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WUC 203 Unit 5
WUC 203 Unit 5
In Unit 1 and Unit 2, you learnt what academic writing is and how
it is different from other kinds of writing. You also learnt the
process of writing- from choosing a topic to editing and evaluating
the final draft. In Unit 3 and Unit 4, you also learnt how to write
technical documents, reports and proposals in your professional
field. Ultimately, it is hoped that the principles learnt in this course
will help you to write better and more effectively, both for university
studies and also professionally.
During the semester, you will have to do TMAs. It is also inevitable that you will
have to sit for an examination at the end of this semester not only for this course
but for your other courses as well.
Thus, it is important for you to be prepared. This is the main purpose of this unit -
i.e., to prepare you to answer essay questions in examinations as well as answer
written assignments. In identifying key terms that are used in essay questions, you
will learn how to answer essay questions effectively. Finally, you will learn how
examiners assess examinations.
By learning these techniques, it is hoped that you will be prepared for examinations
that require you to write essays. As in the other units, there are activities and self-
tests to help you understand what is taught in this unit.
What are
structured essay
questions?
Read on to
find out
Structured essay questions are also called “restricted-
response questions” because the writer who answers
these questions is given limited freedom in determining
the scope of his or her essay -i.e., what the content should
be, how it should be presented, etc.
1. The question limits the writer to a specific content - i.e., petrol subsidies
(“The price of petrol is subsidised by the government”). The examiner or
tutor will not award marks for discussion about other aspects of petrol.
2. The scope is limited to two aspects i.e., the positive economic and social
impact. Do not discuss other impacts.
In summary, you have to be careful of the scope of your content when you are
given a structured essay question. Write within the given focus. Do not spend
time writing beyond the given scope.
Work on the following activity so that you will understand how to answer a
structured essay question.
Activity 5.1
Based on Example 2 on the previous page, provide supporting
sentences for the two impacts:
The positive economic impact:
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In light of the above, you have to plan the essay outline well
so that you will fulfil the requirements of the question and
also be sure to stay within the number of words and do not
stray from the assigned subject matter
Here are two sample unstructured
essay questions:
Example 1
Select a social or ethical issue related to science and technology (such as
euthanasia, cloning, or genetically modified food). What is your personal
position regarding the issue? Present your argument in an essay of about
500 words.
The topic is limited to the field of science and technology. However, the
writer has the freedom to choose specific topics he or she is familiar with.
Examples of specific topics such as euthanasia, cloning, or genetically
modified food are given.
2. However, the writer must discuss the chosen topic with the
tutor before approval is given.
Body paragraph 2:
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Conclusion:
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Activity 5.2
1. (All possible answers are acceptable.)
For instance, “How food has changed in the past fifty years in Malaysia”.
2. (All appropriate answers are acceptable.)
Introduction:
Malaysia is famous for its food. Reasons for it being famous: multicultural, cheap
and tasty. Nevertheless, the food landscape has changed.
Body paragraph 1:
Entry of foreign food and drinks (Topic Sentence) – Starbucks, Coffee Bean, San
Francisco Steakhouse; sushi, tapas and other cosmopolitan food.
Body paragraph 2:
Healthier eating (Topic sentence) due to health consciousness. Vegetarian dishes
are becoming popular, less salt in food, etc.
Conclusion:
Food choices have increased and widened in variety over the past fifty years.
Malaysian food remains more popular with locals and tourists.
Activity 5.3
For your WawasanLearn activity, discuss whether you found
Activity 5.2 easy or difficult.
(All possible answers are acceptable.)[Ensure that your paragraph contains the
topic sentence,supporting statements and relevant examples.]
5.2 Understanding Rubrics and
Keywords
Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to:
What am I
supposed to
write?
“Rubrics” simply means the instructions on answering the
questions. How can one comprehend the rubrics of an essay
question? To do so, you need to do the following:
1. Do an overview (i.e., a general reading) of the question.
This means you need to read the question to understand
what the question is about. You may also underline or
highlight important details and terms in the question.
Example
Decision-making is part of every manager’s job, at whatever
level he or she operates and in whatever industry or service.
Briefly, describe the eight (8) stages of the decision-making
process in the correct sequence.
The essay
question A general One specific
idea idea
Activity 5.4
Read the following essay question:
Another aspect to consider when you read the rubrics is to look at the keywords.
The keywords will determine how and what you need to write in your essay. We
shall look at keywords such as “define”, “explain”, “exemplify” and “discuss” in the
next subsection.
Feedback
Activity 5.4
1. The general idea of the essay question is to
explain why it is desirable for a country to have a
large GDP.
In this example, you need to define “space technology” in your own words. This is
why it is important to read widely (as advised in Unit A on the WawasanLearn) so
that you can have a broad knowledge of the world which ultimately helps you in
working on your assignments and in answering examination questions.
Remember to read extensively to
gain wider general knowledge so
that you will be able to complete
your assignments and answer
essay questions confidently.
In the context of an examination, even in the absence of the
phrase “in your own words” as in the example above, it is
understood that you are to give the definition of “space
technology” according to your understanding.
2. In which paragraph of your essay do you think you would write the definition of
“philosophy of life”?
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3. Give a brief outline of how you would write the definition of “philosophy of life.”
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Activity 5.5
1. The keywords are “own words,” “define” and “explain.”
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Activity 5.6
(All appropriate answers are acceptable.)
