ENG1501/101/0/2023

Tutorial Letter 101/0/2023

Foundations in English Literary Studies

ENG1501

Year Module

Department of English Studies

This tutorial letter contains important information about your module.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS
Page

1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 3
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ........................................................................................................ 4
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................... 4
2.2 Outcomes ........................................................................................................................................ 4
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ............................................................................................. 4
4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS .................................................................................... 5
4.1 Lecturer(s) ....................................................................................................................................... 5
4.2 Where do I address my questions? ................................................................................................. 5
4.3 University ........................................................................................................................................ 6
5 RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................. 6
5.1 Prescribed book(s) .......................................................................................................................... 6
5.2 Recommended book(s) ................................................................................................................... 6
5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ..................................................................................................... 7
5.4 Library services and resources ....................................................................................................... 7
6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES .................................................................................................. 8
6.1 The Unisa First-Year Experience Programme ................................................................................ 8
7 STUDY PLAN ................................................................................................................................. 9
8 PRACTICAL WORK ....................................................................................................................... 9
9 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................... 9
9.1 Assessment criteria ......................................................................................................................... 9
9.2 Assessment plan ............................................................................................................................. 9
9.3 Assessment due dates .................................................................................................................. 10
9.4 Submission of assignments .......................................................................................................... 10
9.5 The assignments ........................................................................................................................... 11
9.6 Other assessment methods .......................................................................................................... 16
9.7 The examination............................................................................................................................ 16
10 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY .......................................................................................................... 17
10.1 Plagiarism ..................................................................................................................................... 17
10.2 Cheating ........................................................................................................................................ 17
For more information about plagiarism, follow the link below: .................................................................. 17
11 STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES ................................................................................... 17
12 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS .......................................................................................... 17
13 SOURCES CONSULTED ............................................................................................................. 18
14 IN CLOSING ................................................................................................................................. 19
15 Declaration Regarding Plagiarism ............................................................................................. 20
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 ENG1501/101/0/2023

Dear Student

1 INTRODUCTION

We are pleased to welcome you to this module and hope that you will find it both interesting
and rewarding. We will do our best to make your study of this module successful. You will
be well on your way to success if you start studying early in the year and resolve to do the
assignments thoroughly and in good time for submission.

Unisa, as a comprehensive open distance e-learning institution (CODeL), is moving towards

becoming a fully online institution. Therefore, all your study material, assessments and
engagements with your lecturers and fellow students will take place online. However, in
ENG1501, some of your prescribed reading will be made available offline. You will need to
acquaint yourself with both the offline and online components of this module. This tutorial
letter is intended to offer you some guidance in this regard.

Several tutorial letters will be placed on the ENG1501 module site on myModules (myUnisa)
during the year. A tutorial letter is our way of communicating with you about teaching,
learning and assessment. Please make sure you visit this site regularly so that you are
aware of any new material that is available or announcements that have been made.

Tutorial Letter 101 (this letter) contains important information about the scheme of work,
resources and assignments for this module. We urge you to read it carefully and to keep it
at hand when working through the study material, working on your assignments, preparing
for the examination, and addressing questions to your lecturers.

In Tutorial Letter 101, you will find the assignments and assessment criteria as well as
instructions on the preparation and submission of the assignments. This tutorial letter also
provides all the information you need about the prescribed study material and other
resources as well as how to obtain these. Please study this information carefully and make
sure that you obtain the prescribed material as soon as possible. We have also included
certain general and administrative information about this module.

From the outset, we would like to point out that you must read all the tutorial letters you
receive during the year immediately and carefully, as they always contain important, and
sometimes urgent, information.

