Spring semester,

2016

Heading towards the

SOC104 Methods

essay, the GEOG122

report, the ENGL131

essay (& the HIST111

long essay)

Dr Jeannette Stirling,

Senior lecturer,

Learning Development

Subject

Assessment

1

Assessment

2

Assessment

3

Assessment

4

Assessment

5

ENGL131 Week 5

Quiz

750wds.

20%

Week 10

Research essay

2000wds.

40%

Exam Period

Final exam

2 hrs.

40%

GEOG122 Week 5

Poster

20%

Week 9

Report

1200 wds.

30%

Week 12

‘Pitch’ Presentation

20%

Weeks 4, 9, 13

In-class quizzes

10% each

30%

HAS121 Weeks 3, 6, 9

Reflections

250-300 wds .each

15% Total

Week 13

Mind map

15%

Week 12

Reflective essay

1000-1200 wds.

40%

Exam Period

Final exam

30%

HIST111 Week 5

Short essay

750 wds.

25%

Week 12

Long essay

1500 wds.

35%

Ongoing

Participation

10%

Exam Period

Final exam

2 hrs.

30%

PSYC123 Weeks 3 & 6

Online quizzes Methods &

Stats: 10% each

20%

Week 9

Take-home test

10%

Weeks 11 & 12

In-class tests:

Statistics &

Methods: 10% each

20%

Ongoing

Weekly quizzes +

research participation

10%

Exam period

Final exam

2 hrs

40%

SCIE101 Weeks 2, 5, 7, 9

4 x quizzes: 7.5% each

30%

Weeks 3, 6, 8, 11

4 x short essays:

10% each

40%

Weeks 13-14

Major project

30%

SOC104 Weeks 3-10 & 12-13

(incl)

Online blog

20%

Week 5

Methods essay

40%

Week 13

Research design

exercise

40%

Consolidate your paraphrase skills –

Original text...

“Infants differ in their emotional expressiveness and

their emotional responses to events. Some infants are

shy and fearful of new situations. Others are sociable,

eager to begin a social interaction with people they

meet. Some infants seem always on the move,

involved in constant and intense activity. Others seem

less active and more calm. These differences illustrate

the variations in the infants’ temperament.”

Berndt, T 1992, Child Development, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Texas, p. 211.

… paraphrased

Berndt (1992) argues that different children react

in different ways to given situations. For example,

in an unfamiliar situation, one might react with

fear while another is more open. This, he states,

is directly related to the child’s general

disposition.

Original:

“Infants differ in their emotional expressiveness and their emotional responses to events”.

Paraphrase:

Different children react in different ways to given situations.

•Different words, different word order, different parts of speech…

How is the paraphrase different?

Remember

it’s cool to acknowledge the

contributions of others to your

scholarly development.

Assessments – Do I have a plan?

A cunning plan??

Summaries & revision

for quizzes & tests?

Drafts of SOC104

methods essay (due

25 Aug)?

GEOG122 poster

draft (due 26 Aug)?

Research & plans for

HIST111 & ENGL131

long essays?

HAS121 reflections

SOC104 blog

strategies working

well & up to date?

understand essay

form?

SOC104 Methods

essay

Which research

method are you

investigating?

Brainstorm: What are

your main points?

Check assignment

instructions for

guidance.

SOC104 Methods Essay Structure (Week 5,

1500 words, 40%)

• a “map” of the essay, outlining to the reader the

overall topic and then the key points contained in the body of the work.

Introduction

• Advantage 1

• Advantage 2…

• Disadvantage 1

• Disadvantage 2…

Cogent & logically sequenced development of

your key points, e.g.

• Summarises key points expressed in the body of the work, as well as the key learning from your research.

Conclusion

GEOG122 poster 500 words for Week 5,

20%

GEOG122 report 1200 words for Week 9,

30%

• Demonstrate knowledge of events, issues, concepts, theories relating to arguments linked to human uses of the non-human world

• Reasoned, evidence-based evaluations of approaches

• Logical, structured writing • Consider implications and changes

ENGL131: Don’t forget to demonstrate understanding of

key terms

Are you confident that you understand concepts such as:

theme

word choice

metaphor

simile

repetition

punctuation

alliteration

How do these elements contribute to the meaning?

