Five Ways to Smash your ECA

Hastings, 11th September

1Answer the question

Question Time

• What is the question?• Where are the boundaries?• What is out of scope?• What is relevant?• Where do you need to start?• What can you take as read?

Build a strong argument

Simple

Complex

Show that you a understand the course material

Critical ThinkingCritical thinking means not papering over the cracks.• Interrogate your sources• Find any contradictions• Explore any potential counter-arguments (which you may

or may not be able to refute)• Celebrate complexity – don't ignore it• Don't expect to provide resolution

2Structure your answer

The Plan

In a throng of ideas?

Going round in circles ?

Going round in circles?

Structurebeginning

middle

end

3Illustrate your points

Choose your examples with care

A 99 example?

• Is it the best example there is?• Does it make your point?• Does it fit with the big picture?• Have you interrogated it?• Have you analysed it fully?• Does it present any

contradictions?• Have you explored these?

4Reference your work

Reference:• Every time you quote• Every time you paraphrase• Whenever you have used ideas that did not originate in

your head.

How to reference: in text• (Author, date, page), e.g. (Brunton, 2008, p.34).• More than one page is pp. 34-36.• Get this right. • It isn’t hard. • If in doubt check the Assignment booklet • Do not guess.• It will not be OK.• It does really matter.• Don’t make it up.

How to reference: bibliography• Author of chapter, (date), ‘title of chapter’, in Name of

editor, Title of Book, place of publication, publisher, pages of whole chapter.

• Chant, C. (2008) ‘Technology and the Seaside: Blackpool and Benidorm’, in Brunton (ed.) Place and Leisure (AA100 Book 4), Milton Keynes, The Open University, pp..

5Submission

Are you really there yet?

Acceptable Formats• .doc• .wri• .rtf• .txt• .wpd

Unacceptable formats• Everything that isn’t on the acceptable formats list.

Save as Word 97-2003

Your ECA is late after:

12 noon

1st October, 2010

Jennie Osborn

www.open.ac.uk