To succeed at this module, you need to work carefully through the following resources:

• Tutorial Letter 101 as it contains general module and assessment information

• Tutorial Letter 501 which is the primary tuition source that guides you towards achieving
the module outcomes

• Tutorial Letter 102 which functions as a practical step-by-step guide on how to work
through the material and prepare for assignments and the examination. It also contains
additional exercises and writing-skill support. We hope that you will enjoy this module
and wish you all the best!
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2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES
2.1 Purpose

This module aims to establish a literary and academic foundation that will provide you with
the basic skills you require to further your studies in English literature. You will learn to apply
appropriate genre-specific reading strategies to a range of literary texts, and you will also be
expected to demonstrate the basic skills of writing academic English. In particular, this
module aims to introduce you to the basics of reading and analysing literature in the form
of poetry, short stories and a novel.

All the assignments invite you to develop critical thinking and writing skills. Each will take
you through a process of learning in which you will encounter a diversity of ideas. The
assignments are designed to guide you towards an informed understanding of how meaning
is created and conveyed in literature.

2.2 Outcomes

This module provides a foundation for literary study. Its outcomes develop your ability to:

• Demonstrate an informed understanding of the genre-specific reading strategies

required to read a range of literary texts in different genres at an inferential level
• Demonstrate an informed understanding of the literary features that characterise
each genre
• Demonstrate an ability to identify these features in literary texts and comment on
their significance in the production of textual meaning
• Demonstrate argumentative skills in the form of a sustained written analysis of a
literary text, using subject-specific conventions and acceptable academic discourse.

3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION
Unisa has implemented a transformation charter, in terms of which the university has placed curriculum
transformation high on the teaching and learning agenda. Curriculum transformation includes student-
centred scholarship, the pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of
teaching and learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. All of these will be
phased in at both programme and module levels, and as a result of this, you will notice a marked change in
the teaching and learning strategy implemented by Unisa, together with how the content is conceptualised
in your modules. We encourage you to embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa in a responsive
way within the framework of transformation.

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4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

4.1 Lecturer(s)

Please note: To streamline queries and ensure that students are assisted as soon as possible, we
have a dedicated e-mail address for this module. We appeal to students to use this address for
ALL student queries related to academic aspects of the module. Using this e-mail address will
ensure that your query is sent to the person who can best attend to it as soon as possible. To
comply with POPI Act, only use your myLife email address for all correspondence with your
lecturers. Do not use private email addresses.

The dedicated e-mail address for this module is: ENG1501@unisa.ac.za

4.2 Where do I address my questions?

Answer the questions in the boxes below and follow the route to finding an answer.

Have you read Tutorial Letter 101?

Please read the whole of
Have you consulted the Tutorial Letter 101. The
Frequently Asked Yes No
answer to your question
Questions (FAQs) that may appear there.
appear on the ENG1501
myUnisa site?

If this did not answer

If the FAQs do not your question…
provide an answer to
your question, have you
asked your e-tutor*?
The steps to answers about ENG1501

Read Tutorial Letter 101.

Check the FAQs on myUnisa.

Ask your e-tutor.

Send an e-mail.

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*You can find your e-tutor by following the instructions in the ‘How to find my e-tutor site’ guide
that appears under the ‘Additional Resources’ on the ENG1501 myModules site.
4.3 University

Remember that your lecturers can only assist you with academic matters related to the
content of ENG1501. Please direct any queries regarding administrative matters (such as
registrations, examinations, finance, etc.) to the relevant department listed on the Unisa
website:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Contact-us/Student-enquiries.

Please include your student number in all correspondence.

If you have still not found an

answer to your question, send an
e-mail to ENG1501@unisa.ac.za.
Take note that if your question
is answered by Tutorial Letter
101 or the FAQs, we will refer
you back to them to find the
answer there.

5 RESOURCES
5.1 Prescribed book(s)

Mohlele, Nthikeng. 2013. Small Things. Johannesburg: Jacana. (You must purchase this book.)

A selection of poems and short stories will be made available to you as e-reserves on the library
website. See the section below on how to access this material. You are encouraged to work through
these as soon as possible alongside Tutorial Letter 501.

5.2 Recommended book(s)

We recommend that students purchase a good dictionary, such as the Oxford Advanced
Learner’s Dictionary. Alternatively, students can access this dictionary from the App Store
or Google Play or use other reputable free online dictionaries such as Cambridge Online
Dictionary, Macmillan Online Dictionary, Dictionary.com etc.

