraphs DO NOT ANSWER IN
POINT FORM
Number of pages depend on various
factors (1) Type of response
 (2) Instructions in the question
 TYPES OF ASSIGNMENTS
Oral presentations
Essay type questions
Context based questions
Part questions
Multiple choice questions e.g.

These can be written as:

Groups
Individuals
 EXPECTATIONS IN ESSAY TYPE
QUESTIONS
Evidence of extensive RELEVANT
research.
Structure: Introduction ,body ,conclusion
Relevant examples
Citations and references
Correct FORMAL AND ACADEMIC
English language ( sentences,
spellings,punctuation,paragraphing e.g. )
 Marking guide
 80%+:Exceptional quality, penetrating analysis , knowledge based on independent reading and high-level synthesis,
creative and original thinking, independent use and evaluation of evidence, cogent and original argumentation,
excellent structure; every paragraph counts, English style shows flair, personality and eloquence, no significant flaws
in presentation, in-text citations and bibliography of a highly academic standard.
70%+:Comprehensive and effective answer to the question, analytical, aware of methodology, conceptually sound,
wide-ranging knowledge and understanding, flair and originality of thought, excellent use and evaluation of
evidence, extensive and well digested reading, , cogent relevant argument, well organised structure, clear writing and
accurate English style, professional presentation, footnotes and in text citations of a scholarly standard.

60-69%:Thorough answer covering all or most aspects of the question, good knowledge and understanding; some
errors of emphasis but not of fact, good use of evidence, wide reading, generally well digested, critical awareness of
different viewpoints, sound argument with evidence of analysis and reasoning, satisfactory structure, generally clear
writing and acceptable style, good presentation, fin text citations and bibliography of a good standard.

50-59%:Adequate answer to the question, covers main aspects, adequate knowledge and understanding; errors
balanced by sound work, some use of evidence, fair amount of reading, some awareness of different viewpoints,
adequate and generally relevant argument, generally coherent structure, adequate English style, moderate
presentation, typical weaknesses: over-reliant on one or two sources ; some irrelevance; some incoherence; more
description than analysis, in text citations and bibliography of an adequate standard.

40-49%:Failure to address important aspects of the question, limited knowledge with serious errors and/or
omissions, descriptive not analytical, little use of evidence, limited reading; heavy reliance on lecture notes, weak
structure and argument, irrelevance, poor style and presentation, in text citations and bibliography of an inadequate
standard.
39%:Failure to understand question, major errors, little knowledge or reading, incoherence, extensive irrelevance,
footnotes and bibliography missing or of a grossly inadequate standard
WHY RESEARCH?
We research because we want to explore
interesting topics by…
◦ Incorporating others’ ideas and information
◦ Exploring our own thoughts and opinions in
relation to other people’s

Believe it or not, you were not born an expert

on your topic!
Therefore, you must research and cite your
sources.
What’s the deal with…PLAGIARISM?
To plagiarize means “to commit literary
theft.”
 “Topresent as new and original an idea or product
derived from an existing source.”

You must give credit to the “owner” of

the information that you use in your
ESSAY , otherwise you are STEALING!
WHAT IS PLAGIARISM?
Anytime you use a direct quote, or even
change an author’s words, you are using
somebody else’s thoughts.

Simply changing the wording

(paraphrasing) is not enough; you must
cite your sources.
WHAT IS PLAGIARISM…cont.
Certain well-known facts do not need to be cited.
If your reader would probably already know the
information, you do not have to cite.
◦ Ex: Walt Disney founded the Disney company and
created one of the most well-known cartoon characters
of all time, Mickey Mouse. (NOT PLAGIARISM)
◦ Ex: Raised on a farm near Marceline, Missouri, Walt
became interested in drawing at an early age, selling his
first sketches to neighbors when he was only seven
years old. (PLAGIARISM—IF NOT CITED)
How can I avoid plagiarism?