Exemplify
Generally, you need to illustrate your points in an essay by supporting them with
examples. If a question specifically asks for examples, you will have to ensure that
there are examples given. Examples seek “to illustrate some part of a statement by
showing the reader a specific instance of it” (Brannan 2003, 41).
When you provide examples, they must be specific (i.e., not generalised examples)
and supportive of the point that you are explaining. It would be irrelevant to provide
examples that do not illustrate the point that you are explaining. Remember to develop
your example by connecting your example to the point or the topic sentence that you
give
Read the following sample question:
You are contributing an article for your university magazine. The article is about
problems faced by adult learners in an open university. Share your personal
experiences in your answer.
In the question, you are to give your personal experiences as
examples. Remember to ensure that the examples that you
provide are relevant to the point that you are making.
The following is a sample paragraph for the question:
Another problem faced by adult learners is finding time to study. Many adult learners
have full-time jobs which they need to concentrate on. In other words, between work and
study, work has to come first. Consequently, the adult learner will have to manage his or
her time well so that he or she can do his or her work first and then find time to study.
Most of the time, I have to work overtime to meet my project deadlines, failing which my
contract may be terminated by the main contractor. So, I am greatly pressured to do my
job well, and at the same time, find time during breaks, meals or just before I sleep to go
through my study notes and work on my assignments. It can be tough to be an adult
learner but I know the fruit of all this hard work will be precious.
Note the structure of the above paragraph. The topic sentence is Another problem
faced by adult learners is finding time to study. In this sentence, the topic is Another
problem faced by adult learners, and the controlling idea is finding time to study.
First, explain the problem of finding time to study. The writer explains that work
has to come first, and provides specific examples I have to work overtime to
meet my project deadlines, failing which my contract may be terminated by the
main contractor, and at the same time, find time during breaks, meals or just
before I sleep to go through my study notes and work on my assignments.
Note also that the explanation and examples are developed so that the reader can
understand the connection between the examples and the topic sentence.
Read the following paragraph. What are the differences between this
paragraph and the above paragraph?
Another problem faced by adult learners is finding time to study. Many adult learners have
full-time jobs which they need to concentrate on. In other words, between work and
study, work has to come first. Consequently, the adult learner will have to manage his or
her time well so that he or she can do his or her work first and then find time to study. For
example, I too have a lot of work and sometimes do not have enough time to study. It can
be tough to be an adult learner but I know the fruit of all this hard work will be precious.
I hope you have been able to identify that the example given is not specific and it is
also not developed.
Activity 5.7
You are given this topic for a writing assignment
Ways to healthy living.
1. Write a thesis statement for the essay.
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2. Develop three topic sentences to support your thesis statement.
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3. For each topic sentence, provide at least one example.
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4. Choose one topic sentence and its relevant example that you have written and
develop them into a paragraph. Remember to be specific in your example and develop
it.
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Activity 5.7
1. There are different ways of living a healthy life doing exercises, thinking positively
and eating appropriately.
2. a. Exercising will help one to live a healthy life.
b. Another tip for living healthily is to think positively.
c. One should also eat sensibly and appropriately to enjoy good health.
3. a. Aerobics and gym workouts.
b. Manage one’s time well and read books on positive thinking.
c. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, consume less carbohydrates and avoid junk
food.
4. Exercising can help one to live a healthy life. When one exercises, the muscles and
the heart are worked on and also the blood circulation is improved. These help to make
the body tissues firmer, making one look more youthful and healthy. Thus, activities
such as aerobics and gym workouts help to put the body in motion and improve blood
circulation. Lifting weights in the gym also helps to develop one’s muscles.
Consequently, one’s physique looks better and more attractive. In summary, exercising
provides many benefits for everyone.
(All appropriate answers are acceptable. You may want to submit your paragraph to your
tutor for feedback.)
In the next subsection, we will look at the word
“discuss” which is another common word that is used
in essay questions.
Discuss
“Discuss” is synonymous with “explain”. In other
words, when you discuss an issue or a point, you
present an elaboration on that specific issue or that
particular point. When you conduct a discussion, you
may consider expressing viewpoints from various
perspectives.
Let us look at the following sample essay topic.
Religion is the opium of the masses”. Discuss.
This topic is very general. No specific direction is given as to how your essay
should be structured - Are you to agree or disagree with the topic?
Here, you can present both views - one paragraph to explain why some people
agree and another paragraph to explain why others disagree. You should also
indicate your stand (i.e., your position as to whether you agree or disagree) in a
separate paragraph.
A sample outline of the essay may look as follows:
Body paragraph 1 Topic sentence: First view — Some people agree that religion is the
opium of the masses because religion has helped many people by giving
them hope.
Supporting sentences: For instance, in the midst of calamity or
problems, religion can help to give a person hope, assurance and the
strength to carry on. People with no hope tend to have no will to live on.
Topic sentence: Second view — Disagree because the misuse of religion can put people
Body paragraph 2 into bondage.
Supporting sentences: Many people have blindly followed their faiths to kill others as in
the crusades and current terrorism trends. Religion tends to make people not use their
thinking faculties; they are expected to 'follow' dangerous trends such as in cults. Blind
faith has led to many causes of suicide.
Topic sentence: My view — My personal opinion is that religion has its place in a person’s
Body paragraph 3 life.
Supporting sentences: There should also be room for discussion and not blind faith. Give
personal examples.
Restatement/Summary: There is truth in the statement. On the other hand, it may not be
Conclusion true for all situations.