Recommended books can be requested online, via the library catalogue.

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5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)

The poems and short stories you are expected to study are available as e-reserves on the library
website. E-reserves can be downloaded from the library catalogue. More information is available
at:
E-reserves can be downloaded from the library catalogue. More information is available at:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request

5.4 Library services and resources information

The Unisa library offers a range of information services and resources:

• For brief information, go to https://www.unisa.ac.za/library/libatglance

• For more detailed library information, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
• For research support and services (e.g. the services offered by personal librarians and the
request a literature search service offered by the information search librarians), go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Research-support
• For library training for undergraduate students, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Training

The library has created numerous library guides, available at http://libguides.unisa.ac.za

Recommended guides:

• Request and find library material/download recommended material:

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
• Postgraduate information services: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
• Finding and using library resources and tools:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
• Frequently asked questions about the library:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Services to students living with disabilities:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability
• A–Z of library databases:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/az.php

Important contact information:

• Ask a librarian: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask

• Technical problems encountered in accessing library online services:
Lib-help@unisa.ac.za
• General library-related queries: Library-enquiries@unisa.ac.za
• Queries related to library fines and payments: Library-fines@unisa.ac.za
• Social media channels: Facebook: UnisaLibrary and Twitter: @UnisaLibrary

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As a student of English Studies, you should also familiarise yourself with the library guide created
especially for students in this department: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/english_studies. Here you
will find information about books, articles, referencing, as well as research support.

6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Study @ Unisa brochure is available on myUnisa: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies

This brochure contains important information and guidelines for successful studies at Unisa. Your
lecturers assume that you have familiarised yourself with the Study @ Unisa brochure.

If you need assistance with regard to the myModules system, you are welcome to use the following
contact details:

• Toll-free landline: 0800 00 1870 (Select option 07 for myModules)

• E-mail: mymodules22@unisa.ac.za or myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za

You can access and view short videos on topics such as how to view your calendar, how to
access module content, how to view announcements for modules, how to submit assessment
and how to participate in forum activities via the following link: https://dtls-
qa.unisa.ac.za/course/view.php?id=32130

Registered Unisa students get a free myLife e-mail account. Important information, notices and
updates are sent exclusively to this account. Please note that it can take up to 24 hours for your
account to be activated after you have claimed it. Please do this immediately after registering
at Unisa, by following this link: myLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za

Your myLife account is the only e-mail account recognised by Unisa for official correspondence
with the university and will remain the official primary e-mail address on record at Unisa. You
remain responsible for the management of this e-mail account.

6.1 The Unisa First-Year Experience Programme

Many students find the transition from school education to tertiary education stressful. This is also true in
the case of students enrolling at Unisa for the first time. Unisa is a dedicated open distance and e-learning
institution, and it is very different from face-to-face/ contact institutions. It is a mega university, and all our
programmes are offered through either blended learning or fully online learning. It is for this reason that we
thought it necessary to offer first-time students additional/ extended support to help them seamlessly
navigate the Unisa teaching and learning journey with little difficulty and few barriers. We therefore offer a
specialised student support programme to students enrolling at Unisa for the first time – this is Unisa’s First-
Year Experience (FYE) Programme, designed to provide you with prompt and helpful information about
services that the institution offers and how you can access information. The following FYE services are
currently offered:

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• FYE website: All the guides and resources you need in order to navigate through your first
year at Unisa can be accessed using the following link: www.unisa.ac.za/FYE

• FYE e-mails: You will receive regular e-mails to help you stay focused and motivated.

• FYE broadcasts: You will receive e-mails with links to broadcasts on various topics related
to your first-year studies (e.g. videos on how to submit assessments online).

• FYE mailbox: For assistance with queries related to your first year of study, send an e-mail
to fye@unisa.ac.za .

