WUC131/03

Academic Session 2015

First Semester Examination
May / June 2015

Marking Scheme
WUC131/03 Learning Skills for University Studies

Time: 2 Hours

Copyright 2015 WOU

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Part A (40 marks)

Answer ALL questions. Each question carries 10 marks.

1. Describe briefly FOUR (4) forums that you can find in theWawasanlearn.

Forum Explanation Mark allocation

Announcements This forum shows the latest course 1+1.5=2.5m
from the course announcements, course materials and course
coordinator related information that is updated the course
(1 mark) coordinator.

Announcements In this forum, the latest tutorial announcements 5 1+1.5=2.5m

from the tutor and course related information will be updated by
(1 mark) the tutor
Public forum Anyone enrolled in the course can post issues for 6 1+1.5=2.5m
(1 mark) general discussion.

Tutorial forum Students and tutors can communicate with each 7 1+1.5=2.5m
(1 mark)
other and discuss issues like the TMAs and others
specific to a tutorial class.
Tutor contact Tutor posts contact details like the email, 8 1+1.5=2.5m
details(1 mark) telephone numbers and the time slots for
telephone tutoring
Any four of the above
Accept any relevant answer
(4x2.5marks = 10
marks)

2. Identify FIVE (5) services provided by every Regional Centre.

Helps you register for courses and as a student

You can pay your semester and exam fees there
You can get advice and guidance about the choice of your course
You can get information about financial assistance
You can collect your face-to-face timetable
You can collect textbooks if provided

Any five of the above

2 marks per service

Accept any relevant answer

( 5x2marks = 10 marks)
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3. State FIVE (5) advantages of following a regular schedule for your studies.
Advantages Mark allocation
It will help motivate you to stick to your schedule (2 marks)
When you plan and carry out your study in frequent but small, (2 marks)
manageable chunks, it makes your life easier
A study schedule means that you dont waste your time but rather (2 marks)
have time for other commitments
A schedule also helps you to track your progress. You can see (2 marks)
that you have achieved set tasks, completed assignments on time
and made good progress.
If something doesnt get done on a particular day, you are able to (2 marks)
juggle and shift it around using your schedule
(5 x 2 marks = 10 marks)
Accept any relevant answer

4. List FIVE (5) causes of test anxiety.

Not well-prepared
Poor study habits
Poor organisation
Poor time management
Bad experience from previous tests
Studying at the last minute
Afraid you cannot remember
Worried about your past performances in tests
Thinking about the negative consequences of failing
Unrealistic expectations for yourself
Expectations from others especially the family
You feel you need to perform well to please others
You are competing with others-siblings and friends
You cannot understand or master the materials you are studying

Any five of the above

2 marks per cause

Accept any relevant answer

( 5x2marks = 10 marks)
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WUC131/03

Part B (60 marks)

Answer any THREE (3) questions. Each question carries 20 marks.

1. Discuss FIVE (5) ways the digital library can help you in your studies.

Ways Explanation Mark

allocation
You can access it wherever You need not go to the library physically. (1+3=
you are You can visit the library at home, at the 4 marks)
(1 mark) Regional Office or at work, as long as you have
an Internet connection.

(1.5 marks each)

Everyone has access to the
digital libraries
(1 mark)
The digital books are available to everyone. (1+3=4m)
However, most libraries require paid
subscriptions.
But if you are a registered student in an
institution of higher learning (college or
university), you will have automatic access to the
libraries that the institution subscribes to.

(1.5 marks each)

The resources are available at The digital books are always available every (1+3=4m)
all times single minute and second of the day.
(1 mark) You can access them anytime you wish.

(1.5 marks each)

Resources are available The information is always available to you and (1+3=4m)
synchronously or your course mates all over the country
asynchronously synchronously or asynchronously.
(1 mark) This means that all of you can view the book at
the same time, or view it at different times.
So you can view and discuss a particular
chapter of a digital book with another
coursemate in a different state!