Closing statement: Religion may not be the opium of the masses, but for some who use
In the above outline, two perspectives of the
quotation are given- one to agree (Body paragraph
1), and the other to disagree (Body paragraph 2).
Body paragraph 3 gives the personal stand of the
writer.
Remember to give relevant examples (where
necessary) to illustrate the points that you are
making.
Activity 5.8
Provide an essay outline for the following topic:
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Activity 5.8
(You may want to submit your
paragraph to your tutor for feedback.)
Compare and contrast
Another set of keywords is “compare and contrast”. When you
are asked to compare, you are to write the similarities
between one thing and another.
Introductory Paragraph
Similarities
Differences
Concluding Paragraph
2. Discuss the particular features in which the two
concepts find similarities and differences. This is a
more complex approach to comparing and contrasting.
Introductory Paragraph
Feature 1
Concept A
Concept B
Feature 2
Concept A
Concept B
Feature 3
Concept A
Concept B
Concluding Paragraph
Other keywords
There are many other instructional keywords that you may come across in essays.
Here is a list of them and explanations on what you are required to do:
Analyse Break the topic into parts and show how the parts are related to each other
to the whole. (Analyse the following sonnet by William Shakespeare.)
Argue Support a particular view for or against a topic, and support it with evidence.
(Your friend wishes to join a protest group. Argue why you think it is a good
or bad idea.)
Assess Weigh up to what extent a statement is true. Pay due attention to positive,
negative and disputable aspects. You can cite opinions of well-known
personalities or research to support your assessment. (Assess why James was
a successful leader and William a failure.)
Compare Write about the similarities and differences. (Compare convergent and
divergent thinking.)
Contrast Similar to compare, but the focus is on differences here. (Contrast the
language used in the two passages about nature.)
Define Explain the meaning of something in a brief, specific manner. (Define
Academic Integrity)
Describe Give a full and detailed picture of something in words so that it can be
visualised. Alternatively, spell out the main aspects of an idea, a topic or the
sequence in which a series of things happen. Recount, characterise, sketch or
relate these things in narrative form. (Describe how En Hamid went from rags
to riches.)
Diagram Draw a picture and label its parts. (Diagram the parts of a gun and explain how it
works.)
Discuss Write as much as you can on the topic. (Discuss how an increase in the price of
petrol affects you.)
Enumerate Give a numbered list or give points one by one in an itemised series. (Enumerate
the harmful effects of addiction to video games.)
Evaluate Write about the advantages and disadvantages. Finally, conclude whether it is
good or bad. (Evaluate the usefulness of making purchases with a credit card.)
Explain Discuss reasons. Provide facts and reasons to make something clear and
understandable. (Explain why chick lit is so popular with schoolgirls.)
Give examples Provide specific instances, places, events, people, etc. as is required. (Give two
examples of flowering vegetables.)
Illustrate Draw a picture and label its parts. Give a long written example to explain
something. (Illustrate the use of Edward de Bono’s CoRT 4 tools in generating
creative ideas.)
Identify To name or state. (Identify five strategies that will reduce miscommunication.)
Interpret Explain, translate, provide examples and give your opinion. (Interpret the following
lines from Robert Frost.)
Justify Provide reasons and facts to support the topic. (Justify your decision for choosing
Plan A instead of Plan B.)
List Present information as a series of points. (List the importance of writing skills in the
workplace.)
Outline Present important information in an organized manner. (Outline the steps of the writing
process.)
Prove Cite evidence or proof, giving clear and logical reasons. (Prove that the Road Safety
Campaign was a success.)
Relate Write about the connection between topics. (Relate the connection between texting
while driving and the high rate of road accidents.)
Review Examine, analyse and comment on the topic critically. (Review the novel “Great
Expectations” by Charles Dickens.)
State Present the main points in a clear and concise manner (State the steps leading to the
signing of the contract.)
Summarise Present the main points in a brief manner. (Summarise the president’s speech in not more
than 100 words)
Trace Present information in the order something occurred. (Trace the events leading to the
formation of Malaysia.)
Activity 5.9
Read the following essay question:
The women’s liberation movement in the West during the early twentieth century has
brought many social changes to Western society, especially to the status of women as
compared to men. Some of these changes have spilled over to Asian communities. Compare
and contrast the status of women in the Western and Asian worlds.
1. What are the keywords that you should focus on in this question?
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3.
Comparison Asian and Western women can vote. Previously, before the
(Similarities) early twentieth century, many women around the world were
not allowed to vote.
Contrast (Differences) Weatern women have freedom to decide if and to whom they
want to get married. Many women in some Asian countries
are forced into marriage.
Introduction Background information: The purpose of the women’s liberation movement.
Changes they have fought for e.g., equality in access to education, jobs and
political life; greater freedom; rights to divorce; access to contraception and
abortion
Body paragraph 2 Topic sentence: Compare and contrast work and labour.
Supporting sentences: In terms of work in Asian countries, women are often
considered as cheap labour. There is a lack of training for them and pregnant
women are usually dismissed from their jobs in poorer countries. (Compare
this aspect to that in the West.)
Conclusion The women’s liberation movement has brought about numerous changes.
Nevertheless, many more changes are still needed to address various aspects
of related issues.
Summary
In this section, we looked at the importance of understanding the
instructions and contents of a question. Following the
requirements of these questions (examination questions or
assignment questions) is important. If students fail to understand
what these questions require them to do, they may not write the
answer within the required scope. Subsequently, these students
either fail or do not do well in the examination or the assignment.