7 STUDY PLAN

You should read carefully through Tutorial Letters 101 (this letter), 102 and 501 to familiarise
yourself with everything that is required of you in this module. For a detailed study plan, which will
guide you through the entirety of the learning content for the duration of the year, please join your
e-tutor’s dedicated e-tutorials on myModules. These will guide you to stay up to date with your
learning in this module so that you are prepared for your assignments and the examination. Your
lecturers will let you know via myModules when you have been assigned to an e-tutor. Detailed
steps on how to find your e-tutor site will also be available on the ENG1501 module site on
myModules at the appropriate time.

8 PRACTICAL WORK

There is no practical work component for this module.

9 ASSESSMENT
9.1 Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria of this module align with the module outcomes, which can be found under
2.2 in this tutorial letter. The assessment takes the form of both formative assessment (your
assignments) and summative assessment (your examination). Take note of any assignment
preparation resources your lecturers might post on myModules prior to your assignment due
dates. These resources could help prepare you for the assessments.

9.2 Assessment plan

Assignments are an integral part of the learning material for this module. As you complete each
assignment, study the prescribed texts, consult other resources, discuss the work with fellow
students or e-tutors or do research, you are actively engaged in learning.

Looking at the assessment criteria provided for each assignment will help you to understand more
clearly what is required of you. In some cases, additional assessments might be available on the
ENG1501 module site on myModules.
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 For students attending face-to-face tutorial sessions, tutors may also set additional tasks
andgive feedback in class.
Kindly take note of the following:

• To complete this module, you will be required to submit three assignments.

• All information about when and where to submit your assessments will be made available
to you via the myModules site for ENG1501.
• Due dates for assessments, as well as the actual assessments are available on the
myModules site for ENG1501.
• To gain admission to the examination, you will be required to submit at least one
assignment. Please note, however, that all three assignments count towards your year-
mark.
• Your assignments include: an assignment on poetry, with short answers; an assignment
on a short story, with paragraph-length answers; and an essay on the prescribed novel.
• You need to obtain a year mark average of 40% for the assignments to gain admission to
the examination.
• The assignment weighting for the module is Assignment 1 (30%), Assignment 2 (30%),
and Assignment 3 (40%).

• Your combined assignment mark will count 35% towards the final module mark.

• You will receive examination information via the myModules sites. Please watch out for
announcements on how examinations for the modules for which you are registered will be
conducted.
• The examination will count 65% towards the final module mark.

9.3 Assessment due dates

• There are no assignment due dates included in this tutorial letter.

• Assignment due dates will be made available to you in the Assignments tabs on the
myModules site for ENG1501. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon
registration.

• Please start working through your study material and preparing for your assignments as soon
as you register for the module.

• Log on to the myModules site for ENG1501 to obtain more information regarding
the submission of your assignments.

9.4 Submission of assessments

• Unisa, as a comprehensive open distance e-learning institution (CODeL), is moving towards

becoming an online institution. You will therefore see that all your study material,
assessments and engagements with your lecturers and fellow students will take place
online. We use myUnisa as our virtual campus.

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• The myUnisa virtual campus will offer students access to the myModules site, where
learning material will be available online and where assessments should be completed. This
is an online system that is used to administer, document, and deliver educational material
to students and support engagement between academics and students.

• The myUnisa platform can be accessed via https://my.unisa.ac.za. Click on the myModules
2023 button to access the online sites for the modules that you are registered for.

• The university undertakes to communicate clearly and as frequently as is necessary to

ensure that you obtain the greatest benefit from the use of the myModules learning
management system. Please access the announcements on your myModules site
regularly, as this is where your lecturer will post important information to be shared with you.

• When you access your myModules site for the module/s for which you are registered, you
will see a welcome message posted by your lecturers. Below the welcome message you will
see the assessment shells for the assessments that you need to complete. All assessments
must be completed on the assessment shells available on the respective module platforms.

• For written assessments, please note the due date by which the assessment must be
submitted. Ensure that you follow the guidelines given by your lecturer to complete the
assessment. Click on the submission button on the relevant assessment shell on
myModules. You will then be able to upload your written assessment on the myModules site
of the modules for which you are registered. Before you finalise the upload, double check
that you have selected the correct file for upload. Remember, no marks can be allocated for
incorrectly submitted assessments.

