10 USE Prepare Improve Assignment

7/29/2019 10 USE Prepare Improve Assignment

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CCCU Student Study Support1

How to prepare and improve your

assignment


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Working on your essay


Interpret question

Research/create aplan

Begin to draft mainbody, introduction &

conclusionCreate and

maintainreference

list

Proofread; editand refine

reference list

We arestarting

from here . .

Review andrevise your

work


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What does drafting mean?


It means that you expect to write a first version ofyour assignment and then revise it more than

once, focussing on different things at different

times.

All good writers do several drafts of their work.

Drafting works best if you leave some time

between each revision so that you can see it with

fresh eyes.

Drafting is NOT the same as proof reading:

that simply means correcting mechanical

mistakes like spelling and grammar.


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Revising your writing: 5 things to focus

on:

CCCU Student Study Support

Well-structured

essay

Argument /critical

analysis

Research &referencing

Relevance,viewpoint,integration

Academiclanguage

4


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Vocabulary choiceWork to increase your vocabulary as you study

Learn subject related terms

Learn other words /phrases you commonly find

when you're reading journals etc. so that your

vocabulary becomes wider and more academicTry these:

Cut index cards into small word cards; write the new

word on the front & the meaning on the back; punch a

hole in the top corner & put them on a keyring; carrythem around & test yourself in spare moments

Do one or two of the gap-fill exercises on the Study

Support Blackboard each week

5 CCCU Student Study Support


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Voice

In addition to using appropriate vocabulary, wetry to find an appropriate 'voice' for academic

writing.

This voice aims to be: Rational, logical, unemotional*

It tries to persuade by well supported argument

rather than colourful emotive language

It is often impersonalIt always avoids the word 'you' meaning everyone

It may avoid 'I' or 'we if not, it uses them sparingly

6 CCCU Student Study Support


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Writing in the 3rd person


Not - Icollected the samples and recorded the results.

But - The samples were collected and the results were

recorded.

Not - Wesaw a lot of evidence of teamwork.You could see it

was positive.

ButThere wasconsiderable evidence of teamwork, which

was clearly positive.


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Writing assignments:

Whats it all about?

The aim of writing your essay is to put forward

your own answer to the question in a way thatshows it is well-researched but which clearlyshows that it is your own thinking..

so you need to develop your own argument, based

on your reading, research and thinkingand then select relevant sources from theliterature and use them appropriately andeffectively.



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Your argument is..

Your answer to the question:

i.e. a conclusion with a logical and well-

supported line of reasoning that leads the

reader step by step towards it.



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Clear essay structure


Introduction

Interprets the question

Gives necessary context, background, definitions

Outlines the essay structure

BodyEach paragraph does a job; what and why is clear-

relevance

Each point is clear and well supported strong

paragraphsYou move logically from one thing to anotherreaders

perspective

Conclusion

Follows from the body of your essay


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Essay structure: Tip 1

Use your conclusion as the target for your

whole essay

SO before you start to revise:

Summarise your answer to the assignment in no more

than 4 sentences Refer to it all the time as you are revising your essay

Question:

The relevance of everything you have written

Whetheryour points are in the best orderto convince your reader that your answer to

the question is logical, well-reasoned

and sound.



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Does your argument hold up?


Think of your argument in a visual way. Like thepillars which support the roof of a temple, your

reasoning supports your conclusion.

(Frank Edler, (2001) of the Metropolitan Community College,

Omaha, Nebraska)


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Identifying reasoning and conclusion


Annual testing should be phased out of primary schools

because these tests do not necessarily provide a reliableindication of a childs ability. Furthermore, there is solidevidence that frequent testing is stressful to young children

whereas a relaxed atmosphere promotes better learning.

Conclusion Annual testing should be ended in primary schools.

Reasoning1. These tests are not reliable indicators of ability

2. The tests are stressful to children3. Children learn better in a relaxed

atmosphere


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Structuring your argument:

Essay title:

Now that students have access to

computers, producing good assignmentshas become much easier. (Grumpy, 2015p. 3) Do you agree?

How do you

get

there?


