LIBRARY AND LEARNING COMMONS

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 Learning Skills Advisors Subject Librarians
Charmaine Botha Sibusisiwe Mgquba
Focus: Focus
Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Social Sciences,
PGD & HDR PGD & HDR
Tel: 011 950 4455 Tel. 011 950 4150
charmaine.botha@monash.edu Sibusisiwe.mgquba@monash.edu
John Small Linda Mbonambi
Focus Focus
Bus Eco, IT, HDR, PGD & FP Bus Eco, IT, HDR, PGD & FP
Tel: 011 950 4248 Tel: 011 950 4032
John.small@monash.edu Linda.mbonambi@monash.edu

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 Writing an academic essay is like
being a lawyer presenting a case in court

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 What do we want to achieve with
an academic assignment?

RSD facets of research

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 Assignment
You are required to SUBMIT an assessment in 2 PARTS:
1. ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE : 24 March, 2017, 5:00pm
2. MAJOR ESSAY DUE : 5 May, 2017

You are required to choose ONE of the FOLLOWING questions for your
Essay and use that same topic for the preparation of your
annotated bibliography.
Use your library tutorial and the explanation in the unit guide for guidance

1. Discuss three agents of socialization and their role in human development.

Provide examples from your own or other peoples experience.
2. Outline the three classical sociological perspectives on religion, how does
ONE of these viewpoints influence the approach to religion in any ONE
contemporary African society?
3. Discuss the sociological imagination according to Wright Mills paying
particular attention to his distinction between personal troublesand public
issues.
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 PART 1: Annotated Bibliography
and Essay Plan
Due date: 24 March, 2016, 5:00pm

Details of task:
This assignment will provide you with very useful searching skills, critical reading and writing skills, referencing
skills, analytical skills and also help you to prepare for your Major Essay.
You must use the Major Essay question (that you have selected to write on) as a guide to the selection of
materials to be annotated.

This assignment requires you to produce an

annotated bibliography of six items:
two books or book chapters, (library data bases)
two refereed journal articles and (library data bases)
two reputable internet sources. (general internet blogs, websites, photos, social media etc)

For each of these you will be required to give (descriptive)

a full, correct citation,
a brief summary of the main points, and
a description of how you found the item.

Key points to consider in choosing your sources:

The authority and qualification of the authors/internet sites.
The scope and main purpose of the texts/articles.
The relevance of the selected work to your essay
The weakness/limitation of the selected work
AND
an essay plan/outline
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 Additional Instructions (Part 1)
Presentation requirements:
Double spacing
12 point font size
Title of assessment, name, student number on first page
Page numbers on bottom right corner
Referencing on a separate page following the essay
A signed assessment cover sheet MUST be attached to the front of the
essay
Assignments must be submitted through Turnitin at least 48 hours before
the due date and your originality score MUST be included at the bottom of
your index (below your word count)

Learning objectives assessed: Learning objectives 1 and 4.

Word limit: 750 words Value: 10%
Hurdle requirements: In order to qualify for the 10% mark for this assessment task,
you must complete the Annotated Bibliography and Essay Plan in the times specified.
No extensions will be granted for this assignment.

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Rubric: Letter to the Editor

What is a marking rubric (Part 1)?

Criteria for marking: Accuracy of information (including citation), clarity and conciseness of presentation,
understanding of topic, evidence of analysis of sources used. Academic writing style: Language and
vocabulary, sentence and paragraph grammar use, referencing.

Poor (N) Developing (P) Average (C) Good (D) Excellent (HD)
Have you found relevant
materials?

Have you presented a

clear annotated
bibliography relating to
your question?

Have you explained your

search strategy?

Does your brief essay

plan reflect the reading
that has been conducted
so far?

Is the essay plan

manageable within the
word length?
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 PART 2: Major Essay
Due date: 6 May, 2016

Details of task:
Choose ONE of the three essay questions listed below.

1. Discuss three agents of socialization and their role in human

development. Provide examples from your own or other peoples
experience.
or
2. Outline the three classical sociological perspectives on religion, how
does ONE of these viewpoints influence the approach to religion in any
ONE contemporary African society?
or
3. Discuss the sociological imagination according to Wright Mills paying
particular attention to his distinction between personal troublesand
public issues.