9.5 The assignments

As indicated in section 9.2, you need to complete three (3) assignments for this module. Details
on how to submit your assignments will be made available on the myModules site for ENG1501.

9.5.1 Assignment 01

ASSIGNMENT 01: Poetry

Compulsory for examination admission

‘Higher Education’ – B. W. Vilakazi

Due date: [Will be announced on myModules]

Read the poem ‘Higher Education’ (available as an e-reserve on the library website) before
answering the questions that follow.

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You must answer in full sentences, and you should support your answers by quoting from the
poem.

Note: You will notice that each question includes a mark allocation. This is to indicate how much
you should write to support your answer. One mark represents one main point or reason. If a
question counts four marks, that means that you will need to supply four points or reasons.

Remember that you can use an example from the poem only once; you cannot use the same
example for each of your answers.

1. Refer to stanzas one to three.

1.1 In the first stanza, the speaker describes two contrasting experiences. Write two sentences in
which you explain the contrast. (2)
1.2 The second stanza gives a hint as to what may have led to this contrast in experiences. Write
a sentence in which you explain in your own words what the speaker means when he refers to
“books / whose authors’ skins were white” (lines 8-9) and then write another sentence in which you
give a reason as to why this may cause him to feel discomfort. (2)
1.3 In the third stanza, the speaker presents a possible solution to the dilemma he is facing. Identify
and explain the imagery used to describe the solution. (3)
1.4 Is this attempt at a solution successful? Quote from the poem to support your answer. (2)
2. Refer to stanzas four to six.
2.1 In these stanzas, the speaker describes several things that he has lost or missed out on due
to his love of learning. Identify three such things from the poem and explain why the speaker is in
this position. (3)
2.2 Identify three words in stanza six used to describe the speaker’s experience of his studies.
Explain the connotations of these words and then indicate what they suggest about his experience.
(5)
3. Refer to stanzas seven and eight.
3.1 Quote an example of personification in stanza eight and comment on its effect on meaning. (2)
4. Refer to stanzas nine to eleven.
4.1 The speaker’s tone at the beginning of the poem is weary and defeated. In stanzas nine and
ten, there is a change in tone. What is the tone in stanzas nine to eleven? Quote two words or
phrases to support your answer. (3)
4.2 Why do you think the speaker continues with his studies despite all the challenges? Quote from
the poem to substantiate your answer. (2)
4.2 Do you think the speaker achieves his desires? Explain your answer. (1)
Content: 25 marks

Language (grammar and expression): 25 marks

Total: 50

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For information about correct quoting and referencing, consult Unit 1 of Tutorial Letter 501.

Warning!

Using ideas and facts from other people, books or web pages without saying where they come
from is the same as stealing those ideas and facts. This is plagiarism and it is a serious offence.

If you are found guilty of plagiarism, you will fail this assignment.

ASSIGNMENT 02: Short stories

‘Rock’ (Lindiwe Nkutha)

Due date: [Will be announced on myModules]

In order to answer this question, you need to read ‘Rock’ by Lindiwe Nkutha (available as an e-
reserve on the Library website). Look at Tutorial Letter 501 for a reminder of the reading strategies
you should employ when reading a short story.

Remember to use a dictionary to look up the definitions of any unfamiliar words in the short story
and in the assignment question.

Ensure that each answer adheres to the following guidelines: Your answers should:

• be written as a paragraph of between ten and fifteen lines

• begin with a topic sentence that reflects the main topic of the paragraph

• discuss the topic by quoting evidence from the short story (these quotations should
be incorporated into grammatically complete and coherent sentences)

• explain how each of your quotations supports your argument

• employ correct referencing techniques and make use of appropriate academic

conventions as demonstrated in Tutorial Letter 102 and Tutorial Letter 501.

• end with a sentence which summaries and reflects on the significance of what you
have argued in relation to the main topic.