In this section, you looked at one strategy in understanding
questions first noting the keywords in the questions. You looked
at some of the keywords given in this section such as “define”,
“explain”, “exemplify”, “discuss” and “compare and contrast”.
Spending some time to mull over these words will help you to
draw an outline of the essay that will not stray away from the
required scope of the question.
Self-test 5.2
The following is a possible essay topic in an examination:
Many people are concerned that global warning may worsen if we continue to live the way
we do now. Explain how global warming can worsen and what steps can be taken by
individuals and governments to protect the Earth from getting warmer.
The earlier units discussed how you go about preparing your academic essays
andhow to go about answering the various essay questions. You have put in a lot
oftime and effort in planning, drafting and writing your essay, and in this section,you
will learn about how to present the fruits of your labour. Just as a chef has whohas
cooked a great meal would want to present the dish in an eye-catching way,
you would want to do the same. Naturally, for all the time invested in
your assignment,you want to obtain the best score possible.
Do be aware that marking essays is rather subjective. This means that one
assessor’smarks for an essay may differ from that of another assessor although the
both of themmay use the same criteria for marking. The difference in marks is
usually not too wide but it does show that different examiners will view the
same essay differently. What can you do to ensure that you obtain the best possible
score?
Chefs don’t just cook and then simply put the food on the plate for them,
thepresentation is the most crucial stage. The choice of plates, the way the various
itemsof food are arranged, the colours, the decoration these are some of the
aspectschefs place importance on. Chefs are fond of saying, “We eat with our eyes
first.”
Similarly, the way you present your essays is the first thing your tutors or lecturerssee
before they even begin evaluating your work. Submitting visually-pleasing essaysis
one way to ensure your create a good impression. In many cases, the layouts ofsome
essays are so bad that it is almost impossible to tell at a glance how manyparagraphs
were written. Examiners very frequently cannot tell where one paragraphends and
the next one begin
5. The usual fonts recommended are Times New Roman or Arial, and a font size of
12 point is usually recommended.
9 Most importantly, on the first page of your assignment, you should havethe
following:• Student’s name• Student ID• Student’s contact information
(phone and email)• Lecturer’s/Tutor’ name• Name of the course
10. In preparing your reference list at the end of your assignment, the style and
format adopted by the university is the Chicago style.
Handwritten essays in an examination
While typed essays are preferable, this is not possible in an examination. Here
aresome basic principles to follow in preparing a handwritten answer:1. Ensure that
your handwriting can be easily read. Write neatly, and make aneffort to write your
letters, words and sentences legibly.
3. When using a pen, use black or dark blue ink. Light-coloured ink tends tomake
your text look faint and such text is difficult to read.
4. Plan your essay outline before proceeding to write your final draft. Anessay with
scribbles, cancellations or liquid correction marks is annoyingto the examiner. Let
the examiner focus on your answer, not distracted bythe various alterations on your
answer sheet
Layout
According to the Macmillan Dictionary online,
layout refers to the way in which the different parts of something are arranged.
Just as a chef views the way the nasi lemak is presented to the customer, you
should similarly view the layout of your essay as very important.
Look at the two layouts of the two essays below:
ESSAY A ESSAY B
The most dangerous animal in theworldWhat is The most dangerous animal in theworld
the most dangerous animal in the world? If you What is the most dangerous animal in the
think it is somefierce jungle beast, you are world? If you think it is somefierce jungle beast,
wrong.According to many scientists,the most you are wrong.According to many scientists,the
consistently dangerous animal in the world is most consistently dangerous animal in the world
the commonhousefly. The housefly is the common housefly. The housefly
carries millions ofgerms. Because of its habit carries millions of germs. Because of its habit of
offeeding on excrement and rubbish,and any feeding on excrement and rubbish,and any form
form of filth, a single housefly can harbour of filth, a single housefly can harbour thirty-
thirty-three million germs in its intestines three million germs in its intestines and more
andmore than five hundred million germs on it than five hundred million germs on it body and
body and legs. The housefly is dangerous legs. The housefly is dangerous topeople
topeople because it spreads diseases.Being a because it spreads diseases.Being a carrier of
carrier of germs, it is not surprising that it is the germs, it is not surprising that it is the bearer
bearer ofsuch dreaded diseases such astyphoid ofsuch dreaded diseases such as typhoid fever,
fever, tuberculosis and diarrhoea. These tuberculosis and diarrhoea. These diseases kill
diseases killpeople. These are the reasons why people
the housefly is considered dangerous. To reduce
the problems caused by houseflies, we should
always coverfood, and ensure that all
rubbishbins are covered with lids.
Can you see a title and four paragraphs in each of the above essays at a glance?
Whichis easier to see? Why?
As will observe,
Essay B
has a better layout. Hopefully,
you will be aware, that your task does not end with the completion of the writing of
your essay - you need to put some thought on your layout.Here are some
considerations to ensure that the layout of your essay is pleasing to your reader’s
eye:
1. The title of your essay must be clear. It should stand out. For an assignment,put
the title in bold and centre it. In an examination, underline the title.
33
Paragraph A
, several words are cancelled and replaced with other words.Corrections are made and a few
words are inserted. Besides making the essay looklike a rough draft, the finished product looks
untidy. Would you like to read anessay like this? Do you think your tutor or the examiner would
like to read it? It istherefore better not to handwrite the assignment as handwritten assignments
canbe misread by the examiner.
