basIC hints for the writing of assignments

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basIC hints for the writing of assignments

• COMPILED BY
• carel van wyk
• Hons.B.Soc.Sc. Psychology M.A. Social
  Sciences
• CONTRIBUTORS
• Ms A Böning
• Ms E van der Merwe
• DATE
• 18 May 2007
• UPDATED

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• HOW NOT TO HAND IN AN ASSIGNMENT!

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OVERVIEW
2. Cover page
Introduction
1. Mark-sheet
5. Referencing
3. Index page
4. The introduction and the summary
6. General technical aspects
Where to get more information
Summary
7. Writing style
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INTRODUCTION

• Students lose a lot of marks for minor mistakes
  when doing assignments.
• I want my students to do well in their
  assignments therefore I present this topic.
• This is a mere overview of common mistakes,
  rather than discussing academic writing per se.

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1. THE MARK-SHEET

• The mark-sheet serves as a guideline for the
  lecturer to mark the assignment and it shows the
  student what is expected of him/her.
• Use the mark-sheet as your guide while you are
  doing your assignment.
• The mark-sheet is provided in the study guide for
  each module.
• If not provided, ask your lecturer for a copy
  before you start on your assignment.
• How to use the mark-sheet
• Read through the mark-sheet before you start your
  assignment.
• If there is anything in the mark-sheet that is
  not clear to you, ask your lecturer to clarify it.

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• Keep the mark-sheet next to you while you are
  working on your assignment. Check regularly to
  see whether you are still on track or not.
• When you have finished with your assignment, use
  the mark-sheet as a checklist to make sure all
  criteria were met.
• Lets go through the mark-sheets for assignments
  on the following pages.
• The mark-sheet for first- and second-year
  students is on page seven and the mark-sheet for
  third- and fourth-year students is on page eight.

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2. THE COVER PAGE

• The following information must appear on the
  cover page
• Topic
• Course code
• Name surname
• Student number
• Name of lecturer
• Hand in date
• The cover page must be very neat. First
  impressions last!
• The cover page must be eye catching.

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3. THE INDEX PAGE

• The table of contents must follow the cover page.
• The table of contents must contain page numbers.
• Each page must be numbered.
• The page numbers must correspond with the page
  numbers indicated in the table of contents.

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4. THE INTRODUCTION AND THE SUMMARY

• Introduction
• Write down the topic of the assignment at the top
  of the first page after the table of contents.
• Write the introduction right below the topic.
• Dont number the introduction.
• Dont provide the introduction with a heading
  Introduction or any other heading.
• Explain in the introduction what you are going to
  discuss in the assignment.
• Dont use any literature sources in the
  introduction.
• The introduction must be in your own words.
• Start with the content below the introduction.
• Dont start with the content on the next page.

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• Summary
• To evaluate if you have reached the learning
  outcomes and statements made in the introduction.
• Motivate your findings.
• Dont do the summary on a separate page.
• The summary must directly follow the content.
• The summary must be in your own words.
• Dont handle any new information in the summary.
• Dont make use of any literature sources in the
  summary.

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5. REFERENCING

• Use the following source as guide to do all your
  referencing
• Van der Walt, E.J. 2003. Quoting
  sources. PU vir CHO Potchefstroom.
• Bibliography Indication of all sources studied,
  even if not used in assignment.
• Source list List of sources directly used and
  quoted in the assignment.
• Use APA style to do the source list.
• Arrange source list alphabetically
• Use the Harvard style for in-text referencing.
• Must refer to the source even if you use only a
  broad idea from it.
• Must refer to the source every time it is used.
• Refer to secondary sources the correct way, not
  as if it were a primary source and indicate
  correctly in the source list.
• Plagiarism

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6. GENERAL TECHNICAL ASPECTS

• Justify the paragraphs block.
• Line spacing must be 1,5 and the font size 12
  right through the assignment.
• Line spacing between paragraphs, subheadings,
  usually double.
• Tables use font size 10 and single line
  spacing.
• Number subheadings, normally starts with 1, then
  1.1, 1.1.1 and after that use bullets.
• Dont put the pages in a flip file or in sheet
  protectors.

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7. WRITING STYLE

• Write out abbreviations in academic reports
  e.g. etc.
• Dont write in the first person. ?
• Write in the present tense.
• Avoid words like things many good
  bad.
• Use short, simple sentences.
• A paragraph does not consist of one sentence
  only.
• Check spelling/grammar/typing mistakes.
• Numbers under 10 is written out in the text.
• Consult scientific sources as prescribed a
  variety, e.g. books, magazines, the Internet and
  scientific reports, conferences.
• Demonstrate that you understand the information
  that you are working with by giving your personal
  interpretation/ opinion.

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• Organize the work
• Information that is relevant has to be in the
  same paragraph.
• Link sentences, paragraphs, headings.
• Logic reasoning your argument must flow/unfold
  like a story.
• Guard against compilation.

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SUMMARY

• Feedback from learners to summarise the process.

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WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION

• Visit the following links to get more information
  on academic writing
• The website of the Department of Social Work,
  University of the Free State. Category Current
  students Field Academic writing.
  http//www.uovs.ac.za/faculties/content.php?id541
  7FCode01DCode164
• The American Psychological Association for the
  use of the APA referencing style
  http//apastyle.apa.org/