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 Additional Instructions (Part 2)

Presentation requirements:
Include the title of assessment, your name, and your student number (on
the first page only).
Minimum of 12 point font (New Time Roman)
Double spacing (no single spacing)
Proof read for spelling and grammatical errors
Number all pages
Reference list should be on a separate page at the end of your
assignment.

Word limit: 1500

Value: 20%

Hurdle requirements: In order to qualify for the 20% mark for this assessment task, you
must complete the Annotated Bibliography in the time specified.
No extensions will be granted for this assignment.

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Rubric: Letter to the Editor

What is a marking rubric (Part 2)?

Criteria for marking:
Clarity and logical development of essay; the use of academic evidence and examples to support points being made,
the extent of your research, the structure of your argument, the content and range of issues covered and correct
citation formatting, clarity of expression, spelling and grammar and the adequacy of your bibliography.

Poor (N) Developing (P) Average (C) Good (D) Excellent (HD)

Understanding and interpretation of the question

Extent and relevance of research

Comprehension and effective use of relevant
academic literature from credible sources
Range of issues identified and well
conceptualised
Quality and coherence of analysis/argument
(including sufficient supporting evidence)

Structure of the essay

(ie. clear introduction and conclusion, with
coherent paragraphs linked through the body of
the essay)
Clarity of writing and quality of expression,
spelling and grammar
Consistent and accurate referencing (ie. correct
citation format and reference list/bibliography)
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 Analysing your question

Begin by identifying the key concepts e.g.

the topic/content areas
Identify the directive words e.g. analyse,
discuss, etc.
Note any limitations e.g. scope, time
period, field of study, area
Format of the assignment (essay, report,
review, poster, annotated bib etc)

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 Key concepts Analysing the questions
Limitations
Directive words
Format

1. Discuss three agents of socialization and their

role in human development. Provide examples from
your own or other peoples experience.
or
2. Outline the three classical sociological
perspectives on religion, how does ONE of these
viewpoints influence the approach to religion in any
ONE contemporary African society?
or
3. Discuss the sociological imagination according
to Wright Mills paying particular attention to his
distinction between personal troubles and public
issues.
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 Find Witnesses
Once you have identified the content area you will
need to examine, you will need to consider what kinds
of resources are required (books, journals, websites,
statistics, etc.) and set about acquiring them.
Look at your reading list, use the reference lists of
these books and journals, and identify what will be
required.
Remember you will need to evaluate the worth of
these resources, so read critically.
Decide what kind of supporting information will be
necessary, and set about organising your resources to
achieve your goal. Often books are good for big
picture information, while journals are often good for
supporting details.
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 Library resources
Resource Name Keywords Results Comments
SEARCH
Library Catalogue Main key concept (e.g.) Physical Book(s) in SA libarary SA has limited books in this area at least
one or two versus large number of students
Physical Books (lecturer needs to reserve)
Electronic Books
E-Books Do a secondary search within the book of your Everyone can use the same e-book at
sub-key concept the same time

DATA BASES Keywords Results Comments

(S) > Main key concept(e.g.)
Africa and South African research Articles relevant to
SA e Publications and publications SA and Africa
(F) > Journal articles / Books/ available
Families and Society Theses/ Web pages
Collection
(E) > Main key concept (e.g.) Examples of relevant articles in Large number of articles
Expanded Academic ASAP journals and other resources as well available international
(P) > (these are interdisciplinary
Proquest databases)
(C)

(G) >
Google Scholar (Monash)
Main key concept (e.g.)
WEBSITEs

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 Mapping your argument :
Essay Outline

Once you have analysed the topic and gathered

references, you will need to construct a rough
outline /plan.
Some students prefer to make a plan before
reading, some after. However, it is important to
remain flexible, as your knowledge of the topic and
opinion on it may change as you read more.
You might find that your witnesses are vague or
unreliable and you may need to find others

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1
 Mapping
Discuss any three agents of socialization and their role in human
development. Provide examples from your own or other peoples
experience..

Provide examples from your

Discuss any three agents of socialization and own or other peoples
their role in human development. experience..

Finding information

Relate to the theoretical underpinnings

obtained from your lectures, reading list
and textbook
Combine: Plan and
Structure your Essay

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 The essay/letter structure
Can be seen as a diamond with the introduction and conclusion at the top and bottom and the
body paragraphs fitting into the middle of the diamond in a series of smaller diamond shapes.