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Plan

Student Study Support Unit

computers & assignments

advantages advantagesdisadvantages disadvantages

writing assignments

disadvantages

finding information access & technicalissues

easy to find

information

academic

search

engines

lots of info

available

online

official

websites onlinejournals

good

academic

source??

rely too much

on websites

info

sometimesmoves

easy to revise/

rewrite

help finding

mistakes

grammar

checker spellchecker

easy to add

tables,

diagrams etc

create

mistakes

when movingtextdoesnt catch

all spelling

mistakes

takes time to

learn program

no computer

have to be on

campus

can have

technical

problems


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Look for logical links

This kind of plan can

help you to see the

links between your

points. Then you can

order them so that

they fit together into

a logical argument

and use this to makeyour plan.

1)

because

2)

but


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Use the chart to fill in the

gaps:

Plan Info_____________

because

_________________

But can lead to 2weaknesses:

__________________________________

_________________

However..

1)

because 2)

but..


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Answer:

Plan Info easily available

because

Lots online

But can lead to 2weaknesses:

Dont know if good

academic sources Rely too much on websites

However..

1)

because 2)

but..


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However..

3 solutions use:

__________________

__________________

__________________

3)

solutions


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However..

3 solutions use:

Academic search engines

Official websites

Online journals

Further disadvantage

Online info can move3)

solutions


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Argument outline Develop fully in essay

Info easily available because

Lots online

but can lead to 2

weaknesses:

Dont know if website =good academic source

Rely too much on

websites

Howeverthese problems

overcome if use: Academic search engines

Official websites

Online journals

Additional (slight)

disadvantage = info can

It is important that each of

your points is fully

developed, using

explanations

evidence (including

literature)

examples

and so on


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A further improvement..

Can you add a main /general point that

shows, over-all, how

this section will answer

the question? e.g.In terms of findinginformation, computers haveboth advantages anddisadvantages, which means

that they must be usedappropriately if they are tohelp students produce goodassignments.

Info easily available because Lots online

but can lead to 2

weaknesses:

Dont know if website =

good academic source

Rely too much on

websites

Howeverthese problems

overcome if use: Academic search engines

Official websites

Online journals

Additional (slight)

disadvantage = info canCCCU Student Study Support23


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Introductions: tip

Personalise your introduction by making it

relevant to the content of your essay.

Dont just copy out the guidelines



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Guidelines (exercise: )

What are the advantages of a university educationin general, and of studying your particular

subject?

1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of

studying at university. You may wish to takeaccount of different kinds of students (e.g.

school leavers, mature students, overseas

students) in your discussion.

2. Discuss the reasons people may have for

studying your chosen subject and what they can

gain from it. You should include in your

discussion any disadvantages.CCCU Student Study Support25


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Introduction A

*In this essay, I will first discuss the advantages anddisadvantages of studying at university, taking

account of different kinds of students, such as

school leavers, mature students and overseas

students. I will then discuss the reasons peoplemay have for studying English. I will consider

what can be gained from it and what

disadvantages there are.

*It is possible to avoid I by saying: This essay will

discuss..



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Repeating the guidelines

*In this essay, I will first discuss the advantages anddisadvantages of studying at university, taking

account of different kinds of students, such as

school leavers, mature students and overseas

students. I will then discuss the reasons peoplemay have for studying English. I will consider

what can be gained from it and what

disadvantages there are.

*It is possible to avoid I by saying: This essay will

discuss..



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Introduction B

Despite the rising cost, more than two millionpeople are already studying in higher education

and the government is encouraging more people

to go to university (Great Britain. H.M.

Government, 2009). It is therefore worthwhile toexamine the advantages of a university education

and to consider whether they outweigh the cost

and other possible disadvantages. After looking at

this question in general terms, I will considerspecifically why people may choose a non-

vocational course, and evaluate the potential

benefits and disadvantages of taking a degree in

English.CCCU Student Study Support28


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Introduction B






and other possible disadvantages. After looking at





Context / perspective


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Introduction B






and other possible disadvantages.After looking at






focus:benefit

v. cost

(the

issue)


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Introduction B












focus:benefit

v. cost

(the

issue)

Link &

justification


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Introduction B












focus:benefit

v cost

(the

issue)

Essay

outline


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Introduction B












focus:benefit

v cost

(the

issue)

Essay

outlineTies it to the focus of

her essay


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No mysteries, please!

Someone reading your essay should not have touse detective work to guess what you are

trying to say and why!