• Refer to Tutorial Letter 501 for a reminder of topic sentences, paragraphing,

argumentation and quote incorporation.

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Remember to use the literary element mentioned in each question to explore the main topic.

Write a paragraph in response to each of the following questions:

1. This story uses first person narration. Explain how the narrative style influences our
perception of the events in the story, and how this contributes to the story’s meaning. (10)

2. Discuss the story’s setting and analyse how Zibusiso manages to describe her surroundings
and the hardship her family is faced with, with wry humour. (10)

3. In the short story, Bra Phandi's wife suffers from ill health, and he is forced to take over her
job. Focussing on characterisation, discuss how Bra Phandi makes a success of a job that
has traditionally been done by women. (10)

4. The praying mantis functions as a symbol in this story. Briefly explore the symbol of the
praying mantis and how it contributes to the story’s meaning. (10)

5. The title of the story can be understood as referring both to positive and negative events in
Zibusiso’s life. Discuss these events and how they relate to the title. (10)

Content (critical discussion): 50 marks

Structure and Language (grammar and expression): 50 marks
Total: 100

For information about correct quoting and referencing, consult Unit 1 of Tutorial Letter 501.

Warning!

Using ideas and facts from other people, books or web pages without saying where they
come from is the same as stealing those ideas and facts. This is plagiarism and it is a serious
offence.

If you are found guilty of plagiarism, you will fail this assignment.

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ASSIGNMENT 03: The novel

Small Things by Nthikeng Mohlele

Due date: [Will be announced on myModules]

In Small Things, one of the minor characters, Comrade Q, may be a lesser mentioned character
but his role in the novel opens up discussions on two important themes in post-Apartheid South
Africa, namely, inequality and class and history and transition (of South Africa from Apartheid
to a democratic state). In post-Apartheid South Africa, the novel suggests that a new, wealthy class
of citizen has developed. This is a class of previously disadvantaged South African comrades who
use their credentials as anti-Apartheid activists as currency to gain influence in business and
politics in order to generate wealth for themselves as well as family and friends.

Using the extract detailed below as a starting point and focusing specifically on the theme of history
and transition, write an essay in which you discuss Comrade Q’s portrayal as a minor character. In
your essay, you should do the following:

• Focus specifically on the theme of history and transition (Discuss how Comrade Q’s
character reinforces the theme of history and transition of South Africa from Apartheid to a
democratic state).

• Explain how the theme of history and transition (of South Africa from Apartheid to a
democratic state) links to the theme of inequality and class.
The extract you are expected to use begins on p. 75 of the novel with the words, “Frost descends
on Benito…” (p.75). The extract ends on p. 76 with the words, “Even more absurd: how many souls
owe how many Comrade Qs favours?” (Mohlele, 2013:76).

Before you start writing your essay, you should:

1. Revise the sections on ‘Character’ in Units 3 and 4 of Tutorial Letter 501 and also the
section on ‘character’ on page 71, paying special attention to the discussion on ‘Major and
minor characters in the novel’;

2. Revise the section on ‘Theme’ in Unit 4 of Tutorial Letter 501;

3. Perform a close reading of the extract above, paying careful attention to diction. Identify
how the theme of history and transition is explored in the extract and consider how this
is linked to the theme of inequality and class. Explain how the one theme connects with
the other;

4. Plan your essay, following the steps in the section on ‘How to Write about a Novel’ in Unit
4 of Tutorial Letter 501.

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Remember that your essay should have:

• An introductory paragraph, which introduces your essay topic and explains how the rest of
your essay will be structured. Your introduction should restate the essay question in your
own words and should state what you will discuss;
• A body of 3-5 paragraphs, in which you develop your argument. The body of your essay
should do three things:
➢ it should define what a minor character is in the novel and how Comrade Q is portrayed as
one;
➢ it should explain how Comrade Q reinforces the theme of history and transition (of South
Africa from Apartheid to a democratic state); and
➢ it should consider how the theme of history and transition (of South Africa from
Apartheid to a democratic state) links to the theme of inequality and class.