Don’t cut and paste from a website or

retype something from a print source
Don’t use or buy someone else’s paper
Paraphrase and attribute
Use quotes and citations
 When do I give a citation in my paper?
ALWAYS!!!
DIRECT QUOTATIONS
STATISTICS
PARAPHRASED INFORMATION
In-text citations need to be used ANYTIME you state a fact or idea that is not our own (even if it’s in your own words).

You need an in-text citation to signal that you are using an outside source in your writing.
▪You cite the source if you have used a source one of these ways:
–As a quote
–As a paraphrase
–As a summary

It should always include the first item in the citation.

◦ Typically, this will be the author’s name…
◦ If no name, then the title of the work.

Iffrom a book or article, it should also include the page number.

In-text citations always go inside parentheses ( ).
In-text citations come at the end of the sentence, BEFORE the period.

The only time you won’t cite a source is if it is your own opinion or general knowledge.
Phrases to introduce
Use phrases like:
In his article, … Bull (2015) explains…
According to Bulls (2015)…, there are…
The article College Life (2015) …
mentions …
This is supported by Peters (2016)…
Etc, etc.
What Is Included in an In-Text Citation?
There are 3-4 basic elements for an in-text citation, but you can
place the elements in various places in the sentence.
–Parentheses
–Author(s)’ name(s)
–Date of publication
–Page (p.) or paragraph number (para.) (only for quotations)
▪Grouped all together at the end
Students with greater motivation were more successful (Wolters,
2011).
▪Spread throughout the sentence

Wolters(2011) asserted that students with greater motivation

were more successful.
When you have two or more authors
…
If it is two authors, then the citation differs if it is in parentheses or a part
of the sentence.
–Use the ampersand (&) to indicate “and” in a parenthetical in-text
citation.
(Tom & Jerry, 2009)
–Use the word “and” to connect authors names when the names are a part
of the sentence.

Tom and Jerry (2009) contended that ….

place all of the authors' last names in the text using ‘a signal phrase’.
According to Rooster and Leghorn (2016) this is the optimum level for chickens
and should guarantee them a long life .
or in the parenthetical citation:
Apparently this is the optimum level for chickens and should guarantee them a long life
(Rooster and Leghorn 29).
When a source has four or more authors
 The first time the authors’ names are used, use all author names.
–If used in a parenthetical reference, join with an ampersand.
(Jefferson, Washington, Madison, & Adams, 2010)
–If used as a part of a signal phrase, use the word “and.”
Jefferson, Washington, Madison, and Adams (2010)
▪The next time the authors need to be cited, use “et al.” after the first author’s name.
▪This is true whether the authors are in parentheses or in the sentence.
Jefferson et al. (2010) or (Jefferson et al., 2010 give the first author's last name followed
by et al. (Latin for “and others”), either in the text
or in the parenthetical citation.
You can also name all of the authors:
Either:
Iffarm buildings which house hens have extra amenities such as piped music and
temperature control then the hens show both an increased egg-laying capacity and greater
longevity (Pullet et al. 1940).
OR
Pullet et al (1940) found that if farm buildings which house hens have extra amenities
such as piped music and temperature control then the hens show both an increased egg-
laying capacity and greater longevity .
 When there are two entries with the same
author (or no author) and title

If you have two entries with the same author (or no author)
and title, find a publication fact that distinguishes the works
and add it to their parenthetical references.

