FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND LANGUAGES
HMEF5133
DIRECTED READING
MAY SEMESTER 2016
ASSIGNMENT 1
INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
1. Your assignment should be typed using 12 point Times New Roman font and 1.5 line spacing.
2. You are to submit assignment only in MS-WORD format unless specified otherwise. Please refrain from converting text/phrases into picture format such as .gif / .jpeg / print screen / etc.
3. Submission Method:
a. Face-to-face student:
You MUST submit a softcopy of your assignment online through myINSPIRE and a hardcopy to your facilitator.
b. Online student:
You MUST submit a softcopy of your assignment via myINSPIRE and another softcopy to the e-facilitator via e-mail.
You can submit your assignment ONCE only in a SINGLE file in myINSPIRE. You are advised to keep a copy of your submitted assignment and the RECEIPT as evidence of online submission.
4. Your assignment must be submitted on 17th – 19th June 2016 (3rd Seminar 2016).
5. Your assignment should be prepared individually. You should not copy another person’s assignment. You should also not plagiarise another person’s work as your own.
EVALUATION
This assignment accounts for 70% of the total marks for the course.
PLAGIARISM: MARKS DEDUCTION
Warning: The submitted assignment will automatically undergo a similarity check. If plagiarism is detected, marks would be deducted as follows:
No. Similarity Percentage Marks Deduction (%)
1. 0 – 30 0
2. 30.01 – 50 5
3. 50.01 – 70 10
4. 70.01 - 100 100
If you are not sure what is meant by plagiarism, refer to the various websites which discuss this matter, e.g. owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts.
ASSIGNMENT 1
OBJECTIVE:
This course will enable you to be critical in reading various articles pertaining to your topic. It also guides you to synthesise read information leading to an effective write-up of the literature review, research questions and the framework of the study. You are required to refer to the prescribed text ‘The Literature Review: A Step-by-Step for Students’ by Diana Ridley (2009) as reference.
INSTRUCTIONS:
You are required to select SIX articles that are related to your topic. Use the following guidelines to select your articles.
Each article should be:
• Current (2009 – 2015)
• Relevant and directly related to the selected topic
• Include at least TWO local articles.
This assignment should be at least 20 pages long and should have a well thought-out title which is current, relevant and contributes to the body of research. The assignment should be divided into sections with the following sub headers:
Section 1: Introduction (one paragraph)
This section requires you to provide the following;
• the topic of the study
• reasons/justification for the need to research on the given topic
• the statement of the problem leading to the need to answer the research questions.
[10 marks]
Section 2: Body paragraphs (review of selected 6 articles)
This section requires you to demonstrate a good knowledge of the literature that is relevant to your topic based on the six related articles for your study. Include the following:
• an overview of key concepts of your study
• critical analysis of the articles:
- recognise major relationships of patterns
- identify strengths and weaknesses
- search for any gaps in the research
- identify any conflicting evidence
- provide evidence to help explain the need to research on your study.
[55 marks]
Guidelines
Below are few questions that may help you to write the body of the literature review based on the six articles.
• Is the problem clearly identified?
• Is a rationale given for the research?
• Is the literature relevant to the research?
• Does the literature identify a need for the research proposed?
• Are there any gaps in the topics of the literature reviewed?
• Are the methods clearly explained and justified?
• Are important details provided, so that the research could be replicated by someone else?
• Are details of data collection clearly described and justified?
• Is the discussion and analysis balanced?
• Are the strengths and weaknesses of the study acknowledged?
Section 3: Conclusion
This section requires you to address the need to investigate the research questions and how they matter in the field of study. Your overall perspective on the selected topic.
[5 marks]
Reminder: You are required to write this assignment based on each section in paragraphs.
[TOTAL: 70 MARKS]
Assignment Format:
a. The assignment should contain about 3000 – 5000 words (15 – 20 pages).
b. Provide reference using the American Psychological Association (APA) format.
c. References should be latest (year 2005 onwards).
MAY SEMESTER 2016
HMEF5133 DIRECTED READING
ASSIGNMENT 1 (70%)
Literature Review (70 marks)
Introduction (10 marks)
Dimension 1 2 3 4 Weight Score
1. Research topic/identification of Research Questions The title is vague/not relevant or current. The research questions are vaguely designed. The justification is either missing or vague.
Failed to link the research questions to the topic.
The title is poorly stated/partly relevant/current.. The research questions are poorly designed. The justification is poorly discussed.
Poor link of the research questions to the topic. The title is relevant or current. The research questions are designed well. The justification is well discussed.
Good link made to the selected topic. The title is clear and very relevant to the current need. The research questions are clearly designed. The justification is clearly discussed.
Clear link made to the selected topic. 1.25 5
2. Statement of the problem/rationale and justification of the research study Vaguely stated. Hardly any justification made. Are stated with brief justification. Are well stated with some relevant justification Are clearly stated with clear justification. 1.25 5
Literature review and conclusion (60 marks)
Dimension 1 2 3 4 Weight Score
1. Critical writing by identifying main ideas of the articles.
Inability to demonstrate the candidate’s ability to analyse and synthesise the articles
Adequately demonstrates the candidate’s ability to analyse and synthesise the articles. Quite clearly demonstrates the candidate’s ability to analyse and synthesise the articles. Clearly demonstrates the candidate’s ability to analyse and synthesise the articles. 5.0 20
2. Providing arguments Vague identification and discussion of the arguments and evidence put forward by the authors.
Able to adequately identify and adequately discuss the arguments and evidence put forward by the authors. Able to identify and draw coherent arguments and evidence put forward by the authors. Able to identify and draw coherent arguments and evidence put forward by the authors clearly and accurately. 3.75 15
3. Identifying gaps/strengths and weaknesses and links to the need of the study Unable to provide gaps/strengths /weaknesses and make links to the suggested study. Able to provide gaps/ strengths /weaknesses and make some links to the suggested study.
Able to provide gaps / strengths /weaknesses and make good links to the suggested study. Able to identify gaps/ strengths /weaknesses and make excellent links to the suggested study. 1.25 5
4. Connection between literature and current study
Unable to provide justification for the need to look into the suggested study.
Adequate justification for the need to look into the suggested study. Clear justification for the need to look into the suggested study. Very clear justification for the need to look into the suggested study. 1.25 5
5. Conclusion Very vague with hardly any discussion on how the study contributes to the body of research.
Adequate discussion on how the study contributes to the body of research. Good discussion on how the study contributes to the body of research. Clear discussion on how the study contributes to the body of research. 1.25 5
6. Language
It is hard to know what the candidate is trying to express. Writing is convoluted. Misspelled words, incorrect grammar, and improper punctuation are evident Writing is generally clear, but unnecessary words are occasionally used. Meaning is sometimes hidden. Paragraph or sentence structure is too repetitive. Few spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors are made.
Writing is clear. Minor spelling, grammar or punctuation errors are made. Paragraph or sentence structure is clear with minor errors. Writing is crisp, clear, and succinct. Candidate incorporates the active voice when appropriate and supports ideas with examples. No spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors are made. 1.25 5
7.
Referencing including citations References are hardly relevant and current to the area of study. Most citations are inaccurate and not made according to APA style.
References are fairly relevant and current to the area of study. Few citations are accurate and made according to APA style.
References are relevant and current to the area of study. Most citations are accurate and made according to APA style.
References are very relevant and current to the area of study. All citations are very accurate and made according to APA style.
1.25 5