Connect to
next paragraph
and main idea

Your
own
voice

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 Body paragraphs
Paragraph element Purpose

1. Topic This sentence starts by referring to the thesis/your argument. It

Sentence continues to include the main point of this paragraph (your voice)

2. Additional This explains further the point made in the topic sentence. (your voice)
Information

3. Evidence These are essential to justify your point. Your evidence comes from
sentences your research and may include examples, data, quotes, statistics,
graphics and illustrations. All supporting evidence must be from
authoritative sources and cited in your essay. (quote or paraphrase
reference /witness voice)

4. Concluding Again, this sentence links the main thesis of the essay with the main
sentence point of the paragraph. (your voice) and links to the next paragraph

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1

Compare the changes in these sentences from informal to academic style.
Informal writing
When I look at the situation in
emergency wards, with many staff
leaving, it's hard not to worry
about how many doctors will be
available to treat patients in the
future.
It's so obvious that people were
given jobs just because they were
male or female. I don't think that is
an acceptable approach and is even
against the law.
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ACADEMIC WRITING
Academic writing
If we consider the situation in
emergency wards, with increasingly
low staff retention rates, there are
concerns about the capacity of
hospitals to maintain adequate
doctor to patient ratios.
It appears that in a number of
instances jobs were assigned on the
basis of gender. Given the current
anti-discrimination laws, this raises
serious concerns.
2
 MORE TIPS
Objective writing: In general, academic writing aims to be objective in its
expression of ideas. Therefore specific reference to personal opinions, or to
yourself as the performer of actions, is usually avoided. .
Expressing opinions
Personal 'Objective'
In my opinion It has been argued that
I believe that Some writers claim
In my view Clearly,
It is clear that
There is little doubt that
Avoiding too much reference to yourself as agent in your writing
(Passive vs active voice)
Agent or performer No agent or performer

I undertook the study The study was undertaken

I propose to It is proposed to
In this essay I will examine This essay examines
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 What do you need to remember?
You will notice that, in general, in academic writing we:

minimise the use of the personal I in the text: avoid writing

'When I look; I don't think this is an acceptable approach
(avoid this by using passive voice E.g. This is not thought (considered)
to be an acceptable approach)
use formal verbs, and fewer verb phrases (verb + preposition),
use consider rather than look at
use impersonal expressions: there are, this raises
use more nouns than verbs: concerns, rather than to worry
avoid emotional expressions, such as it's so obvious ( it
appears is preferable); just because ( assigned on the basis of is
preferable)
aim for concise, often abstract expression, e.g. gender, rather
than male or female.

http://www.monash.edu/lls/llonline/writing/general/academic/index.xml
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 Referencing requirements:
Plagiarism must be avoided. Materials used should be appropriately referenced
and included in a References Cited list
The preferred style in Sociology is the Harvard style. For further information on this
style of referencing, please see http://guides.lib.monash.edu/citing-
referencing/harvard
To build your skills in citing and referencing, and using different referencing styles,
see the online tutorial
Demystifying Citing and Referencing at
http://www.lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/
You will be assessed on the extent of your research, and the adequacy of your
bibliography. Your reference list should consist of AT LEAST 8 sources (not
including materials provided as part of the unit).

As well as this:
Citations must be provided in-text (do not reference using footnotes or endnotes).
A reference list is required, and it:
should only be those works you have cited in your assignment
must be given on a separate page at the end of your assignment
must be in alphabetical order
must be carefully checked for consistency of format throughout.
(Note: The reference list does not form part of the required word length.)
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 Acknowledging your resources:
Citing and referencing
NB NB NB : if you cite and reference correctly, you will not plagiarize
Ways to cite and reference:
1. MANUALLY (DO the library on-line tutorial 15minutes):
http://monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/citing/
http://resources.lib.monash.edu.au/learning-objects/test/apa-quick-
guide/
2. Using MICRO-SOFT WORD REFERENCING (but you still need to
have the manual referencing background knowledge)
3. Using ENDNOTE (but you still need to have the manual referencing
background knowledge)

Referencing resources:
Monash Library Website, Moodle and Libguides
https://www.monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials
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 Additional resources on Referencing

Monash Share Drive

- UG - Library > Charmaine Learning
skills > Referencing

Lib Guides
Moodle

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 ASK for HELP
For
assistance
with learning, writing or communicating
your findings,
contact
a learning skills advisor
in
the library

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