ASSIGNMENT

OUMH1203
ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
MAY 2023 SEMESTER

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION

1. Answer in English.

2. Number of words: 2500 – 3000 words excluding references and outline.

3. Present your responses to the task in a SINGLE file.

4. Submit your assignment ONLINE.

5. Submission date : 18 July 2023.

6. This assignment accounts for 50% of the total marks for the course.

ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

This assignment consists of TWO parts: Part I (comprises of TWO (2) tasks) and Part II.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this assignment is to expose students to proper essay writing skills and
introduce them to the step-by-step guide to writing an essay.

PART I: ESSAY WRITING (40%)

ESSAY TOPIC

As part of a health and wellness programme in a workplace, a seminar is organized to

discuss the importance of physical and mental health. After the seminar, the presenter
poses the question, "Is physical health more important than mental health, or is mental
health more important than physical health?".

As one of the participants, you want to write an argumentative essay on the question posed.
Use persuasive techniques to convince your readers of your point of view and relate with
personal examples.

The planning and writing of your essay are divided into TWO (2) tasks:

TASK 1 - ESSAY OUTLINE (10%)

The first initial stage of writing an essay is the Pre-Writing stage, where you brainstorm, list
your ideas and prepare any type of drafts for the essay.

Prepare an outline for the essay.

Task Requirements:
1. Prepare an outline with a thesis statement. You can opt for the Sample Outline Format
below or prepare your own outline.
2. The thesis statement must include your stand on the main focus of the paper and the
(list of) main points in the main body.
3. The outline should be written according to the format of an essay: introduction, body
and conclusion.
4. The outline must list the points that discuss the topic given. These points must be
arranged in a logical and coherent order to show a good flow of ideas.

SAMPLE OUTLINE FORMAT

Introduction
- Introduction to the topic
 - *Thesis Statement
Body
I. Point 1
A. Supporting Detail
i. Example
a) Sub-example (if any)

II. Point 2
A. Supporting Detail
i. Example
a) Sub-example (if any)

*
(same structure for Point 3 and so on)
Conclusion
-The conclusion of the essay

*one or two sentences encapsulation of your essay's main point, main idea, or main

message.

(Note: This outline is excluded in the word count of 2500 - 3000 words)
[Total: 10 Marks]

TASK 2 - ESSAY (30%)

Write an argumentative essay to persuade your readers between 2,500 words and 3,000
words on the given topic.

Task Requirements:

1. The content of your essay must resemble the essay outline in Task 1.
2. The same thesis statement in the outline should be presented in the introductory
paragraph of the essay.
3. Refer to the assignment rubrics as a guide to achieving cohesion and coherence.
4. Avoid plagiarism. You must support your essay with at least three (3) pieces of evidence
from current and related literature (2017 – 2022). Use the APA format for in-text
citations and the reference list. The THREE (3) references must be from different
sources: journals, credible websites, books, magazines and newspapers.
5. Remember to refer to Topics: 3, 4 and 5 of the OUMH 1203 Module.

[Total: 40 Marks]

PART II: ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)

Discuss the following topic(s) in the forum and submit proof of your participation in the
online discussions:

1. Share your experiences of learning how to write in English during your school years.
What was difficult for you then?
2. Discuss ways to avoid plagiarism in writing.

[Total: 10 Marks]

[TOTAL: 50 MARKS]
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SUBMIT PROOF OF ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)
Do the following:

1. Select the BEST FIVE (5) posts of your own from the e-forum discussion set up by your
tutor.
2. Take screenshots of the posts and include them in your assignment as IMAGES.
3. The screenshots should be in an image file (either JPG or PNG format). See the
screenshot example below
4. The screenshots should CLEARLY display: Name, Discussion Title, Day, Date, and Time.
 ATTACHMENT
ASSIGNMENT RUBRIC
OUMH1203 ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION / MAY 2023 SEMESTER
Unsatisfactory
Excellent Good Fair Poor Or
Max
No response
QN CLO Criteria Weight Marks
4 3 2 1 0

TASK 1 - ESSAY OUTLINE (10%)

1 2 Essay Outline Well-prepared outline Well-prepared outline A moderately-prepared

Format format with a format with a good thesis outline format with a
comprehensively written statement. thesis statement that
1.0 The outline format is No proper 4
thesis statement. requires further
poorly written. outline
understanding.
OR
The details are written in
paragraphs or essay-
.
form.

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 2 Details in Outline Details are placed in a Details are placed in a Some details are well
logical order and the logical order, but the way supported and this
way they are presented in which they are distracts the organisation
1.5 Many details are not in a Missing support 6
effectively makes the presented sometimes of the outline.
logical or expected or details.
outline very interesting makes the outline less
order. The outline is
interesting.
unorganized

TASK 2 - ESSAY (30%)

2 3 Introduction The introduction very
clearly states the thesis
statement and previews
1 The introduction clearly The introduction states There is no clear The 4
the structure of the
states the thesis the thesis statement but introduction to the main introduction
paper.
statement and previews does not adequately topic or structure of the presents no
the structure of the paper. preview the structure of paper. purpose.
the paper.

