Overview
This unit will guide you through the process of writing an academic essay. You will be introduced to the culture of academic writing at university and the common features of academic essays. You will develop strategies to read, evaluate and summarise information, and then use that information to develop and support an academic argument. Throughout the unit, you will develop critical thinking, note-making, formal writing and referencing skills necessary for academic writing.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2020
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Non-award unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student and staff feedback
Develop more paraphrasing activities
Add more paraphrasing activities to the LNGE40049 Moodle site.
Feedback from Staff feedback
Need to include weekly learning outcomes in the LNGE40049 textbook
List weekly learning outcomes at the start of each week of the LNGE40049 textbook.
Feedback from Staff and Student feedback
Positive feedback on the use of the same topic across assessment items
Continue linking the three assessment items by using a common research topic.
- Evaluate information for relevance, authority, objectivity and currency
- Paraphrase, quote and summarise information using appropriate referencing conventions
- Plan and write an academic essay that integrates sources to support a reasoned argument.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Annotated bibliography - 20% | |||
| 2 - Portfolio - 30% | |||
| 3 - Essay - 50% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Self Management | |||
| 2 - Communication | |||
| 3 - Information Literacy | |||
| 4 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 5 - Problem Solving | |||
| 6 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 7 - Cross-Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical Practice | |||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| 1 - Annotated bibliography - 20% | |||||||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 30% | |||||||||
| 3 - Essay - 50% | |||||||||
Textbooks
Essay Writing for University
Edition: 9 (2020)
Authors: School of Access Education
CQUniversity Publishing Unit
Rockhampton Rockhampton , QLD , Australia
Binding: Spiral
Additional Textbook Information
The textbook for Essay Writing for University (EWU) is available on the unit Moodle site; however, we strongly advise you to print out your own copy. You will need a hard copy to complete activities and take notes. The textbook cannot be purchased from the CQUniversity Bookshop. Your Access Coordinator will provide you with advice on printing options.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
g.toth@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Pen to Paper
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Critical reading
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Referring to the ideas of others
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Citations and the reference list
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Finding information
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The structure of effective essays
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
From plan to paragraph
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Variations to paragraph structure
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Introductions and conclusions
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Editing and preparing your essay for submission
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Submitting your essay and reflecting on your progress
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit Coordinator: Ms Gabriela Toth
Office location: Sydney campus (R.1.02, 400 Kent St, Sydney)
Please note that due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Unit Coordinator will be mainly working from home this term. You can contact your Unit Coordinator by phone or email as per details below.
Telephone: 02 9324 5019
Email: g.toth@cqu.edu.au
1 Annotated bibliography
Task: Make notes on the three sources chosen from the e-reading list provided on the unit Moodle site and complete an annotated bibliography on these three sources.
Purpose: The assessments in this unit contribute towards the development of an essay due at the end of the term. The purpose of the annotated bibliography is for you to read, summarise and evaluate potential sources for your essay. By completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your summarising, paraphrasing and referencing skills as well as your ability to apply critical thinking to the evaluation of the sources related to the essay question.
Length: 750 words (approx. 250 words for each annotation). The Notes section of this assessment is not included in the word count.
Week 5 Monday (10 Aug 2020) 9:00 am AEST
Week 6 Monday (24 Aug 2020)
Within two weeks of the assessment due date or, if the assessment is received after the due date, within two weeks of the submission date.
This assessment will be graded on the following criteria:
1. Evaluating
2. Summarising
3. Language
4. Referencing
5. Notes
- Evaluate information for relevance, authority, objectivity and currency
- Paraphrase, quote and summarise information using appropriate referencing conventions
- Information Literacy
- Critical Thinking
2 Portfolio
Task: Construct paragraph plans for your essay using the paragraph planner template, write two polished body paragraphs from your plans, and create a reference list.
Purpose: This task requires research to find a minimum of five additional sources for your essay and begin the writing process. By completing this assessment, you will demonstrate that you have a clear direction for your essay. You will receive feedback that will assist you to improve your essay.
Length: There is no specified word count for the paragraph plans, but an example is provided on the unit Moodle site for an indication of the level of detail required. The polished paragraphs should be approximately 200-300 words each. The reference list must contain a minimum of eight sources. You are allowed to use a maximum of three sources from the e-reading list provided on the unit Moodle site.
Week 9 Monday (14 Sept 2020) 9:00 am AEST
Week 11 Monday (28 Sept 2020)
Within two weeks of the assessment due date or, if the assessment is received after the due date, within two weeks of the submission date.
1. Content
2. Integration of ideas
3. Language
4. Referencing
- Paraphrase, quote and summarise information using appropriate referencing conventions
- Plan and write an academic essay that integrates sources to support a reasoned argument.
- Communication
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Critical Thinking
- Ethical Practice
3 Essay
Task: Write an essay that addresses one of the essay topic options. The essay topics are listed in the Assessment section on the unit Moodle site (click on the Assessment link at the top of the Moodle page).
Purpose: This task requires you to produce a reasoned academic essay that is supported by scholarly evidence. You will develop your critical thinking, research, note-making, writing and referencing skills, and you will deepen your understanding of the research/writing process.
Length: 1600 words (+/- 10%). The reference list must contain a minimum of eight sources. You are allowed to use a maximum of three sources from the e-reading list provided on the unit Moodle site.
Review/Exam Week Monday (12 Oct 2020) 9:00 am AEST
Results will be available prior to the Certification of Grades.
1. Content
2. Structure
3. Language
4. Referencing
- Paraphrase, quote and summarise information using appropriate referencing conventions
- Plan and write an academic essay that integrates sources to support a reasoned argument.
- Communication
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Critical Thinking
- Ethical Practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
