Assignment Writing at University

Gino Fransman

Academic Development Professional

Nelson Mandela University

2017

https://twitter.com/housekeepingldn

The Line-Up

Remembering University Requirements

Types of Questions

• Short Questions

• - Definitions

• -Multiple Choice Questions

Basic Structure of Short Writing Responses

Longer Writing Responses: Introductions

Essays in Assignments and Exams

Feel free to go online and visit resources referred to during the session.

The aim is not to suggest that after this 1,5 hour session, you will be a better writer.

But: I bet you’ll think about it more constructively.

This is an introduction.

You should explore related materials located by clicking on the links to pages provided.

They take you much further.

Please note down questions you may have during any screened video clips for afterward.

Types of Questions

Short Questions

Definitions/ Terminology

Multiple Choice Questions

Essays, or longer pieces of writing.

These often test the language of your discipline...

Can you speak it?

What is ‘different’ with writing at university?

What are your writing challenges at university?

Let’s write as many of each down as possible.

o Learn to speak the language of YOUR discipline

o Make learning this language a daily exercise

o Just a FEW goodies at a time, think of it like gym for words

o Include instructional terms like ‘describe’, ‘compare’, ‘discuss’...

o Prioritise content terms, or jargon, so you know what you are

saying, and become able to confidently use the right terminology

o Evaluate the terms, take 15 minute self-tests across the day

o Here’s one way to try out for yourself, and also to share with others.

TermsInstructional & Content

Definitions (only from the prescribed readings or research!)

Terms Definitions (only from the prescribed readings or research!)

1. Define 1. state or describe exactly the nature, scope, or meaning of."the contract will seek to define the client's obligations"

1. Define. 1. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Photosynthesis 2. XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

2. Photosynthesis 2.________________________________________________

15. xxxxxx 15. xxxxxxx 15. xxxxxxx 15. ____________

Making a terminology test table: PRACTICAL

Master copy Copies x1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 15 minute tests

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

6:45 7/15

10:00 12/15

12:00 12/15

14:30 8/15

18:00 8/15

22:00 9/15

After a few days of doing this, you should see some patterns emergeThese may indicate the best and worst times/periods of the day for you to be studying, according to achievement you observe.

Write.

RE:presenting Units of Information

Taking the

Basic Structure Further

• Remember the constant school reminders about the format for a written piece?

Title Introduction Body Conclusion

Practical – Let’s Write.

Writing at School Revisiting the Basics for University

Let’s keep this in mind...

Title

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

Now add: Referencing/ Attributions

Instructional Terms: What to DO

• Criticise - Give your judgement about the merit of theories or opinions about the truth or facts, and back your judgement by a discussion of evidence.

• Define - Set down the precise meaning of a word or phrase. Show that the distinctions implied in the definition are necessary.

• Describe - Give a detailed or graphic account of the characteristics of the subject.

• Differentiate - Show the difference between two things by determining their distinctions.

• Discuss - Investigate or examine by argument, sift and debate, giving reasons for and against.

• Enumerate - Listen or specify and describe one by one.• Evaluate - Make an appraisal of the worth of something, in the light

of its apparent truth or utility. Include your personal opinion, supported by evidence.

Move on, maintaining the structure, but with more detail for academic writing

Title

Introduction Introduction

Body

Conclusion/ Encapsulation/ Quote

Body 1 Introduction

Body

Conclusion

Body 2 Introduction

Body

Conclusion

Conclusion Introduction

Body

Conclusion

Every paragraph or point comes from somewhere. Attribute the source.

Plagiarism and Referencing

Watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEeTSaxCEQg

Academic WritingPlagiarism and Referencing

Richard Galletly

Take Notes!

This video is available as part of a collection of shared open educational resources for the FAVOR project and available in languagebox.ac.uk/profile/1239.

What are your questions about plagiarism and

referencing?

Go and investigate options, be proactive.

Amongst options available to you at NMMU

Writing Respondents and draft writing

http://writing.mandela.ac.za/

Process of submitting draft writing to the Writing Centre

http://forms.nmmu.ac.za/writingcentre/registration/

Select the correct campus, and fill in all the sections.

Visit

Academic Literacy Development Scoopit Site

http://www.scoop.it/t/academic-literacy-development

21st Century Graduate Literacies Scoopit Site

http://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-graduate-literacies

gino.fransman@mandela.ac.za

Twitter: @ginofransman

Assignment Writing at University 2017 by Gino Fransman is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

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