Tackling assignment questions and w riting assignments

1. Tackling assignment questions and writing assignments Jan Patterson TePuna Ako Learning Centre

2. Learning outcomes - after this workshop you’ll be able to: • Identify the essential information you need to tackle an assignment • Analyse an assignment question by identifying instruction words, key words and limiting words in assignment questions • Use some key tips to write a good assignment

3. Firstly ………….. Give your lecturer exactly what he/she asks for. If you misunderstand one word in a question it can be enough to throw your assignment right off track.

4. So, can you follow instructions? DO THE QUIZ – IT SHOULD TAKE YOU NO LONGER THAN TWO MINUTES

5. What’s the essential information before you start?Brainstorm with a partner • Word limit (500 words, 1000 words, 2000 words) • Due date and specific time (4 March by 4.00 pm) • Structure (essay, report, oral presentation?) • Presentation (margins, font type & size, spacing) • What is the question asking you to do?

6. What’s the essential information? • Is there a marking criteria/schedule? • Course objectives • Where are you expected to find the information? • What’s it worth (10%, 25%, 40%, more?) • Referencing requirements (APA style? Harvard? MLA?)

7. Analysing the question: what are you being asked to do? Instruction words tell you how to answer the question • Define • Evaluate • Describe

8. Instruction words DO THE MATCHING TASK IN A GROUP

9. Analysing a question for: instruction words, key words and limiting words • Instruction words: tell you how to answer the question • Outline the procedures of… • Compare some of… • Key words: tell you what the question is about • …in assessing a stroke patient • …this country’s cultural attitudes • Limiting words: tell you special conditions • …with reference to at least 3 different sources • …from 1970-to the present

10. Sample Questions • Account for the large-scale immigration into Malaya in the late 19th Century. • Describe the differences in tertiary education in New Zealand and your country. ANALYSE THESE QUESTIONS WITH A CLASSMATE

11. Sample Questions • Account for (instruction) the large-scale immigration (key words) into Malaya in the late 19th Century (limiting). • Describe the (instruction) differences in tertiary education (key words) in New Zealand and your country (limiting).

12. Writing the essay – 3 parts • State what you are going to cover in the introduction • explain how your ideas are related (body) • finish in a way that links back to the topic and your introduction (conclusion)

13. Writing the introduction Introduce the topic – hook/lead in Background State essay’s main argument or main issues discussed State how to intend to answer your question/plan

14. Business is conducted through various channels of communication, including the internet, radio, television, print, and word of mouth (lead in). These channels are used to promote a product, service, or organization; relay information within the business community; or deal with legal and similar issues. The internet has been considered the most effective way in business communication. (background) This essay will examine the use of the internet in business communication. (main argument) It will analyse the weaknesses of the internet and discuss the future role of the internet in business communication. (plan)

15. Activity • Rearrange the sentences to form an introductory paragraph

16. The body - write your ideas coherently and logically • Write a clear topic sentence to indicate your main idea or argument at the beginning of the paragraph • Provide supporting details to your main idea • Make sure there is clear relationship between the point you are making and the evidence given to support it. • Final sentence concludes the discussion and or leads on to the next paragraph

17. Paragraph - topic sentence(main idea) TOPIC SENTENCE • SUPPORTING DETAIL SUPPORTING DETAIL SUPPORTING DETAIL

18. SUPPORTING DETAIL EXPLAIN ILLUSTRATE GIVE EVIDENCE

19. For instance To illustrate In other words This is followed by In that case The reason why As an example show supporting details

20. however despite in spite of although but whereas show contrast

21. In addition Similarly Likewise As well as Furthermore Moreover Not only … but show similar ideas

22. Activity • From the topic sentence, identify main idea • What are the supporting details in terms of: • Explanation • Examples/illustration • Reference • Concluding remark • Highlight the references • Underline the linking words

23. In the area of E-business, the biochip can be used as a scam-less payment method for cash and credit-card transactions. Thisis used in identification purposes prior to any financial transactions in order to maintain the security of the financial world. Moreover, with the concept of a cashless society, the biochip is one means to combat the ever growing threat of online financial terrorism. For example, the financial industry and consumers forfeit billions of dollars to identity fraud according to WorldNetDaily Exclusive (Gossett, 2006). Therefore, with the use of biochip in business transaction and other financial transfers, it can help to deter cyber-theft. Example of a paragraph

24. In the area of E-business, the biochip can be used as a scam-less payment method for cash and credit-card transactions. Thisis used in identification purposes prior to any financial transactions in order to maintain the security of the financial world. Moreover, with the concept of a cashless society, the biochip is one means to combat the ever growing threat of online financial terrorism. For example, the financial industry and consumers forfeit billions of dollars to identity fraud according to WorldNetDaily Exclusive (Gossett, 2006). Therefore, with the use of biochip in business transaction and other financial transfers, it can help to deter cyber-theft. Example of a paragraph

25. Support ideas with references • By paraphrasing, quoting or summarising • TPA workshops: • APA Referencing • Mon 11/3, 4.30-6.30 pm • Thu 21/3, 4.30-6.30 pm • Paraphrasing • Tue12/3, 4.30-6.30

26. Conclude your writing • Briefly summarises the main points • Restates the central argument • Refers back to the topic • May highlight implications • May make suggestions / recommendations

27. Example of a conclusion In conclusion, with the advancement in technology, the possibilities introduced by the biochip are endless; it will definitely change people’s lives drastically as personal information will be available in a split second. It is highly likely that the biochip will continue to evolve and develop into one of the many essentials in people’s lives; whether in business, health or even national security for every country.

28. Use formal language • No impersonal language - no personal pronouns such as ”I” or “you” except in cases of writing personal reflections Use complete sentences verbs and tenses sentence structure articles word order • Avoid using: • contractions and abbreviations (don’t/ do not) • slang (I reckon it is important..) • ‘etc.’ or ‘and so on’ (Say it or stop.)

29. Edit and proof read your work • Edit and proofread • Check whether: • Position is clear? • Arguments are presented clearly? • All points are well supported and relevant? • Words are correctly used? • Grammar is ok? • VISIT TE PUNA AKO

30. Evaluation: Kia kaha!Good luck! Tell the person next to you one or two things you’ve learned from this workshop.