COR160
Essential Academic Writing Skills
Tutor-Marked Assignment 01
January 2017 Semester
Copyright © 2017 SIM University
TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT 01
This tutor-marked assignment is worth 45% of the final mark for COR160 Essential Academic Writing Skills.
The cut-off date for this assignment is 2355hrs on 24 February 2017.
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Submit your solution document in the form of a single MS Word file on or before the cut-off date shown above.
Additional instructions:
1. You will need to indicate clearly on the front page your name, student ID, course title and assignment number. Note also the following:
9 Spacing (between the lines): 1.5 or double spacing
9 Font style: Arial or Times New Roman preferred
9 Font size: 12 preferred (min 11 and max 13)
2. Summarise using your own words as much as possible. You must document all information that you use from another source, or you will be penalized severely. You must acknowledge these by using the APA documentation style. This includes both intext citations and end-of-text referencing.
3. If you copy from the work of another student, regardless of the course or programme, you will be severely penalized. You are not permitted to re-use material from past assignments whether in part or in full. All of the above actions can result in your failing the TMA.
*Remember that accurate and proper documentation of information from secondary sources is essential because UniSIM takes a very serious view on plagiarism. All information from secondary sources will be detected by the Turnitin software that your assignment will be put through in Blackboard and anything that is not acknowledged and properly documented will be taken as an instance of plagiarism and your assignment may be failed.
Scope
You will find Chapters 3 (Critical Reading), 7 (Summary, Paraphrase, Quotation), 8a (Synthesizing), 8b (Synthesizing Sources) and 9 (Locating, Mining and Citing Sources) in your COR160 textbook useful. Refer also to the relevant on-line study units.
Learning outcomes
Cite sources in writing using the proper citation and referencing style.
Evaluate information critically from various sources to respond to a task.
Synthesise information from various sources in writing in response to a given task.
Develop a rhetorical structure of an essay.
Question 1
Family violence laws under review after spate of abuse cases
SINGAPORE — In light of recent high-profile cases of child abuse, the laws are being reviewed to enhance deterrence of family violence and to ensure that those responsible are appropriately dealt with, said Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin yesterday.
“(We) need to look at our laws in terms of whether there is sufficient deterrence, whether the way consequences are meted out is the way we want to go,” said Mr Tan, who added that the
Home Affairs Ministry and Law Ministry are looking into the issue.
Two weeks ago, a couple were jailed for their ruthless torture of a two-year-old toddler, Mohamad Daniel Mohamad Nasser, which led to his death last November.
The toddler’s mother, Zaidah, 41, was sentenced to 11 years’ jail for voluntarily causing grievous hurt and child abuse.
Her boyfriend Zaini Jamari, 46, was given a 10-year jail term and 12 strokes of the cane for voluntarily causing grievous hurt to, and ill-treating, the boy.
Two days after the verdict, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam posted on his Facebook page: “For cases like this, we need to see whether the current legal framework is adequate. They ruthlessly tortured the child for more than a month, and effectively killed him.”
He also said people must be encouraged to make a report “immediately” when they are aware of cases of abuse.
Expressing similar sentiments yesterday, Mr Tan said cases of family violence, including child and elderly abuse, often persist because bystanders have kept silent.
“We always wonder, ‘Why did it happen?’ ... You look at the rest of the people involved, you will always ask, ‘Why did you not say something? Why did you not step in, if you knew that something was amiss?’,” said Mr Tan, who was speaking on the sidelines of an inaugural social service summit at Mandarin Orchard hotel.
Enhancements in detection and reporting of child abuse cases by a host of agencies — ranging from schools to hospitals — have led to more cases being investigated by the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s Child Protection Service (CPS).
Last year, the CPS looked into 551 serious abuse cases, almost half of which — 47.7 per cent — were instances of physical abuse, with 37 per cent involving neglect, while the remaining involved sexual abuse.
Between 2012 and 2014, the CPS investigated between 380 and 400 cases of serious abuse per year.
In September last year, two former employees at Pertapis Children’s Home — a welfare and religious teacher, and a social service assistant — were convicted of abusing children under their charge.
? Adapted from article by Kelly Ng in TODAY Online PUBLISHED: 11:11 AM, JULY 20, 2016
There has been much discussion in the media with regard to the spate of abuse cases in Singapore involving children. Many issues in relation to such abuses have been debated in the discussions. The two articles provided below reflect some of the discussions regarding this issue in Singapore.
