LIBRARY AND LEARNING COMMONS

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 Learning Skills Advisors Subject Librarians
Charmaine Botha Sibusisiwe Mgquba
Focus: Focus
Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Social Sciences,
PGD & HDR PGD & HDR
Tel: 011 950 4455 Tel. 011 950 4150
charmaine.botha@monash.edu Sibusisiwe.mgquba@monash.edu
John Small Linda Mbonambi
Focus Focus
Bus Eco, IT, HDR, PGD & FP Bus Eco, IT, HDR, PGD & FP
Tel: 011 950 4248 Tel: 011 950 4032
John.small@monash.edu Linda.mbonambi@monash.edu

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 What do we want to achieve with
an academic research
assignment?

RSD facets of research

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 Assignment
AZA2717/3717 MAJOR ESSAY

Students are required to write an essay on health inequalities

(using ONE country in Africa as a case study)
based on any ONE of the following variables:
race/ethnicity,
immigration status,
gender,
marital status,
age, or
social class.

Students are to identify relevant materials in relation to their selected topic

and structure their essay in a formal discursive form by using the selected
materials.
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 Additional Instructions (Part 1)
Second year students are to submit a 2,500 words essay on their topic with at
least NINE referenced materials.

Third year students (students who enrolled for this unit as AZA3717) are to submit a
3,000 words essay with a minimum of TWELVE referenced materials.

The Harvard style of referencing is required.

Presentation requirements:
Double spacing
12 point font size
Title of assessment, name, student number on first page
Page numbers on bottom right corner
Referencing on a separate page following the essay
A signed assessment cover sheet MUST be attached to the front of the
essay
Assignments must be submitted through Turnitin at least 48 hours before
the due date and your originality score MUST be included at the bottom of
your index (below your word count)
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Rubric: Letter to the Editor

Sample marking rubric

Criteria for marking:
Clarity and logical development of essay; the use of academic evidence and examples to support points being made,
the extent of your research, the structure of your argument, the content and range of issues covered and correct
citation formatting, clarity of expression, spelling and grammar and the adequacy of your bibliography.

Poor (N) Developing (P) Average (C) Good (D) Excellent (HD)

Understanding and interpretation of the question

Extent and relevance of research

Comprehension and effective use of relevant
academic literature from credible sources
Range of issues identified and well
conceptualised
Quality and coherence of analysis/argument
(including sufficient supporting evidence)
Structure of the essay
(ie. clear introduction and conclusion, with
coherent paragraphs linked through the body of
the essay)
Clarity of writing and quality of expression,
spelling and grammar
Consistent and accurate referencing (ie. correct
citation format and reference list/bibliography)

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 Analysing your question

Begin by identifying the key concepts e.g.

the topic/content areas
Identify the directive words e.g. analyse,
discuss, etc.
Note any limitations e.g. scope, time
period, field of study, area
Format of the assignment (essay, report,
review, poster, annotated bib etc)

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 Key concepts
Limitations Analysing the question
Directive words
Format

Write an essay on
health inequalities (WHAT)
using ONE country in Africa as a case study (WHERE)
based on any ONE of the following variables:
(WHY / HOW / WHO / WHEN)
race/ethnicity,
immigration status,
gender,
marital status,
age, or
social class.
identify relevant materials in relation to the selected
topic and
structure their essay in a formal discursive form by
using the selected materials.
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 Analysing /Discussing

WHY?
WHAT ? WHEN?

WHERE? HOW?

WHO?

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 Find Witnesses
Once you have identified the content area you will
need to examine, you will need to consider what types
of resources are required (books, journals, websites,
statistics, etc.) and set about acquiring them.
Look at your reading list, use the reference lists of
these books and journals, and identify what will be
required.
Remember you will need to evaluate the worth of
these resources, so read critically.
Decide what kind of supporting information will be
necessary, and set about organising your resources to
achieve your goal. Often books are good for big
picture information, while journals are often good for
supporting details.
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 Library resources
Resource Name Keywords Results Comments
SEARCH
Library Catalogue Main key concept (e.g.) Physical Book(s) in SA libarary SA has limited books in this area at least
one or two versus large number of students
Physical Books (lecturer needs to reserve)

E-Books
Electronic Books Everyone can use the same e-book at
Do a secondary search within the book of your the same time
sub-key concept

DATA BASES Keywords Results Comments

(S) > Main key concept(e.g.)
Africa and South African research Articles relevant to
SA e Publications and publications SA and Africa
Journal articles / Books/ available
Theses/ Web pages

(S) > Science Direct Main key concept (e.g.) Examples of relevant articles in Large number of articles
(E) > EDS journals and other resources as well available - international
(G) > Google Scholar (these are interdisciplinary
(Monash) databases)

Main key concept (e.g.)