--For a nonperiodical print source, use the date of publication

if possible.
--For an article in a periodical, use the title of the periodical.
--For a Web page, use the title of the overall Web site)

Experts believe that the chicken came before the egg (Smith,
2006).
Experts believe that the chicken came before the egg ("Egg,"
Student Resource Center).
When a source has a corporate author (an
organisation, government body, etc.)
include the author's name and the page(s).
If the corporate author's name is long, it
should be included in the signal phrase
This is supported by The Association of
British Poultry Breeders who recommend
sight culling of such hens to remove
underdeveloped, weak, crippled, or distressed
birds which have very little chance of
survival.
rather than the parentheses:
Multiple Sources in One In-Text Citation
If you have more than one entry in an in-text
citation, separate them with a semicolon.
–Keep the entries in alphabetical order
(APA, 2009; Perrin, 2012)
If you have more than one entry by an
author, but they are from different years,
then list the multiple dates of publication.
–Oldest date first
(Jones, 1991, 2003, 2010)
What if there is no author?
Give the title instead!
If no author is listed, then list the source by the title and the date
of publication.
–Put titles or articles in quotes
(“Literature as a Vehicle for Critical Thinking,” 2008)
–Italicize titles of books
(Secrets of the Barrel Maker, 2009)
▪REMEMBER!
–Your in-text citation should match the entry on the References
page.
▪“Literature as a Vehicle for Critical Thinking” will be
alphabetized under L
▪Secrets of the Barrel Maker will be alphabetized under S
When there is no pagination within an
electronic document,

…count the paragraphs within the document.

Here is an example from www.poop.cn/chicken
rearing/egg production which has no author or page
number.

Moreover, these claims are backed up by the People’s

Organisation for the Ownership of Poultry, a Chinese
farmers group, who are concerned that low cholesterol
feed may mean that egg laying hens become thinner and
weaker and so unable to expel the eggs. These would build
up inside the hen causing terrible discomfort and eventual
death (par. 39).
Examples:

Source:

Unlesssteps are taken to provide a predictable and stable energy supply in the face of growing
demand, the nation may be in danger of sudden power losses or even extended blackouts, thus
damaging our industrial and information-based economies. – John Doe, 1999, p.231.
Inadequate paraphrase:
Doe (1999) recommends that the government take action to provide a predictable and stable
energy supply because of constantly growing demand. Otherwise, we may be in danger of
losing power or even experiencing extended blackouts. These circumstances could damage
our industrial and information-based economy. (p.231). The inadequate paraphrase is guilty
of plagiarism even though the material is cited correctly. The writer has used too many word-
for-word phases from the source. Also, the order of the ideas is unchanged from the source.

Compare the following correct paraphrase:

Doe (1999) believes that we must find a more reliable source of energy if we are to have a
dependable electricity supply. Without this, the nation’s economic base may be damaged by
blackouts (p.231).
Still not sure?
Here is the logic behind it…
Your in-text citation should match the beginning of its entry in
your Works Cited… (this means that the reader can easily find
more information about the source in your Works Cited)

What goes into the in-text citation depends on what you are
citing and what the original source is.
▪However, there are some standard rules with in-text citation.
▪The most important rule is that the short in-text citation
matches the longer References page entry.
▪The second most important rule is that every in-text citation
has a matching entry on the References page.
▪Conversely, every entry on the References page should have at
least one in-text citation in the paper.
Sources That Get In-Text Citations But Are Not on the
References Page

Personal communications
–Letters
–Memos
–Emails
–Personal interviews
–Phone conversations
▪To cite, list who the communication was with, the kind of
communication it was, and the date.
(D. Davis, phone interview, May 9, 2012)
J. J. James (personal communication, December 1, 2003)
 Referencing a book
Author(s) or editor(s) in capitals, surname, comma, then initial(s). Full
stop.
Date (rounded brackets) Full stop.
Title as printed on title page, in italics or underlined, with first letter of
significant words in capitals, full stop.
Edition (if applicable). Full stop.
Place of publication colon. (Include country or state if location of place is
unclear.)
Publisher full stop.
COTTRELL, S. (2005). Critical Thinking Skills. Developing Effective Analysis
and Argument. 2nd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Stevens, P. (2003) The Voyage of the Catalpa: A Perilous Journey and Six
Irish Rebels’ Escape to Freedom. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.
ROGERS, J. (2001). Adults Learning. 4th ed. Buckingham: Open University
Press.
 JOURNAL ARTICLE
Author(s) in capitals, surname, comma, and then initials.
Date (rounded brackets). Full stop.
Title of article as given on page. First letter of significant words in capitals, the rest in lower case. Full
stop.
Title of journal, first letter of significant words in capitals, the rest in lower case, in italics, or
underlined, full stop.
Volume no space.
Issue (rounded brackets), comma.
Page numbers in the form of “p.” for one page or “pp.” for more than one. Full stop.
HENDRY, C. and FARLEY, A.H. (2006). Essential skills for students who are returning to study. Nursing
Standard. 21(6), pp. 44-48.

