DESCRIPTION OF COURSE EVALUATION

ASSIGNMENT 1 (LITERATURE REVIEW) – 20%

You are required to write ONE section of a Literature Review (not more than 1500 words). The section can contain several paragraphs. You have to go through these steps.

STEP 1:

Select a topic related to your area of interest.

STEP 2 :

Narrow down your topic. Draw a diagram to show how you narrow down the topic.

STEP 3:

Identify at least 5 themes related to your topic.

STEP 4:

Out of the 5 themes, select 1 theme only. Identify 5 research articles (from journals) or books related to this one theme.

STEP 5 :

Read the 5 selected journal articles or books.Then, make notes. Use the notes to write a section relevant to the theme.

STEP 6 :

The last paragraph of your assignment must show your ability to conclude ideas from the readings (in terms of similarities, differences, etc) and draw a conclusion to relate to the theme.

STEP 7 :

Eliminate plagiarism in your work!

PLEASE TAKE NOTE:

When you write this section, you MUST use the following skills (DollahiteHaun, 2012, pp.79-92):

  1. Paraphrase the evidence
  2. Introduce the evidence

a. Use appropriate in-text citation format (American Psychological Association)

b. Use common verbs for introducing evidence

  1. Use only ONE direct quotation
  2. Make an overall conclusion (as in the last paragraph)

Assignment 1 (Sample)

STEP 1:

Select a topic related to your area of interest.

COLLABORATIVE WRITING

STEP 2 :

Narrow down your topic. Draw a diagram to show how you narrow down the topic.

STEP 3:

Identify at least 5 themes related to your topic. Out of the 5 themes, select 1 theme only.

TOPIC: Dynamics of Collaborative Writing among Malaysian Undergraduates

  1. DEFINITIONS OF COLLABORATIVE WRITING
  2. ADVANTAGES OF COLLABORATIVE WRITING
  3. FEATURES OF COLLABORATIVE WRITING
  4. EFFICACY OF COLLABORATIVE WRITING
  5. SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN COLLABORATIVE WRITING

STEP 4:

Identify 5 journal articles or books related to this one theme.

ADVANTAGES OF COLLABORATIVE WRITING

STEP 5 :

Read the 5 selected journals or books and make notes. Use the notes to write a section relevant to the theme. Make sure you cite all the 5 works! The following is one example of an in-text citation.

Collaborative writing can providethree advantages: social, cognitive, and practical. The main advantage is the social dynamics of group interaction. Students learn more about writing when they talk and listen to each other. Storch (2005) states that input from group members can reduce errors in writing and in turn helps to develop better writing. The group members also serve as a support team when they face difficulties in writing.

STEP 6 :

The last paragraph of your assignment must show your ability to conclude the ideas from all the readings (in terms of similarities, differences, etc) and draw a conclusion to relate to the theme.

As a conclusion, collaborative writing is claimed as useful for learners’ social and cognitive language development. It is also practical for learners in their future writing, especially in professional writing. Collaborative writing serves as a platform for all the three dimensions.

STEP 7 :

Eliminate plagiarism in your work! You may want to use the plagiarism checker “Turnitin”.

ASSIGNMENT 2 (METHODOLOGY, AND RESULTS AND DISCUSSION)- 20%

For assignment 2, two writing tasks are assigned. The first task is writing the methodology of a study. The second task is writing the results and discussion section.

Task 1:

You will be given an outline of a methodology section which includes headings, for example, participants/subjects, instrument/method of data collection, procedures/steps to conduct the methods of data collection, and data analysis. Cues are also given as prompts to guide you in your writing.

Based on the cues, write the methodology section. You should also use appropriate language conventions related to methodology.

Task 2:

Based on a given chart/graph/table, you are to report the findings of a study. Cues are also given as prompts to guide you.

You should use the following steps (WeissbergBuker, 1990, p.144) to write the findings. They are:

Step 1: Give a statement that locates the figure (e.g. chart or graph) or table.

For example: Table 1 shows the ....

Step 2 : Present the findings. Report findings from the most significant findings to the

least.

Step 3 : Comment on the results. You may give comments by:

  1. Generalizing from the results
  2. Explaining possible reasons for the results
  3. Comparing the results with results from other studies

Step 4 : Use appropriate in-text citations and language conventions for each step.