Paragraph B
The recent bridge collapse in Minnesota, America is a grim reminder
of the need to be vigilant at all times. Had the city engineers and the city
officials been vigilant in their work and notified the relevant authorities of
the need to strengthen the bridge, many lives would not have perished in
the tragedy. Unfortunately, many people tend to be careless - they tend to
take things for granted, assuming that all is well until a tragedy strikes.
Paragraph B
is an improved version of the text. Note that without the correctionsmade
on the text, and typed using the appropriate font size, font type and
linespacing, the text definitely looks more pleasing and presentable. In
short, do notsubmit to your tutor or the examiner a draft text with all the
corrections that havebeen made. The final text you submit should be
edited, neat and presentable.
Ideas that do not work:
Before we end this section, here are some ideas adopted by students in theirattempt
to get their tutors, lecturers or examiners into awarding them more
marks.Unfortunately, these tricks do not work. You are advised to avoid them.
2.Using large fonts, wide margins and extra spacing to increase the numberof
pages.
These deceptive tricks are immediately obvious to the eye. Your tutors and examiners
are very experienced people and they cannot be fooled into thinking you have
prepared a lengthy assignment.
Retype the essay below by adopting the format and layout below:
Format:•
Font: Times New Roman
Font size: 11
• Text alignment: Left
• Spacing: 1.5Layout:
• Title: Centred
• Paragraphs: Add a blank space between paragraphs
• Margin: 1 inch margin top, bottom, left, right
Feedback
Activity 5.10
How plants defend themselves
What do you do if you are about to be attacked by a dog? You runaway! When an
animal is threatened, it can run away, or choose tofight back. However, plants
cannot run away, nor can they fightback. If you think they are defenceless, you are
wrong. Plants haveways to defend themselves.One way plants have to defend
themselves is by having sharpedges or thorns. For example, the leaves of a holly
plant have sharpspines that discourage animals from eating its leaves. This is
howthe holly plant defends itself physically.Another way plants defend themselves
physically is by having hardleaves. The oak tree has leaves that are thick and hard
which makeit difficult for animals to eat them.Besides physical means, plants make
use of chemical defences.For example, when a caterpillar bites a tobacco leaf, the
chemicalnicotine is released. This nicotine discourages the caterpillar.As you can
see, plants are not completely defenceless as manypeople think. They can protect
themselves through physical andchemical means.
How plants defend themselves What do you do if you are about to be attacked by a
dog? You runaway! When an animal is threatened, it can run away, or chooseto
fight back. However, plants cannot run away
nor can they fight back. If you think they are defenceless, youare wrong. Plants
have ways to defend themselves
One way plants have to defend themselves is by having sharp edges orthorns. For
example, the leaves of a holly plant have sharp spines thatdiscourage animals from
eating its leaves. This is how the holly plantdefends itself physically
Another way plants defend themselves physically is by havinghard leaves. The oak
tree has leaves that are thick and hard whichmake it difficult for animals to eat them
Title: ________________________________________________
Introduction: Thesis
Statement____________________________________________________
Conclusion:
Restatement___________________________________________________
Activity 5.11
Title:
How plants defend themselves
Introduction: Thesis statement
Plants have ways to defend themselves.
Body paragraph 1: Topic sentence
One way plants have to defend themselves is by having sharp edges or thorns.
Format refers to the choice of fonts, font size, line spacing, text alignment, and
margins. Layout refers to the way text (titles andparagraphs) and graphics are set
out on the page.
Physical characteristics of your product such as the type of paper for the
assignment, the tidiness of your assignment and the type of stationery you use for
your writing are equally important.
Following these considerations will help you to present your essayin the best way
possible to your examiner and tutor.
Self-test 5.3
An assignment is given to you where you have to write an essaybased on the topic
“Spirituality is more important than the greatestdiscoveries of science.”
Discuss. You are given ten weeks to complete this assignment. The followingis a
sample of your assignment
1. Do you think the above sample is acceptable for submission toyour
tutor?_________________________________________________
3. What format and layout would you consider for this essay assignment?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Self-test 5.3
1. No.
3. Format:
• Use a word processor such as Microsoft Word to type yourassignments
.• The assignment should be typed 1.5 or double-spaced.
• The text of your essay should be aligned to the left.
• In-text citation and reference list using the APA style.
• Use font Times New Roman or Arial, and a font size of 12point.• Use an A4 size
plain white paper of 80gsm
• On the first page of your assignment, include the following:Student’s name, ID,
contact information, lecturer’s/tutor’name, name of the course.Layout:
• Title in bold and placed in the centre.
Leave a space between paragraphs.
• There should be a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, leftand right.
41
UNIT 5
Answering written assignments and essay questions in examinations
5.4 Assessment of Essays
Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to:
1. Explain what evaluation and assessment means.
2. Explain what self-assessment and peer-assessment means.
3. Conduct self-assessment and peer-assessment to evaluate essays written by
yourself and your peers.
4. Describe what you should do when assessing an essay
Introduction
Assessment is one activity that you, as a student, will always encounter.
Studentsare assessed through examinations, tests, assignments and activities.
Employees areappraised by their managers on their capability to do work.
Assignments are alsoassessed and evaluated so that a grade or marks can be
awarded accordingly.In this section, you will look at how essays are assessed. You
will also learn how toassess your own essays and that of your peers. By conducting
such assessments, youcan become aware of what you need to do to improve you
academic writing skills.In this section, you will learn what assessment is, followed by
an explanation ofhow essays are assessed. Do attempt the activities so that you can
have a clearerunderstanding of how essays are assessed
What is evaluation and assessment?
