Assignment Writing

How to beat the University at its own game and win!

Purpose of assignments

• Extend learning• Opportunity to combine

theory and practice• Encourage critical analysis• Develop business skills• Demonstrate your

understanding• An essential part of the

assessment process

Content

Structure & styleLanguageCharacteristics Ten-step processReferencingThe marker

Four important tools

• The Question• The Assignment

Guideline• Indicative Marking

Criteria (AGC Form)• Overall Grading

Structure

Structuring the assignment

Title PageExecutive SummaryContents PageIntroductionBackgroundMethodology

Main Body & figures, tables, modelsRecommendationsConclusionsList of ReferencesAppendices

Title page

• Course & Module title• Assignment title• Name• Intake• Student number• Word count • Date

The executive summary

• Provides a condensed version of the longer assignments contents.

• It’s a self-contained, stand alone document.

• Provides an overview of the full-length report

• Usually no longer than 10% of the original document, (often 1 page).

• A concise summary of the main sections of the assignment & specific recommendations.

Contents page

• All but the shortest of assignments should contain a contents page listing all the section headings and page numbers

• You may want to number chapter headings and sub-headings in addition to providing page references

• Be clear and consistent throughout

Introduction

• Sets the scene for the reader.• States clearly the issue/problem/area

you will address in your assignment, why it is important and how you will address it – your approach.

• It tells the reader what is coming up, key issues and concerns.

• Any problems or limitations in the scope of the assignment should be identified.

• Avoid the dreaded “In this assignment I will describe…..”

• Write it last!

The main body

• This will cover your problem/investigation and analysis.

• It requires structuring with headings and sub-headings to achieve coherence & flow.

• It must contain all the information needed to justify conclusions and recommendations.

• Is likely to contain figures, tables and models, neatly presented, correctly referenced and labelled

Recommendations

• Make specific recommendations for future action and consideration

• Must be feasible, avoid “the organisation needs to change it’s culture” type statements

(This may be the case but organisational cultures are notoriously resistant to change, how will this be achieved?)

Conclusions

• Highlights the findings of the assignment.

• Revisits the themes outlined in the introduction and shows what has been established.

• It should not just be a repeat of what has gone on before.

• It is not a place to introduce fresh material

• The conclusion “draws the threads together”

• Looked at closely by the marker

Appendices

• Provide further background information that may be useful to the reader.

• The reader must be able to make sense of the assignment without consulting the appendices.

• Useful for large amounts of data that would otherwise disrupt the flow of the assignment

• Examples: company history, relevant background information, lengthy calculations, tables of data, long interviews etc.

Assignment writing

A ten step approach

The 10 step process

1. Know the marking criteria2. Analyse the question3. Build your list of references4. Write the middle5. Write the conclusions &

recommendations6. Write the introduction & executive

summary7. Check your references8. Spell and grammar check everything9. Ask a fellow student or other person to

read your work10. Read again in a couple of days

A well written assignment..

• Has an appropriate structure – it flows• Has headings and sub-headings• Includes research methods & background

information• Demonstrates evidence of a wide range of

information sources• Includes reference to relevant theory, correctly

referenced• Uses both qualitative and quantitative sources of

information• Is “analytical” rather than descriptive• Uses tables, figures and models to support the

narrative• Makes appropriate recommendations and

conclusions

It’s Never to Early to Start

It’s never too early to start

Why Reference?

• To provide information to the reader• To support you arguments• To build credibility• To avoid Plagiarism

Examples of plagiarism

• In fields as different as physics, biology, linguistics, anthropology, sociology and psychotherepy, network ideas have been repeatedly involved over the last 100 years. The multiple origins of network approaches for the social sciences contribute to the eclectisism that characterises current work.

• Kilduff, M., Wenpin, Tsai. (2003). Social Networks and Organizations. Sage Books

Examples of Plagiarism

• Example 1

The multiple origins of network approaches for social sciences contribute to the eclecticism that characterises current work

• Example 2

The multiple origins of network approaches for social sciences contribute to the eclecticism that characterises current work (Kilduff and Tsai, 2003)

Examples of Good Practice

• Example 3 ”The multiple origins of network approaches for social

sciences contribute to the eclecticism that characterises current work” (Kilduff and Tsai, 2003:13)

• Example 4 Network research embraces a diversity of approaches to

studying social relations; Kilduff and Tsai (2003) attribute this diversity to the multiplicity of origins of the network approach.

