ASSIGNMENT

OUMH1203
ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
SEPTEMBER 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: 15 NOVEMBER 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 THREE (3) 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

Some people say that Malaysians who make a lot of money are the most successful. Others
think that Malaysians who contribute to society like scientists and teachers are more
successful.

Discuss both views in an essay.

The planning and writing of your essay are divided into THREE (3) tasks:

TASK 1 - ESSAY OUTLINE (5%)

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 that summarise the main point, main idea, or main message of your
essay.

[Total: 5 Marks]

TASK 2 – DESCRIBING VISUAL DATA of a TABLE (10%)

Interview at least FIVE (5) people (who are known to you) to gather information about the
essay topic and prepare a table to describe the findings. Refer to the following template
with example.

Make a lot of money Contribute to society Brief Explanation

A  Teacher-helping students to
understand the subject
B
C
D
E

The following are the interview questions that you should ask:

1) Choose which one best represents your job: make a lot of money or contribute to
society?

2) Why do you say so? Please explain briefly

Submit the completed table and use the findings of this table to support your essay in
Task 3.

[Total: 10 Marks]

TASK 3 - ESSAY (25%)

Write a discussion essay between 2,000 words and 2,500 words on the given topic.

Task Requirements:

1. The content of your essay must resemble the essay outline in Task 1 and must be
supported with at least, some evidence in Task 2.
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 TWO (2) pieces of evidence
from current and related literature (2017 – 2022). Use the APA format for in-text
citations and the reference list. The TWO (2) 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 essay writing during primary and secondary school.

2. What do you think about the use of technology, especially Artificial Intelligence, in
academic 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 / SEPTEMBER 2023 SEMESTER
Unsatisfactory
Excellent Good Fair Poor Or
Max
No response
CLO Criteria Weight Marks
QN
4 3 2 1 0

TASK 1 - ESSAY OUTLINE (5%)

1 3 Essay Outline Details are placed in an Details are placed in an Some details are well
Format outline format and the outline format, but the supported and this
way they are presented way in which they are distracts the organisation
1.0 Many details are not in a No proper 4
effectively makes the presented sometimes of the outline.
logical or expected outline
outline very interesting makes the outline less
order. The outline is
interesting.
unorganized Missing support
.
or details.

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 OR
The details are written in
paragraphs or essay-
form.

3 Thesis Statement A comprehensively A good thesis statement A thesis statement that A thesis statement that
written thesis that could be better. requires a list of points. is poorly written.
statement.
0.25 No thesis 1
statement

TASK 2 – DESCRIBING VISUAL DATA of a TABLE (10%)

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2 3 Evidence collected All requirements of the task All requirements of the task Half of the requirements of Limited evidence of
are successfully met. The are met. The table presented the task is moderately met. preparing answers for the
table presented 5 or more 5 or more data. The table presented 5 data task. The table presented
1.25 data successfully. in a moderate organisation. less than 5 data. No evidence 5
The table is prepared using provided.
The table is well prepared the template provided. The table is differently
using the template prepared using the template
provided. provided.
The table is not prepared
using the template
provided.

3 Brief explanation Comprehensive and well Good explanation presented Moderate explanation Poor explanation presented No explanation
presented in the column. in the column. presented in the column. in the column. presented in the
column.
1.25 5

TASK 3 - ESSAY (25%)

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2 2 Introduction The introduction very
clearly states the thesis
statement and previews
0.5 The introduction clearly The introduction states There is no clear The 2
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.

Fully addresses the Adequately addresses the Generally writes about There is little attempt to
assignment focus. assignment focus. the assignment focus. write about the
assignment focus
2 Content: 1.5 A weak attempt 6
Explanations and claims Some explanations and The development of
individuals who at addressing
are very comprehensive, claims may not be explanations and claims is OR
make a lot of the written
coherent and organised arranged logically and adequate.
money are the assignment.
logically. coherently. There are many concerns
most successful
The arguments are about plagiarism
OR
The arguments are The arguments are somewhat supported by a evidence.
supported by authentic, supported by clear and few examples in the
Writing is
clear and appropriate appropriate examples in Malaysian context.
heavily
examples in the the Malaysian context.
plagiarized.
Malaysian context. A moderate attempt to
A good attempt to discuss discuss points.
An excellent attempt to points throughout the
discuss points all paragraphs.
throughout the
paragraphs.

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 Content: 1.5 Fully addresses the Adequately addresses the Generally writes about There is little attempt to
Others think that assignment focus. assignment focus. the assignment focus. write about the 6
those who assignment focus
2 A weak attempt
contribute to Explanations and claims Some explanations and The development of
at addressing
society are more are very comprehensive, claims may not be explanations and claims is OR
the written
successful. coherent and organised arranged logically and adequate.
assignment.
logically. coherently. There are many concerns
The arguments are about plagiarism
OR
The arguments are The arguments are somewhat supported by a evidence.
supported by authentic, supported by clear and few examples in the
Writing is
clear and appropriate appropriate examples in Malaysian context.
heavily
examples in the the Malaysian context.
plagiarized.
Malaysian context. A moderate attempt to
A good attempt to discuss discuss points.
An excellent attempt to points throughout the
discuss points all paragraphs.
throughout the
paragraphs.

2 Conclusion 0.5 The conclusion skillfully The conclusion is The conclusion is The conclusion is weak. The conclusion 2
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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2 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/ 1.0 4
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 2 relevant A reference of 2 articles, A reference of fewer No articles are
than 2 relevant articles articles and all are from but not necessarily than 2 articles, but all used as
and all are from different sources. relevant, or not from from the same source. references.
3 References 1.25 5
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 Missing inclusion of the inappropriately.
reference list according listed in the reference list evidence in Task 2.
to APA style. Coherent inclusion of the according to APA style.
evidence in Task 2.
Successful and coherent There is inclusion of the
inclusion of the evidence evidence in Task 2.
in Task 2.
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
1, 2 3 Quality of 2.5 All five comments are Four of the comments are Two or three of the One post was Postings are 10
Postings 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
respectful. Postings reflect meaningful and OR None of the timeline.
Postings reflect active participation within the respectful. comments is good and OR No postings
participation within the assignment timeline. Postings show relatively relevant. given as proof of

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 assignment timeline. short participation time. OR Comments are participation in
short responses that the discussion
are not substantial or
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
2.

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