1. Evaluation
In general, an evaluation is given at the end of a course to determine how well a
person has performed an academic task, or to identify if the student has achieved a
certain set standard. Thus, essays are evaluated to establish if the writer
has written the essay to a particular level - whether the essay is of a university level
and deserves an A; or the writing is just not up to the required standard and
deserves a failing grade. As you can see, an evaluation is used to
determine whether the student deserves a distinction, has achieved
a certain standard to move up to the next level, to be awarded a degree, or be
qualified as for the profession he or she aspires to be
2.
Assessment
An assessment, on the other hand, is focussed on determining whether you
haveacquired the various skills in a learning environment. An assessment helps
youto identify areas of weaknesses so that you can work to improve on them.
Forexample, in essay writing, you are assessed on your ability to compose
thesisstatements, topic sentences, supporting sentences, hooks, and other aspects
of writing.
An example of an assessment and evaluation of an article being
consideredfor publication
Here’s an example of an assessment of an article submitted for publication.
Notethat it does not make any judgement (evaluation) on whether it is good or bad.
This article has an appropriate introduction, with sufficient basic
backgroundinformation on the topic. The thesis statement states very clearly the
five areas thatthe article will discuss. The body of the article discusses the five
areas of the topic
in great detail and provides sufficient examples and evidence from various different
sources (statistics, a book, a research article from a journal, and a news article)
toback up the thesis.
Here’s an example of an evaluation of that same article. You would notice thatit
makes a judgement based on the assessment given above:
6 – 8marks The response provides a very basic answer to the question andidentifies
some points of agreement and/or disagreement. Thecomparison and/or
contrast is mostly implicit. Perhaps there maybe significant irrelevance. The
writing shows some accuracy ingrammar, punctuation and spelling but
contains frequent errors.[“A very basic answer” means sequencing is
especially prevalent. The answer nevertheless identifies one or more very b
asicpoints of comparative content or provenance even if it is doneimplicitly.]
S2 Question 2
State whether organic or mechanistic structure ismore appropriate for
Indigo Enterprise. 1
1.
Self-assessment
As the term implies, self-
assessment means you assess yourself. Here you assessyour own work and be
your own judge on how well you have performedbased on a set of assessment
criteria. Self-assessment is not so much aboutawarding your own grades, but more
about identifying your own strengthsand weaknesses, and areas you still have not
fully understood.
2.
Peer-assessment
While self-assessment is about assessing yourself, peer-assessment, on theother
hand, is about assessing your peers. Here you assess your peers’ workbased on the
same set of assessment criteria you use to assess yourself.By becoming an
assessor yourself, you gain a better understanding and insight into what goes on in
the assessment process. You and your peers will be more open in discussing the
manner you assessed each other - and in the processdevelop your skills in judging
and offering your opinion.
Here is an assessment sheet for assessing an essay you can use for peer andself-
assessment:
Marking Scheme for Peer and Self-Assessment
Opening sentence/Hook: 1
• Award 1 mark for
the hook. (Identify the hook used: _________________)
General/Background information: 1
• Award 1 mark for sufficient general/background information.• Award
½ mark for vague general/backgroundinformation.
Thesis statement: 1
• Award 1 mark for a clear and appropriatethesis statement.• Award
½ mark for a vague thesis statement
Body paragraph 1 (6 marks
Topic sentence: 1
• Award 1 mark for a topic sentence with acontrolling idea.• Award
½ mark for a topic sentence without aclear controlling idea.• 0 mark for
a topic sentence not related to thethesis statement.
Supporting sentences:
(At least 3 supportingsentences)
Unity: 3
• Award 1 mark for each supporting sentencethat provides information
on the topicsentences. Award a maximum of 3 marks. Deduct
½ mark for each sentence that has nounity or is unrelated to the topic
sentence.
Coherence: 1
• Award 1 mark for coherence (the consistentuse of key nouns,
pronouns). Deduct ½ mark for inconsistency in the use ofpronouns
(E.g.,We in one sentence, and you inanother sentence).• Award 1 mark
for the use of connectors. (Connectors used: ______________________) 1
Topic sentence: 1
• Award 1 mark for a topic sentence with acontrolling idea.• Award
½ mark for a topic sentence without aclear controlling idea.• 0 mark for
a topic sentence not related to thethesis statement.
Supporting sentences:
(At least 3 supportingsentences)
Unity: 3
• Award 1 mark for each supporting sentencethat provides information
on the topicsentences. Award a maximum of 3 marks. Deduct
½ mark for each sentence that has nounity or is unrelated to the topic
Body paragraph 3 (7 marks)
Topic sentence: 1
• Award 1 mark for a topic sentence with acontrolling
idea.• Award ½ mark for a topic sentence without aclear
controlling idea.• 0 mark for a topic sentence not related
to thethesis statement. 3
Supporting sentences:
(At least 3 supportingsentences) 1
Unity:
• Award 1 mark for each supporting sentencethat provides
information on the topicsentences. Award a maximum of 3
marks. Deduct ½ mark for each sentence that has nounity or is
unrelated to the topic sentence. 1
Coherence:
• Award 1 mark for coherence (the consistentuse of key nouns,
pronouns). Deduct ½ mark for inconsistency in the
use ofpronouns (E.g.,We in one sentence, and you inanother
sentence).• Award 1 mark for the use of
connectors. (Connectors used: ______________________)
Conclusion (3 marks)
Restatement: 1
• Award 1 mark for the statement thatrephrases the thesis
statement.• Award ½ mark for a vague restatement.