Requirements for referencing

• Assertions or statements of fact

• Theories views or arguments• Where information came from• Who created the information• Who collated the information• The University uses the

Harvard system of referencing

When to reference

I. Brahm’s wrote four symphonies

II. Brahm’s compositions were driven by unrequited love

III. Harry Potter was a wizard

IV. The Harry Potter books constitute a danger to the moral fabric of youth

An ideal list of references…

• Sources from the recommended reading

• Recognised leaders in the field• Some up-to-date sources• Something the marker has not

yet read• Contextualised information• Avoids the “Heathrow Library”• Avoids Wikipedia

Types of referencing

• “Quotations”• Paraphrasing• Using your own words

Examples

• QUOTATION: “… to which the automatic human reaction is helpless discouragement. But for the successful leader failure is the beginning, the springboard of hope.” (Bennis and Nanus, 1985:71).

• PARAPHRASE: Failure is finality, a dead feeling of helpless discouragement. For the successful leader, failure can be the springboard to a new beginning, (Bennis & Nanus, 1985).

• OWN WORDS: Bennis and Nanus (1985) point out that effective leaders react to failure differently than other people. Rather than becoming de-motivated and discouraged as most people do, leaders see failure as a challenge which rousers them to greater efforts and stimulates hope for a brighter future.

• REFERENCE: Bennis, W., and Nanus, B. (1985). Leaders: The Strategies for Taking Charge. New York: Harper & Row, p.71.

Referencing – the Harvard System

• References must be cited in the text, (see example)

• Remember – include page number for ”quotations”

• References must be listed in author alphabetical order at the end of the assignment, (after conclusions and before appendix)

How many references?

• Depends on the nature of the assignment and the subject but, for a 3,000 word assignment – not less than 10, 20+ would be better.

Style of the assignment

• Use a title page and number the pages

• Do what you say you will do in the introduction

• Footnotes not recommended• Use quotes from opposing

views• Quotes and paraphrasing work

well together• Avoid excessive use of “bullet

points”• Plagiarism – don’t do it

Presentation style

• Typed, standard font• One-and-a-half

spaced• Presentation as

expected at Masters level

• Staple it (do not bind it)

Writing style

• Personal• Information comes from

the writer’s experience• Personal feelings and

views• Recounts, tells a

personal story• Non-technical

vocabulary• “I” at the centre

• Academic• Information comes from a

range of sources• Evidence & argument, citing

& referencing others work• Comments, evaluates,

analyses• Subject specific vocabulary• Written in the “3rd person”

Language to avoid

• Obviously… • Research shows… • It is true that…• This proves…• Where does this lead

us?• It’s a well known

fact…

Language to avoid

• “I”, “we”, “you”• I think….• I feel….• Good, bad, normal• Contractions• Jargon

Language to use

• “this suggests…”• “it is plausible…”• This argument

appears reasonable / unreasonable because…

• Use the terminology!

A word about word count

• Most assignments are restricted to a word count +/- 10%

Much less than the word count – you’ve probably not got the depth

Over the word count – markers may stop marking at the word count

• The word count starts after the contents page and ends before the references

• Words in the appendix don’t count

• Words in models don’t count

A word about the marker

• Do not assume the marker shares your point of view

• Do not bore the marker• Don’t make the marker work

hard for the information• Some markers start with the

references• The question & assessment

criteria are “king”• Your assignment will be treated

fairly• QAA & CASQ Rules

What you get marks for…

Answering the questionAnalysisReference to relevant theory, models etc.Strength of your argumentsBreadth and depth of your discussionRealistic recommendationsConclusions

× Not generally for Description

How to get an ”F”

• Be too descriptive

• Don’t answer the question

• Don’t make reference to relevant theory

• Omit critical analysis

Tackling the assignment

• Average time per assignment – 50 hours

• Researching 10 hours – (20%)

• Writing 20 hours – (40%)• Thinking 10 hours –

(20%)• Excusing 10 hours –

(20%)