• Remember that for each point that you make, you should refer to relevant sections of the
extract or text to support your argument.
• A concluding paragraph, in which you sum up the main argument that you have made in
your essay.

Content (critical discussion): 50 marks

Structure and Language (grammar and expression): 50 marks
Total: 100
9.6 Other assessment methods

None

9.7 The examination

Examination information and details on the format of the examination will be made available to you
online via the myModules site. Look out for information that will be shared with you by your lecturers
and e-tutors (where relevant) and for communication from the university via myUnisa.

9.7.1 Invigilation

Since 2020 Unisa conducts all its assessments online. Given stringent requirements from
professional bodies and increased solicitations of Unisa’s students by third parties to unlawfully
assist them with the completion of assignments and examinations, the University is obliged to
assure its assessment integrity through the utilisation of various proctoring tools: Turnitin, Moodle
Proctoring, the Invigilator App and IRIS. These tools will authenticate the student’s identity and flag
suspicious behaviour to assure credibility of students’ responses during assessments. The
description below is for your benefit as you will be using the Invigilator App during your examination.

The Invigilator “mobile application-based service does verification” of the identity of an

assessment participant. The Invigilator Mobile Application detects student dishonesty-by-proxy and
ensures that the assessment participant is the registered student. This invigilation tool requires
students to download the app from their Play Store (Google, Huawei and Apple) on their mobile
devices (camera enabled) prior to their assessment.

Students who are identified and flagged for suspicious dishonest behaviour arising from the
invigilation reports are referred to the disciplinary office for formal proceeding.

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 ENG1501/101/0/2023

10 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
10.1 Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as your
own. It is a form of theft. Plagiarism includes the following forms of academic dishonesty:

• Copying and pasting from any source without acknowledging the source.
• Not including references or deliberately inserting incorrect bibliographic information.
• Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source of the information.
10.2 Cheating
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Completing assessments on behalf of another student, copying the work of another

student during an assessment, or allowing another student to copy your work.
• Using social media (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate
assessment information.
• Submitting corrupt or irrelevant files as per examination guidelines
• Buying completed answers from so-called “tutors” or internet sites (contract cheating).
For more information about plagiarism, follow the link below:
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules

11 STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES

The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD) provides an
opportunity for staff to interact with first-time and returning students with disabilities.
If you are a student with a disability and would like additional support or need additional time for
assessments, you are invited to contact your lecturers (ENG1501@unisa.ac.za) to discuss the
assistance that you need.

12 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We advise you to consult the FAQ section on ENG1501 site on myModules regularly as it is a
useful resource which we update frequently to reflect any issues that may arise over the course of
the year.

I have not yet received my study material. What can I do?

If you have not yet received your study material, you can download digital copies from myUnisa. I
found a website that explains the poem/short story/novel. Can I use it to answer my assignment
questions?
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Note that we do not expect you to make use of secondary sources at first year level. In fact, we
encourage you to rely on your own observations, made by studying the language in your prescribed
texts closely. However, if you want to use other people’s ideas in your assignments, you need to
know how to give credit to your sources. Using ideas and facts from other people, books or web
pages without saying where they come from is stealing those ideas and facts. It is called plagiarism
and it is a serious crime. Please consult the section titled ‘Using secondary sources in your
assignments’ in Tutorial Letter 501 to learn more about correct referencing.
Remember, if your lecturer or marker notes that any part of your assignment is not your own work,
but simply a copy of what someone else has written (whether directly copied or rephrased in your
own words), you cannot receive marks for that piece of work. We can only assess your own work,
and so answers produced by someone else (even if you acknowledge your source) will result in a
mark of 0.

A friend wants to copy the answers to my assignment. Is this allowed?

No. You are not allowed to share your work with your friends before the assignments have been
submitted to the university. Copying from others constitutes plagiarism. If you are found guilty of
plagiarism, you will be penalised.

How can I submit my assignments?