Adapted from Rossetto 2012

Key meanings in writing – match to words

Figures of speech:

• word/phrase applied to object/action where it’s not literally applicable

• comparison of one thing with another of a different kind

Other literary features:

Using the same sound at the start of closely connected words

Repeating the same words/phrases

Other writing features:

Use of commas, full stops, semi-colons…

Subject/topic of a talk, essay, report…

So … We’re going to chat a bit about:

CREATING more effective sentences & paragraphs

TO

SIGNPOST key points in your argument

AND HENCE

SHOWCASE your information

It’s best not to lose your reader. Particularly when

grades are involved.

A complete, grammatically correct

sentence requires …

Subject (noun

phrase)

Verb phrase Object (noun

phrase)

Adverbial

Someone did something to something at some time

Somebody broke the window last night

Essential Essential Essential Optional

Although the composition of the student body has

changed dramatically.1

“Please explain???”’

http://unilearning.uow.edu.au/writing/2a.html 1

So. Some words about sentencing:

the fragment…

Sentence fragments are usually incomplete ideas…

Compare the previous version with the

following:

Although the composition of the student body has

changed dramatically, little variation in instructional

techniques has been apparent in Australian

universities until recently.2

http://unilearning.uow.edu.au/writing/2a.html 2

On the other hand, you shouldn’t overpack

…

After water is released from the dam it is important

that it is able to move easily downstream. In order

to improve this movement, channel improvements

must sometimes be made, this can involve

straightening bends and removing brush debris or

hazards from the channel.3

http://unilearning.uow.edu.au/writing/2b.html 3

After water is released from the dam it is important

that it is able to move easily downstream. In order to

improve this movement, channel improvements must

sometimes be made. This can involve straightening

bends and removing brush debris or hazards from the

channel.4

‘Run-on’ sentences contain more than one

complete idea …

http://unilearning.uow.edu.au/writing/2b.html 4

Making meaningful sentences...

For example: Non-English speaking

migrant women are confronted with a vast

array of problems concerning the

workforce and their participation in it.

Noooo!!! Far too general

for an academic essay.

Phrases like “a vast array”

suggest a lack of focus.

As a rule, avoid generalities. Dare to be

specific!

The same idea, take 2: Many migrant

women from non-English speaking

backgrounds are subjected to exploitation

in the workplace. They often remain

invisible to unions and other organisations

interested in workplace equity. Often they

will also experience social isolation. Their

difficulties in finding a way to live in ‘this

place’ are reinforced by gender and the

language barrier.

Better. This reworking of

the same idea not only

identifies the main theme

(non-English speaking

migrant women), but also

specifically identifies some

of the problems they

encounter in the workplace.

Making meaning within sentences…

Leonora walked on her

head, a little higher

than usual. OR

Leonora walked on, her

head a little higher than

usual.

The convict said the

judge is mad. OR The convict, said the

judge, is mad.

Truss, L 2003, Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Profile Books, London, p. 97.

The driver managed to

escape from the vehicle

before it sank and swam to

the river-bank.

OR

The driver managed to escape

from the vehicle before it sank,

and swam to the river-bank.

Remember: have an argument - always put

your self in the picture…

Your research should support the

argument that you are presenting,

rather than standing instead of your

argument.

Emphasis on ideas…

Currently, Australian health policies reflect the colonial paternalistic nature of non-Aboriginal practices by sending Indigenous women away from their families and culture to manage their pregnancies and give birth without the consideration of a family-centred care strategies (Cass et al. 2002; Watson et al. 2002).

Useful when discussing research in a general area.

This is important when leading up to the specific studies most relevant to the focus

of your report or essay.

Emphasis on author…

Archell et al. (2007) identify the issues around

retention and attraction of medical officers to

remote and regional areas of the Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander health services.

This emphasis is useful when introducing

research more closely related to a specific point

because at this stage you want to discuss or

emphasise a particular aspect of your findings.

Where to next?