WEBSITEs
See Sociology Lib-guide

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 Mapping your argument :
Essay Outline

Once you have analysed the topic and gathered

references, you will need to construct a rough
outline /plan.
Some students prefer to make a plan before
reading, some after. However, it is important to
remain flexible, as your knowledge of the topic and
opinion on it may change as you read more.
You might find that your witnesses are vague or
unreliable and you may need to find others

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 The essay/letter structure
Can be seen as a diamond with the introduction and conclusion at the top and bottom and the
body paragraphs fitting into the middle of the diamond in a series of smaller diamond shapes.

Connect to
next paragraph
and main idea

Your
own
voice

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 Body paragraphs
Paragraph element Purpose

1. Topic This sentence starts by referring to the thesis/your argument. It

Sentence continues to include the main point of this paragraph (your voice)

2. Additional This explains further the point made in the topic sentence. (your voice)
Information

3. Evidence These are essential to justify your point. Your evidence comes from
sentences your research and may include examples, data, quotes, statistics,
graphics and illustrations. All supporting evidence must be from
authoritative sources and cited in your essay. (quote or paraphrase
reference /witness voice)

4. Concluding Again, this sentence links the main thesis of the essay with the main
sentence point of the paragraph. (your voice) and links to the next paragraph

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1

Compare the changes in these sentences from informal to academic style.
Informal writing
When I look at the situation in
emergency wards, with many staff
leaving, it's hard not to worry
about how many doctors will be
available to treat patients in the
future.
It's so obvious that people were
given jobs just because they were
male or female. I don't think that is
an acceptable approach and is even
against the law.
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ACADEMIC WRITING
Academic writing
If we consider the situation in
emergency wards, with increasingly
low staff retention rates, there are
concerns about the capacity of
hospitals to maintain adequate
doctor to patient ratios.
It appears that in a number of
instances jobs were assigned on the
basis of gender. Given the current
anti-discrimination laws, this raises
serious concerns.
1
 MORE TIPS
Objective writing: In general, academic writing aims to be objective in its
expression of ideas. Therefore specific reference to personal opinions, or to
yourself as the performer of actions, is usually avoided. .
Expressing opinions
Personal 'Objective'
In my opinion It has been argued that
I believe that Some writers claim
In my view Clearly,
It is clear that
There is little doubt that
Avoiding too much reference to yourself as agent in your writing
(Passive vs active voice)
Agent or performer No agent or performer

I undertook the study The study was undertaken

I propose to It is proposed to
In this essay I will examine This essay examines
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 What do you need to remember?
You will notice that, in general, in academic writing we:

minimise the use of the personal I in the text: avoid writing

'When I look; I don't think this is an acceptable approach
(avoid this by using passive voice E.g. This is not thought (considered)
to be an acceptable approach)
use formal verbs, and fewer verb phrases (verb + preposition),
use consider rather than look at
use impersonal expressions: there are, this raises
use more nouns than verbs: concerns, rather than to worry
avoid emotional expressions, such as it's so obvious ( it
appears is preferable); just because ( assigned on the basis of is
preferable)
aim for concise, often abstract expression, e.g. gender, rather
than male or female.

http://www.monash.edu/lls/llonline/writing/general/academic/index.xml
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 Referencing requirements:
Plagiarism must be avoided. Materials used should be appropriately referenced
and included in a References Cited list
The preferred style in Sociology is the Harvard style. For further information on this
style of referencing, please see http://guides.lib.monash.edu/citing-
referencing/harvard
To build your skills in citing and referencing, and using different referencing styles,
see the online tutorial
Demystifying Citing and Referencing at
http://www.lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/
You will be assessed on the extent of your research, and the adequacy of your
bibliography. Your reference list should consist of AT LEAST 8 sources (not
including materials provided as part of the unit).

As well as this:
Citations must be provided in-text (do not reference using footnotes or endnotes).
A reference list is required, and it:
should only be those works you have cited in your assignment
must be given on a separate page at the end of your assignment
must be in alphabetical order
must be carefully checked for consistency of format throughout.
(Note: The reference list does not form part of the required word length.)
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 Acknowledging your resources:
Citing and referencing
NB NB NB : if you cite and reference correctly, you will not plagiarize
Ways to cite and reference:
1. MANUALLY (DO the library on-line tutorial 15minutes):
http://monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/citing/
http://resources.lib.monash.edu.au/learning-objects/test/apa-quick-
guide/
2. Using MICRO-SOFT WORD REFERENCING (but you still need to
have the manual referencing background knowledge)
3. Using ENDNOTE (but you still need to have the manual referencing
background knowledge)

Referencing resources:
Monash Library Website, Moodle and Libguides
https://www.monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials
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 Additional resources on Referencing

Monash Share Drive

- UG - Library > Charmaine Learning
skills > Referencing

Lib Guides
Moodle

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 ASK for HELP
For
assistance
with learning, writing or communicating
your findings,
contact
a learning skills advisor
in
the library

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