Planning and

Researching
for your assignment

Charmaine Botha
Learning Skills Advisor
Monash South Africa
 CONTACT DETAILS
Learning Skills Advisors Librarians
Charmaine Botha Sibusisiwe Mgquba
Focus: Focus
Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Social Sciences,
ADP & HDR ADP & HDR
Tel: 011 950 4455 Tel. 011 950 4150
charmaine.botha@monash.edu Sibusisiwe.mgquba@monash.edu

Karen Pentreko Linda Mbonambi

Focus Focus
Bus Eco, IT, HDR & ADP Bus Eco, IT, HDR & ADP
Tel: 011 950 4248 Tel: 011 950 4032
Karen.pentreko@monash.edu Linda.mbonambi@monash.edu

Date
What do we want to achieve with an
academic essay?
Demonstrate
to your lecturer that you are able to:
Embark on an inquiry analyse question
Find Information / research
Evaluate and Analyse the information
Organize the information
Apply the information to answer the question
Communicate your knowledge (written/oral)

(Based on the Research Skill Development Framework)

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Its like being a lawyer presenting
a case in court:

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 Assessment Task 3: Report (Unit Guide)
Due date period: Week 7, 8 September 2014

Length: 900 words (Note the Table of Contents and the Reference list do not
count toward your total word count.)

Value: 25%

Details of task:

Prepare a 900-word report addressing the following topic:

Write a report to Grade 12 learners. In this report you

want to discuss two transition issues a new student can
face when he/she enters a university. Use the feedback
you got from the Ability Task to inform your writing.

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 Presentation requirements (Unit Guide)
Your report needs to contain the following:
Title Page
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................... 1
2. Literature review ................................................................................... 2
2.1 Issue 1 ................................................................................. 3
Introduction (approx. 100 words)
Literature Review (approx. 400 words)
Recommendations (approx. 300 words)
Conclusions (approx. 100 words)
Reference List
This is a list of all the references you have cited in your report.
All references in this list should be formatted according to the APA style guide on
the library website: http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/tutorials/citing/apa.html

Criteria for marking:

As well the details of the task outlined here, this assignment will be marked according to the
criteria in the Assignment Presentation Information on page 7 in this Unit Guide and
the Assignment 3: Report Task Rubric that is available via Moodle and Turnitin.

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 Where to START
Begin by identifying the key concepts
e.g. the topic / sub-topic / content areas
Identify the directive words e.g.
analyse, discuss, list, explain etc.
Note any limitations e.g. scope, time
period, field of study, area

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 Analysis of brief :
Directive Limitations Key Concepts
Write a report
to Grade 12 learners.
In this report you want to
Discuss (What, how, why, when, where)
two transition issues (see lecture notes NB NB)
a new student can face (first year student)
when he/she enters a university.
(A report has to have RECOMMENDATIONS in, on how to deal with the
issues)
Use the feedback you got from the Ability Task to inform your writing.
Explored one transitional issue already
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 Break down
TWO ISSUE # 1
Transition ISSUES
What
. NEW UNIVERSITY
Students face DISCUSS
RECOMMEND WHAT WHY -WHEN Why
HOW
TO AVOID/ MANAGE Where

ISSUE # 2
How
(Recommend)

What Communicate:
Why Report to
Title Page
Grd 12 learners Table of Contents
Where
How 1. Introduction (approx.100 words)
(Recommend) 2. Literature Review (approx. 400 words)
2.1 Issue 1
2.2 Issue 2
3. Recommendations(approx.300 words)
4. Conclusions (approx. 100 words)
Reference List (APA)
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 Find Witnesses
WHAT types of resources are required (books, journals,
websites, statistics, etc.) and set about acquiring them.
Often books are good for big picture information,
while journals are often good for supporting details.
Look at your reading list, use the reference lists of these
books and journals, to identify what will be required.
Remember you will need to evaluate the worth of these
resources, so read critically.
WHERE will you FIND the resources?

The physical LIBRARY (real books/journals)

DATABASES (electronic resources via Monash SA Library
website) Online resources Databases

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 What is a Database?"
A database is
simply an
organized
structure of
data stored in a
computer
system and
typically
enabled for
easy retrieval
of that data.

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 Library resources
Resource Name Keywords Results Comments
SEARCH
SA Library New (first year) students Physical Book(s) SA has limited books in
Physical Books transition / change Title: Understanding students in this area at least one or
University transition. two versus large number
Specific issues (eg drinking) of students (reserved)

DATA BASES Keywords Results Comments

(G) > First year (new) students,
Google scholar transition / change
university
First year experience
Specific issues (eg drinking/
social/ time-management
(P) > New student / First year
ProQuest / (or first year experience)
(S) > transition / change
Science Direct University
Specific issues (eg drinking)
(E) > First year students
E-Book Library University
Transition / change
Specific issues (eg drinking/
social/ time-management)
Journal articles / Articles relevant
Books/ available
Theses/
Web pages
Examples of relevant articles in Large number of articles
journals and available
other resources as well
Electronic Book Everyone can access
Title: First year at the university:
Tradition and change

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 Linking resource and topic
Topic: Resources
Transition Issues Prescribed reading A C D
A Prescribed Reading D F B
B Prescribed reading A C E
C Prescribed Reading D E
D Book A B C D E F
E New Article C E F
F New Article A C E

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 Linking resource and topic
Topic: Resources
Transition Issues Books / Journals Articles / Websites/
Newspapers etc
SUB-TOPICS (issues)
A Prescribed reading A C D

B Prescribed Reading D F B
Prescribed reading A C E
C
Prescribed Reading D E
D
Book A B C D E F
E
New Article C E F
F New Article A C E

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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://resources.lib.monash.edu.au/learning-objects/test/apa-quick-guide/
http://monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/citing/

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)

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 Plan your argument
Once you have analysed the topic and gathered
references, you will need to construct a rough 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/report 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.

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 Plan and write (draft)
Introduction what I set out
to do
Body - what I have found
Communicate: 1
Report 2
3
Conclusion what I have
realized/ concluded

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 Prepare to communicate your argument
After having completed some reading and/or
writing, set about constructing your response or
thesis statement to the question. Again, however,
remain flexible. There is no such thing as perfect
knowledge of a topic!
Often it is best to start writing on a body section,
as the introduction and conclusion may change as
your work progresses.

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 Body paragraphs
Paragraph element Purpose

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

Sentence argument. It continues to include the main point of this
paragraph (your voice)
2. Additional This explains further the point made in the topic sentence.
Information (your voice)

3. Evidence These are essential to justify your point. Your evidence

sentences comes from 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 voice)
4. Concluding Again, this sentence links the main thesis of the essay with
sentence the main point of the paragraph. (your voice)

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 Review / edit (final)
Read for content
Read for grammar
Communicate:
Report Read for spelling
Get someone else to read
and comment

Check your unit guide for rubric or guidelines

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 Writing your essay
For more assistance on writing or communicating
your findings, contact a learning skills advisor
in the library
charmaine.botha@monash.edu (011 950 4455)

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