You can submit your assignments by uploading them onto the relevant assignment tab in the
ENG1501 site on myModules.

Please note that you may NOT submit your assignment via e-mail. Assignments sent to lecturers
via e-mail cannot be accepted.

How do I find my e-tutor on myUnisa?

All students are assigned e-tutors for ENG1501 by around April of the academic year.
Consult the ‘How to find your e-tutor site guide’ available on myUnisa for step-by-step
instructions on finding your e-tutor. If you have tried the steps above by April, and cannot
seem to find your e- tutor, please send an e-mail in this regard to ENG1501@unisa.ac.za.
Remember to include your name, surname, and student number.

For any other queries, remember that the Study @ Unisa website contains a guide of
frequentlyasked questions and the most relevant study information.

13 SOURCES CONSULTED
Mohlele, N. 2013. Small Things. Johannesburg: Jacana.
Nkutha, L. 2013. ‘Rock’. In Martin, K. & Xaba, M (eds). Queer Africa: New and Collected Fiction.
African Books Collective, pp. 185-199.
Vilakazi, B. W. 2002. ‘Higher Education’. In Chapman, M. (ed). The New Century of South African
Poetry. A D Donker, pp. 108-109.

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 ENG1501/101/0/2023

14 IN CLOSING

Remember that to succeed at ENG1501, you need to utilise all the resources made available to
you – especially the additional support material on the ENG1501 site on myModules. You need to
work hard and consistently for the duration of the year. It is of special importance that you make
sure you attend your weekly e-tutorials on myModules and that you keep a writing journal where
you keep a record of all your study activities in the module (see Tutorial Letter 501 for more
information in this regard). Submit all three of your assignments on time.
When approaching your lecturers for assistance, we will ask for your writing journal, as it could help
us understand what kind of challenges you might be experiencing in the module. In addition,
we may ask you for copies of the regular activities you have completed as part of your e-tutorials
on myModules. Succeeding at this module requires very regular and active engagement with your
learning content. This includes active participation in your e-tutorials every week.

Lastly, we urge you to educate yourself on the dangers of plagiarism, and to avoid committing any
kind of academic dishonesty. There are resources available on the ENG1501 site on myModules
that can help you in this regard. Keep in mind that you can only succeed at this module if you study
honestly. There are no shortcuts!

We hope that you will enjoy this module and we wish you every success in your studies.

Best wishes

The ENG1501 team

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15 DECLARATION REGARDING PLAGIARISM
You should add a completed copy of this plagiarism declaration to all your assignments.

DECLARATION REGARDING PLAGIARISM

DECLARATION

Name and student number: …………………………………………………….

Assignment topic: ……………………………………………………………………

I declare that this assignment is my own original work. Where secondary material has been used (either
from a printed source or from the Internet), this has been carefully acknowledged and referenced in
accordance with departmental requirements. I understand what plagiarism is and am aware of the
department’s policy in this regard. I have not allowed anyone else to borrow or copy my work.

Signature: ……………………………………………………………………

Date: ………………………………….

DECLARATION REGARDING PLAGIARISM

DECLARATION

Name and student number: …………………………………………………….

Assignment topic: ……………………………………………………………………

I declare that this assignment is my own original work. Where secondary material has been used (either
from a printed source or from the Internet), this has been carefully acknowledged and referenced in
accordance with departmental requirements. I understand what plagiarism is and am aware of the
department’s policy in this regard. I have not allowed anyone else to borrow or copy my work.

Signature: ……………………………………………………………………

Date: ………………………………….

DECLARATION REGARDING PLAGIARISM

DECLARATION

Name and student number: …………………………………………………….

Assignment topic: ……………………………………………………………………

I declare that this assignment is my own original work. Where secondary material has been used (either
from a printed source or from the Internet), this has been carefully acknowledged and referenced in
accordance with departmental requirements. I understand what plagiarism is and am aware of the
department’s policy in this regard. I have not allowed anyone else to borrow or copy my work.

Signature: ……………………………………………………………………

Date: ……………………

©
Unisa 2023

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