In about 750 words, write a synthesis essay on the detection and management of child abuse cases. You will need to narrow this broad topic. You must formulate a thesis about this issue and provide evidence that will support your thesis. The thesis for this TMA01 is a viewpoint that does not have to be persuasive – that is, it is the conclusion you arrive at based on summarising and synthesising the information you researched on this topic. Relevant information for you to gather would be:
x Issues (economic or social or educational or etc.) surrounding child abuse cases x Evidence for existing measures x Evidence against existing measures x Improvements to existing measures
(100 marks)
Guidance Notes
1. Use process writing to develop a rhetorical structure for your essay.
2. Strengthen your thesis with relevant examples and illustrations.
3. You may include any additional but relevant information to the ideas that have already been given in the scenario and articles.
4. You should use at least 5 research sources to help you write your essay. The given articles are considered as a separate research source each and can count towards the 5 research sources. Synthesise information from these various sources in your writing.
5. You are to use credible and reliable sources to help you write this essay. Evaluate information critically from various sources in your response. Marks will be deducted for non-credible and unreliable content.
6. Remember to use accurate grammar, correct sentence structures and a tone appropriate to academic writing. Cite sources in your writing using the proper citation and referencing style. Marks will be deducted for poor English.

Article 1:
More child abuse cases being investigated
PUBLISHED
APR 24, 2016, 5:00 AM SGT
Better detection by agencies – from schools to hospitals – results in larger number of serious cases probed by MSF unit
By: Theresa Tan
For the better part of a year, the storeroom was her home. It was where an 11-year-old slept, ate, studied and used a bucket to relieve herself.
She was so afraid of being punished that she did as she was told, remaining there even though the storeroom was not locked.
She was allowed out only for a daily bath – and to go to school, where she never spoke of her ordeal.
Her mother and stepfather regarded her as a jinx, the cause of all their woes. And they ordered her siblings not to talk to her.
Her case came to light only after the school counsellor noticed that she often reeked of urine, and had changed from being a vocal child to a listless soul.
Better detection of child abuse cases by a host of agencies – from schools to hospitals – has resulted in more cases of serious abuse being investigated by the Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF) Child Protective Service (CPS).
Last year, the CPS received 2,022 reports and inquiries about child abuse. Of this, it investigated 551 that were instances of serious abuse.
This was an increase of about 40 per cent over the period from 2012 to 2014, when it probed between about 380 and 400 cases of serious abuse a year, CPS director Carmelia Nathen told The Sunday Times.
Last year's 551 serious abuse cases included instances of rape and molestation, and serious injuries inflicted by a family member.
While the CPS assesses all abuse reports received, it may refer the moderate and lower-risk cases to charities, designated as child protection specialist centres, and which are tasked with and equipped to handle such cases.
But for serious abuse, the CPS steps in and has the power to remove the child from the family if necessary – and keep the child away until it is satisfied that the parents have changed their violent ways.
Ms Nathen said the CPS has improved its screening tools and processes. This has enabled those in the child protection system – from teachers to medical staff to social workers – to better spot abuse.
The training of such professionals has led to improved detection, management and reporting of abuse cases.
It is also taking a more proactive approach by looking into some cases managed by professionals outside the ministry to ensure that these children are kept safe.
Overall, the cases can vary from babies who were shaken so violently that they suffered brain injuries, to teenagers molested by their fathers.
The abuser – often a parent – comes from across all income and ethnic groups. In some instances, he is also mentally ill or addicted to some vice, said child protection officer Firdawati Masri.
She had a case of a six-year-old girl with multiple burns and blue black marks on her body – all because her curiosity irritated her alcoholic father, who heated a metal spoon and pressed it against her when he was angry.
Said Ms Firdawati: -She likes to ask questions and wanted his affection but he got irritated with this.-
The girl's parents are separated and her mother is more interested in her new partner than her daughter's welfare. The CPS placed the girl in the care of a family friend.
Other parents are overwhelmed by multiple problems and go overboard trying to discipline their children, while some just resented their children, Ms Firdawati said.
In the case of the girl confined in the storeroom, she was placed in foster care for several years.
This was until her parents were helped to change their parenting practices. Their relationship with the girl has since improved and she has moved back to live with them.
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on April 24, 2016, with the headline 'More child abuse cases being investigated'.
Article 2:
Playing a part in stopping child abuse
Seow Yun Rong
Sunday, Jul 10, 2016
A horrific child abuse case has led to outrage and questions. Two-year-old Mohamad Daniel Mohamad Nasser died after getting beaten by his mother and her boyfriend. They were sentenced on Tuesday (July 5).
What can be done before it is too late?
One mother intervened before her husband continued beating their daughter.