Stevens, P. (2003) ‘The Voyage of the Catalpa: A Perilous Journey and Six Irish Rebels’ Escape to
Freedom’. Irish Journal of Social History 50 (2) 34-42.
Beck, U. (2000) ‘The cosmopolitan position: Sociology of the second age of modernity’. British Journal
of
Sociology 51 (1), 79-107.

Emslie, C., Hunt, K. and Watt, G. (2001) ‘Invisible women? The importance of gender in lay beliefs about
heart problems’. Sociology of Health and Illness 23 (2), 203-33.

There is no need to write Volume 51, Number 1, pages 79-107.

Chapters within edited books
Author(s) of chapter, in capitals, surname, comma, then initials. Full
stop.
Date (rounded brackets). Full stop.
Title of chapter as printed on title page of chapter, with first letter of
significant words in capitals, full stop, followed by In (in italics or
underlined). Colon.
Editor(s) of book in capitals, surname, then initials, followed (ed.)
for one editor or (eds.) for more than one (in parenthesis).
Then follow instructions for book reference from Title to Publisher,
comma, and then Page numbers (optional) in the form of “p.” for
one page or “pp.” for more. Full stop.
Shaw, T. (2005). Leadership for Practice Development. In: Jasper, M.
and JumaA, M. (eds.) Effective Healthcare Leadership. Oxford:
Blackwell, pp. 207-221.
Internet & WWW publications
Author or responsible organization in capitals, surname, comma, and then
initials.
Date (rounded brackets). Full stop. If no date is given use (n.d.) in round
brackets.
Title as given on screen with first letter of significant words in capitals, the
rest in lower case, in italics or underlined, full stop.
Place of publication if included, colon.
Publisher (if given).
Available at: include webpage source. Full stop.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator – the web address) <diamond brackets>
Date of update where given, then date of access (round brackets) Full stop.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (2004). Home Oxygen Therapy Service: Service
Specifications. London: DOH Available at: Department of Health Website.
<dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics> (updated June 2004, accessed 26 th
October 2006).
Citing wikipedia
'Art Wikia', Leonardo da Vinci, (wiki
article), October 8, 2012, Available from:
<http://art.wikia.com/wikia/Leonardo_Da
_Vinci>. [26 October 2012].
As Wikis usually feature user generated
content there is usually no named author.
Cite the title of the Wiki and date of last
revision
EXAMPLE REFERENCE LIST
GASH, S. (1999). Effective literature searching for students.
2nd ed. London: Gower.
GOPEE, N. (1999). Referencing academic assignments.
Nursing Standard, 13(27), pp.37-40.
NEVILLE, C. (2007). The complete Guide to Referencing
and Avoiding Plagiarism. Maidenhead: Open University
Press.
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS (2003). The Chicago
Manual of Style. 15th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press.
Lecture notes Foster, T 2004, Balance sheets, lecture notes
distributed in Financial Accounting 101 at The University of
Western Australia, Crawley on 2 November 2005
BEWARE OF CERTAIN SITES!
You should know by now that WIKIPEDIA
and .com sites are unreliable sources.

Watch…
See what I mean?

Stick to .edu, .org, or .gov sites, which

come from reliable educational institutions,
organizations, or the government.