Summary: 1
• Award 1 mark for a general summary of theinformation
provided in the body paragraphs.
Closing statement: 1
• Award 1 mark for the closing statement(Type of closing
statement: _______________)
Criteria for in-text citation and references MARKS ALLOCATED MARKS AWARDED
In-text citation
• Award ½ mark for each correct Author-Date. Award a maximum of 2 2
marks for fourcitations.
• Award ½ mark for grammatically sentenceintroducing the cited 2
information. Award a maximum of 2 marks for four citations
Reference List
• Award ½ mark for a correctly formatted entry.Award a maximum of 2 2
marks for four entries.• Deduct ½ mark for entries not
arranged inalphabetical orde
• Deduct ½ mark for not indenting the secondline of the entry.
Example: Gladwell, Malcolm. 2008. Outliers: The Storyof Success. New
York: Little, Brown and Company.
4
Criteria for language MRKS ALLOCATED MARKS AWARDED
Do not be concerned if the total marks do not add up to 100%. The marks
allocated here are for the purpose of peer and self-assessment, and not an
evaluation of your overall writing ability. The assessment sheets are to raise your
awareness on aspects you need to pay attention to when assessing your essay.
You need to be aware that in this course, although 100 marks are awardedfor TMA 1,
TMA 2, and the exam, the weightage or allocation of marks isdifferent for each of
the three components when calculating the overall score:
COMPONENT WEIGHTAGE
TMA1 20%
TMA2 30%
EXAM 50%
TOTAL 100%
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Feedback
Activity 5.12
Title
Introduction:
• Opening sentence/Hook:• General/Background information:• Thesis statement:
Body paragraphs:
• Topic sentences• Supporting sentences• Unity • Coherence
Conclusion:
• Restatement• Summary • Closing statement
References:
• In-text citation• Reference list
Language:
• Grammar• Punctuation• Sentence structure
Summary
In this section, we looked at what assessment and evaluation is,and the ways essays
are assessed. Essays can be marked in two ways - impression (i.e.,
marking according to the impression theexaminers have of the essays), or analytical
(i.e., marking based ona given criteria).
You also learnt about peer and self-assessment and the various criteriayou can go
about assessing your essays and that of your peers.It is important to remember that
the criteria for marking can varybetween institutions. As such, it is very important for
you as astudent to know the assessment criteria that is used so that you can write
essays that will help you to do well in your assignments and in examinations. Discuss
this with your tutors when you meet them during your next tutorial session
Self-test 5.4
Assume that your examination answer script will be assessed usingthe criteria where
the mark allocation for content is 60% andlanguage is 40%.1. Which
component would you spend more time
on?_________________________________________________
2. If you were to answer “Content” for the above question, doesthat mean language is
not as important?_________________________________________________
3. Regardless of the kind of criteria that is used, what should your attitude be when
you answer essay questions in assignments and in
examinations?_________________________________________________
Self-test 5.4
1. Content.
3. Read the essay questions carefully and have a good understanding of the
rubrics. Produce an answer that is satisfactory in response to each question.
Check all your answers before you submit your answer script. Be sure to have
time to edit your answers accordingly.
53
UNIT 5
Answering written assignments and essay questions in
examinations
5.5 General Examination Strategiesand Writing Skills for
life
Objectives
1. Time management
2. Emotional stability
3. Following instructions
Time management
Half an
hour left…
54
WAWASAN OPEN UNIVERSITY
WUC 203/03 Writing Skills for University Studies
Time management
Half an hour left ...
It is important to keep track of time when you do your examination or when
youdo your assignments. This principle is especially relevant when you do essay
typequestions as there may be a tendency for examination candidates to write
withoutany proper planning at all. Similarly, without proper time management,
studentsdoing assignments may face deadline pressure. This may result in low
quality work when the students realise that the deadline for the submission
of their assignmentis almost near. It may also result in writer’s block where the
writer may not knowhow to proceed with the writing process
During the examination, when you first look through your question booklet,
decideon the time to be spent on each question. Ensure that you leave enough
time to answer the more difficult essay questions and those that are worth more
marks.Generally, the more marks that are allocated to a question, the more time
you should spend your time on it.
Similarly, think through your assignment question and plan out how much timeyou
should allocate for each part of your writing process. Do not forget to leave some
time for reviewing your answers. Doing this immediately after answering each
essay question as well as at the conclusion of the entire examination gives you one
last chance to correct careless mistakes or add additional information that you may
have initially left out of the response
Activity 5.13
Assume that you are to answer two questions during an examination.The first
question requires you to edit an essay of 350 words while the second question
involves writing an essay that is based on a given topic. The mark allocation for
Question 1 and Question 2is 30 marks and 70 marks respectively. The total time
allocated for the paper is 2 hours.
1. Which question should you spend more time on? Explain your reason(s).
2. How would you allocate the 2-hour period to answer the examination questions?
Feedback
Activity 5.13
1. Spend more time on the second question
as more marks are allocated for it.
2. Take a good rest on the night before the examination. A sleepy and tiredmind will
not be able to think well.
3. Some problems such as family-related problems may still linger in your mind. As
far as possible, try to clear your mind of these. Tell yourself to clear the examination
before you continue thinking about these problems
4. Prepare the necessary items you need at least one day ahead of the
examination. For instance, ensure you have enough pens and pencils to bring
along. Do also remember to have all the required documents with you such as
your student card, identification card (I.C.), examination slip or card, etc. You will
invite unnecessary stress if you realise on the day ofthe examination that you have
forgotten some items or realise that your only pen has run out of ink.