In doing so, she prevented the man from causing greater harm, or even death. She also approached the National University Hospital (NUH) to seek help for their three-year-old.
Jane (not her real name) explained that her husband could not tolerate the toddler's mess and noise, and went into his -disciplinary mode- and physically punished her.
That happened a year ago, relates NUH senior medical social worker Lim Jia Yi.
She says: -The wife was worried that her husband might go overboard and inflict more harm on their daughter.
-It was a vicious circle because every time the child cried, the father would 'discipline' her. And when he 'disciplined' her, she cried.-
It went on for at least six months before Jane decided to seek help.
-After further investigation, we found that when the father was young, he was also physically punished when he misbehaved. So he thought that that was the only way to discipline a child,- Ms Lim says.
As it was deemed a moderate to high risk case, the Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF) Child Protective Service (CPS) took over.
The toddler was placed in foster care after two months because her father resorted to beating her again.
Another case was reported by a doctor who found injuries on an infant that did not appear to be accidental.
Head consultant of the division of general ambulatory paediatrics and adolescent medicine at NUH, Dr Chan Poh Chong has dealt with numerous child abuse cases over the span of 20 years.
Four years ago, he came across a couple who told him that their son was injured after falling off a bed.
But after examining the wounds and bruises on the four-month-old, he suspected they were not being truthful – the infant had multiple injuries on his arms and legs.
Dr Chan says: -The injuries were inconsistent with the parents' story.
-The parents came to us only after the child refused to eat and started crying excessively.-
After further probing, the parents confessed they were under a lot of stress, and could have vented their anger on their youngest child, he says.
Dr Chan then alerted medical social workers. After further investigation, they referred the case to CPS.
It conducted its own investigation and subsequently placed the child in the care of other family members.
Says Dr Chan: -Once we notice that the injury is not accidental, we will inform the medical social workers immediately, and they will take over from there.-
It is the standard procedure for all hospitals, he adds.
When a doctor alerts medical social workers, they will investigate further and decide what to do next.
Ms Lim says further assessments of the family usually reveal the struggles the parents face managing the child.
She says medical social workers will conduct social risk assessments and make home visits to determine whether it is safe for the child to return home.
Ms Lim says: -We'll have to establish a risk within a day and put in place a protective mechanism as soon as possible, especially for patients who are not admitted.-
There are three categories for cases: Low, moderate and high risk.
Low risk cases usually involve the parents going through transition stress that might stem from job changes or financial problems.
Moderate risk cases usually involve a one-time or rare abuse that lead to serious injuries such as bleeding from the head or fractures.
High risk cases involve abuse that has been going on for a while, or where parents do not feel remorseful after punishing the child.
SOCIAL STRESSES
-We look at three things: the child's needs, as well as the parents' characteristics and social stresses such as marital conflict or financial hardship,- says Ms Lim.
-Usually, for moderate to high risk cases where we feel that the abuse might happen again, we will have to alert CPS.-
Once alerted, CPS will acknowledge the case within a working day and conduct another round of assessment to determine what kind of help the family needs, she says.
But not every child has to go through such a procedure to get help.
Child protection specialist centre Heart@Feiyue has had its hotline open to the public since April.
It previously took on only abuse cases referred by MSF.
Heart@Feiyue agency head Ng Kwai Sim says it receives on average of 25 calls a month.
She says: -There is no such thing as a false alarm. Every call is important.
-Even if you are not too sure, just call and consult us so that we can assess the case.-
Ms Ng encourages neighbours and relatives to call their hotline without fear of being labelled a -busybody- as the caller's identity remains anonymous.
She says: -Everyone plays a role. You can be a part of the community by calling us if you notice signs of child abuse.
-It takes the whole community to look out for the children in need.-
MINISTER: REPORT ABUSE IMMEDIATELY
Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam reacted on Facebook to the case of two-year-old Mohamad Daniel Mohamad Nasser (above), who died after being abused by his mother Zaidah, 41, and her boyfriend Zaini Jamari, 46, for 25 days over a 35 dayperiod last year.
On Tuesday (July 5), Zaidah was sentenced to 11 years' jail, and Zaini to 10 years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Mr Shanmugam wrote: -Poor defenceless child. How can any human being do this to a two-year-old? Let alone a mother to her own child?-
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He said -we need to see whether the current legal framework is adequate- for such cases.
He added: -They ruthlessly tortured the child for more than a month, and effectively killed him.
-We have to also encourage people to report when they see abuse immediately.
-Here, two housemates of the mother and her boyfriend called the ambulance and the agencies came to know as a result.-
----- END OF COR160 TMA01 -----
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