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 Fully addresses the Adequately addresses the Generally writes about There is little attempt to
stand for or against the stand for or against of the for or against the write about for or
assignment focus. assignment focus. assignment focus but against the assignment
3 Content: 2.0 A weak attempt 8
with NO clear stand. focus
to agree or at addressing
Explanations and claims Some explanations and
disagree with the written
are very comprehensive, claims may not be The development of OR
EITHER statement: assignment.
coherent and organised arranged logically and explanations and claims is
"Is physical health
logically. coherently. adequate. There are many concerns
more important OR
about plagiarism
than mental
The arguments for or The arguments for or The arguments for or evidence.
health, or is mental Writing is
against are supported by against are supported by against are somewhat
health more heavily
authentic, clear and clear and appropriate supported by a few
important than plagiarized.
appropriate examples in examples in the Malaysian examples in the
physical health?"
the Malaysian context. context. Malaysian context.

An excellent attempt to A good attempt to discuss A moderate attempt to

discuss points all points throughout the discuss points.
throughout the paragraphs.
paragraphs.

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 Organisation: 1.25 Full and rich persuasive Clear and complete Persuasive development Persuasive development Off – the topic
Persuasive development of the persuasive development of content is adequate. of content is limited and for the most 5
techniques and content. of content. may be incomplete or part.
3
devices unclear.
The main points are very The main points are quite Some main points may Not a
convincing and extended convincing and extended not be fully convincing; Lack of persuasive persuasive
very persuasively with adequately with the supporting details may techniques and lack of essay.
the support of relevant support of relevant not be relevant or suggestions.
details. details. adequate. OR

Excellent use of Good use of persuasive The moderate use of There are many concerns
persuasive techniques techniques and devices. persuasive techniques about plagiarism
and devices. and devices. evidence

Comprehensive and Good suggestions Moderate suggestions

well-discussed were given.
suggestions

2 Conclusion 1 The conclusion skillfully The conclusion is The conclusion is The conclusion is weak. The conclusion 4
reinforces the thesis and recognizable and ties up recognizable but does not is out of topic /
gives closure to the almost all the loose ends. tie up several loose ends. unrecognisable. 
essay.

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3 The sentence style fits Sentences are generally Sentence structures are Contains several Contains many
the paper’s purpose. clear, well-structured, and generally correct, but awkward or awkward
Sentences are varied, focused, though some sentences may be wordy ungrammatical sentences.
Language/ 0.75 3
yet clearly structured may be awkward or or repetitive. sentences. Sentence Displays general
Sentence Skills
and carefully focused. ineffective. structure is simple or inability in
Frequent errors in monotonous. writing
Language is excellent Language is satisfactory grammar, lexical choice grammatical/m
with hardly any errors in with some errors in and punctuation, may Very frequent errors in eaningful
grammar, lexical choice grammar, lexical choice impede understanding grammar, lexical choice sentences.
and punctuation. and punctuation, which do and clarity. and punctuation that
not seriously impede seriously impair Errors in
understanding and clarity. understanding and grammar,
clarity. lexical choice
OR and punctuation
are too
There are many concerns frequent and
about plagiarism severe, making
evidence, thus the it highly difficult
language and sentence to understand
skills are not clear. the message.

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 A reference of more A reference of 3 relevant A reference of 3 articles, A reference of lesser No articles are
than 3 relevant articles articles and all are from but not necessarily than 3 articles, but all used as
and all are from different sources. relevant, or not from from the same source. references.
2 References 1.5 6
different sources. different sources.
Most of the references are References are References are
All the references are effectively used, correctly References are inappropriately/unclearl not
effectively used, cited and correctly listed sometimes not effectively y incorporated. incorporated or
correctly cited and in the reference list used, and/or correctly incorporated
correctly listed in the according to APA style. cited and/or correctly inappropriately.
reference list according listed in the reference list
to APA style. according to APA style.

Total 10 40
*QN = Question Number

PART II: ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)

Max
Excellent Good Fair Poor Unsatisfactory
QN CLO Criteria Weightage marks
4 3 2 1 0
All five comments are Four of the comments are Two or three of the One post was Postings are
good, appropriate, good, appropriate, relevant, comments are somewhat submitted. OR All posts done past the
relevant, meaningful, and meaningful, and respectful. good, appropriate, are done in one day. assignment
Quality of respectful.  Postings reflect meaningful and  OR None of the timeline. 
1, 2 3 Postings 2.5 Postings reflect active participation within the respectful.  comments is good and OR No postings 10
participation within the assignment timeline.  Postings show relatively relevant.  given as proof of
assignment timeline. short participation time.  OR Comments are participation in
short responses that the discussion
are not substantial or

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 meaningful. Minimum
effort (e.g. “I agree
with Tina”)

Total Marks 2.5 10

Note: This course also requires students to complete the Online Activity (10%) in MyInspire as part of the assignment total of 60%. The Online Activity is categorized under CLO
1.

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