5. Ensure you have a meal before your examination. Examinations at WOU are
usually three hours long. It is also important that you dress comfortably and bring
a coat along just in case the examination hall is very cold.
2. Read all examination regulations carefully before you sit for your examination.
3. Ensure that you remember the date and time of your examinations. If you are
required to be early in the examination room, be sure to manage your time well so
that you will be in the examination hall on time.
4. Print out all instructions for any assignment. Do not rely solely on your memory
as there is a tendency for one to forget minute details.
5. Remember to go through your final draft and ensure that your assignment
complies with the instructions given by your tutor for this module.
Activity 5.14
For your WawasanLearn activity, share with your
coursemates what you would do to prepare for examinations.
What problems may arise when you work on essay
questions? Share some pointers on how you answer essay
questions in examinations. Do include tips on how you go
about working on essay assignments.
57
2. Writing a proposal - i.e., offering solutions to problems and submitting them to people
who have the authority to make decisions.
3. Writing other technical documents - i.e., writing for a purpose, to give information to a
target audience.
4. Writing a response to a newspaper article- i.e., adequate reading to prepare for your
response to the article, selecting appropriate examples to support your points
mentioned in your response, drafting and editing your article before you send it to the
newspaper.
5. Writing an article for a magazine- i.e., writing the outline of the article,researching for
contents of the article, drafting and editing before submitting the article to the editor for
publication.
6. Writing a memorandum, a business letter, a fax, an sms (i.e., short message service)
message or an email (i.e., electronic message mail)- i.e., considering the content,
drafting and editing before sending it.
Activity 5.15
Consider another possible situation where you can apply what you have learnt in
this course to your everyday life. How much of whatyou have learnt here do you
think has helped you to write better in the situation you are thinking
of?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________
Activity 5.15
(All possible answers are
acceptable.)
Summary
In this unit, we looked at some general examinations strategies
thatcan help you to perform better in examinations. These
principlesare applicable when working on assignment
questions. Be constantly aware of time management allocate
time wisely tomeet deadlines. Equally important is keeping
calm and following instructions. Following such simple
strategies may help you to attain better grades in your
assignments and in the examinations.
Self-test 5.5
Consider the following situations and suggest one way that you could take to
overcome the problems that you face.
2. You suddenly get a panic attack just as you enter the examination hall. Suggest
one way that you can take to keep yourself calm
________________________________________________
3. You are given a handout with your assignment. Should you read every instruction
in the handout? Explain your reason(s).
_________________________________________________
Self-test 5.5
1. Plan a schedule and organise your time accordingly to complete the assignment
before the deadline.
3. Yes, you should read every instruction in the brief even though you may know
the instructions. It is always good to read the instructions to be certain that the
requirements of the assignment have not changed
SUMMARY
In this unit , we look at some strategies for doing well in
assignments and examinations. Generally, one must be
aware of the need to submit good and well- written or typed
essays.
Now that we are at the end of the course, let us summarise all
that we have covered in this course. In
Unit 1
, you learnt about
the writing process choosing a topic, generating ideas, planning, writing the first d
raft, revising, editing, and proofreading. You were also shown how to write the introd
uction, body, andconclusion.
Unit 2
introduced you to the various types of essays.The types of essays discussed were
persuasion, compare andcontrast, discussion, definition, problem solution,
evaluation,and cause and effect.
In
Unit 3
, you learnt technical writing. Here, you were exposedto the various techniques in
technical writing including thepreparation of training manuals.
Unit 4
introduced you to thestructure of writing reports, proposals, and policy
statements.Finally, you learnt how to answer written assignments and essaysin
Unit 5
. Here, we walked you through the answering of essayquestions by examining the
rubrics and keywords. We alsoexamined the strategies for answering assignment
questions. Wehope that the skills you have learnt and acquired will help
youthroughout your university study, the various writing assignmentsthat you will
have at your workplace, and your personal life.
Unit Practice Exercise
Read the following questions and answer them accordingly.
1. What do you think you should first do when you have an unstructured essay
question in your assignment?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. Which of the following would you do first when you open your question booklet
in the examination hall?
A. Read the essay topic and start planning the outline of the essay.
B. Read the instructions in the question booklet.
C. Start to relax through breathing techniques.
Feedback
1. Narrow down the topic to something specific that you can focus on in your
answer.
2. B
(Note: You should start to relax before you open your examination booklet.)
3. Is it necessary for you to know the marking criteria that your examiner is usingto
mark essay questions in assignments and in examinations?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4. Think through what you have learnt in this course. Are there potential problems
that you may face in examinations or for future writing assignments? What steps
would you take to overcome these problems?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3. No, it is not necessary. (Note: It would be good for you to
know what the criteria are. Ask your tutor. You should aim to
do well when you write your text.)
Brannan, B (2003)
A Writer’s Workshop - Crafting Paragraphs, Building Essays ,Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Clouse, B F (1996)
The Student Writer - Editor and Critic, 6th edn, New York:McGraw-Hill.
Writer’s block
A situation when the writer does not know what to say next in an essay. Accordin
g toHumphrey and Conklin (2005), this canhappen at any stage of the writing
process.To avoid this psychological barrier, plan yourtime well. Aim for a good
product but do notaim to be “absolutely perfect”. When you
are writing, steer clear of distractions such as thetelevision and the handphone.
Avoid worriesand preoccupations.