Dont leave the links and explanationsin your head nobody can find them there

so you wont get any marks for them

Show clearly:

How everything you include helps to answer

the question

How the things you say link together to form

and support an argumentCCCU Student Study Support34


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Viewpoint and flow

Use linking and signposting words / phrasesThey guide your reader through your essay

They make the links in your argument clear

They make your writing flow

Vary the reporting words you use

Choose them to help your meaning come

across

Together, these words can help to put yourviewpoint across:



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Viewpoint

Look at the three sentences below:

What is the difference in the essay writers opinion?

Can we tell whether she agrees with Walker or not?

Walker (2019) states that punishment does not

prevent crime.

As Walker (2019) points out, punishment does not

prevent crime.

Although Walker (2019) claims that punishmentCCCU Student Study Support36


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Dont quote too often

So when should you quote?When you are using someones definition

When you want to discuss exactly what someone

said

When the precise detail of what someone/thing

says is important e.g. a law, policy document

etc.

When someone has phrased somethingeffectively and succinctly



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Show evidence of critical thinking


Question, Analyse,Evaluate, Compare,

Prioritise, Select..

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How?

Dont just saywhat other people have saidUSEit

Dont quote too much paraphrase or summarise

Compare what people have said

Discuss / comment /indicate your own view

Infer / extrapolate / draw conclusions

Use the literature as supporting evidence or

examples

Apply the literature to a particular case or context

Use facts, dont just state them

Analyse what happened, dont just

describe itCCCU Student Study Support39


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Write strong paragraphs


A paragraph is a group of sentences that are

linked coherently around one central topic/idea Topic sentence

Introduces the topic and states what your paragraph

will be about

Often more general and the main point of theparagraph

Usually at or near the beginning

Supporting sentences develop your paragraph

Expand on the point you are making: explain, analyse,support with examples and/or evidence etc.

Concluding statements

Show how your evidence backs up your point

May tie your point back to the question


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Example of a strong paragraph

Essay title:

Topic

sentence:

(main

point)

Developmen

t:

What strategies do you consider to be useful inproducing a good assignment?

Another important step in producing a good

assignment is to draft and then revise the essay

several times.

As Murray (2006) points out, although manystudents expect to produce a good version of

their essay the first time they write it, most

successful writers go through several revisions.

This approach makes sense because writing an

assignment is a complex process which involvesmany different aspects such as organisation,

clear argument, flow, grammar and choice of

words. We cannot focus on all these aspects

simultaneously as we write.

Therefore, an effective strategy is to produce arou h draft from the essa lan and then revise it

N.b. Do not start a new line for eachart


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Using critical analysis. . .


Presenting evidence to support your point: Class size can play a direct role in reducing the amount ofwork which children attempt on a daily basis. This is

supported by Lathams (2015) work which found that aspupil teacher ratios increase, children distract each othermore.

Making a deduction from a source: In the view of Kid (2007), children model their language

patterns on those of their parents. Therefore, it isimperative for parents to monitor their own language use.

Comparing writers views: Ball (2005) argues that TV of a violent nature can

influence childrens behaviour. However, Smart (2006)states that behaviour improves when parents watch too. Itis possible to argue, therefore that..

T l d


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To conclude:

How to get higher marks


Ensure that your answer addresses thequestion/criteria/outcomes Present a logical, well-reasoned argument Show evidence of wider reading

Make clear points Support points with evidenceLink and integrate the evidence effectively

Develop your academic language and style

Reference correctly Pay close attention to proofreading and

editing Have a clear and appropriate essay layout


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Reference

Great Britain. Her Majestys Government (2009) Thebenefits of higher education. Directgov. Available at:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/Un

iversityAndHigherEducation/WhyGoToUniversityOrCol

lege/DG_4016998 (Accessed: 6 October 2009)

Murray, R. (2006) How to write a thesis. 2nd edn.

Maidenhead: Oxford University Press

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/WhyGoToUniversityOrCollege/DG_4016998http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/WhyGoToUniversityOrCollege/DG_4016998http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/WhyGoToUniversityOrCollege/DG_4016998http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/WhyGoToUniversityOrCollege/DG_4016998http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/WhyGoToUniversityOrCollege/DG_4016998http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/WhyGoToUniversityOrCollege/DG_4016998

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