Any two points(1.5m each)

It provides a structured You can gain quicker access to much richer (1+3=4m)
approach to locating content in a more structured manner.
information If you have located the book you want from the
(1 mark) catalogue, you can move instantly to the book.
From there, you can go straight to the chapter
or subheading

Any two points(1.5m each)

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It enables easy retrieval of What do you do if you need specific information (1+3=4m)
information on a certain topic and do not know which books
(1 mark) to look for?
Type a word, phrase or a sentence and a list of
results from the entire collection of the library will
be displayed for you to choose from.
Digital libraries can provide very user-friendly
interfaces, giving you instant access to its
resources at a click of your mouse

Any two points(1.5m each)

The books are always well- Regardless of how many times youor other (1+3=4m)
preserved users view the book; they will always be in good
(1 mark) condition not torn, dirty or missing.
Digital books cannot be defaced or damaged.

(1.5 marks each)

You can create your own You can create a virtual bookshelf for yourself. (1+3=4m)
virtual bookshelf Then you can put a book you want to refer to in
(1 mark) future on the bookshelf, or stack it up with
hundreds of books.
You can create your very own digital library and
you need not buy shelves or put up with
restricted storage space.
When your room or house has no space for
extension, you can solve it by digitisation.

Any two points(1.5m each)

You can network What do you do if you cannot find a particular (1+3=4m)
(1 mark) book from one library?
Digital libraries can provide a link to the
resources of other digital libraries very easily.

(1.5 marks each)

Accept any relevant answer

(5 x 4 marks = 20 marks)

2. Describe FIVE (5) guidelines that you can use to check the reliability of information
you can use for your assignment.

Guidelines Elaboration Mark

allocation
Who is the author or If the author is a person, does the resource give (1+3=4m)
institution? biographical information about him such as educational
(1 mark) institutional and other credentials?
If the author is an institution, is there information
provided about it such as the purpose, history as well as
street address?
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(1.5 marks each)

How current is the Is there a date on the web page that indicates when the (1+3=4m)
information? page was placed on the web?
(1 mark) Is it clear when the page was last updated?
Is some/any of the information out-of-date?

Any two points(1.5m each)

Who is the audience? Is the web page intended for the general public,
(1 mark) scholars, practitioners, children etc? Is this clearly (1+3=4m)
stated?
Does the web page meet the needs of its stated
audience?

Any two points(1.5m each)

Is the content accurate Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious or (1+3=4m)
and objective? institutional biases?
(1 mark) Is the content just a brief overview of the information or
an in-depth analysis?
If the information is the authors opinion, is it clearly
stated?
If there is information copied from other sources, is it
acknowledged?

Any two points(1.5m each)

What is the purpose of Is the purpose of the information to inform, explain, (1+3=4m)
the information? advocate a cause etc?
(1 mark) Is the purpose clearly stated?
Does the resource fulfil the stated purpose?

Any two points(1.5m each)

Accept any relevant answer
(5x4marks = 20 marks)

3. Explain FOUR (4) strategies that one can use for answering short-answer and
essay questions.

Strategy Explanation Mark

allocation
Read the Find out how many questions you must answer for each section. (1 + 4 =5m)
instructions Answer only the required number of questions if you are given a
(1 mark) choice to select a certain number of questions.
Dont answer all the questions in a section where there is a choice
as examiners will only mark the first four(if four are required)
Any two of the above( 2 marks each)
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The length Look at the weightage allocated for each section and individual (1 + 4 =5m )
of your question.
answer The number of marks and the length of the answer is dependent
depends on on the weightage given.
the marks
allocated (2 marks each)
(1 mark)

Divide your The time that you spend on the questions is dependent on the (1 + 4 =5m)
time wisely weightage allocated to each section.
(1 mark) If section A has lesser weightage than section B, then more time
should be spent on section B.
It is important that you keep track of the time when you answer
questions for each section

Any two of the above( 2 marks each)

Understand Attention must be paid to the key words in the question so that one (1 + 4 =5m)
what type of know the type of information that is needed.
information An example must be given here. For e.g. the key word describe
you must means to give a full and detailed picture of something in words so
provide that it can be visualized. E.g. Describe how Mr. Ibrahim solved the
(1 mark) problem of indiscipline in his school.

(2 marks each)

Prepare an Based on the key words given, an outline has to be prepared. (1 + 4 =5m)
outline Appropriate key points need to be included
(1 mark) An introduction,body and conclusion must be given.
Appropriate examples must be used to illustrate the points
given.
(2 marks each for any two of the above)

Accept any relevant answer(4x5 marks = 20 marks)

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4. Discuss FOUR (4) types of academic dishonesty.

Type Definition Elaboration Marks

Cheating Using or attempting to use -Getting someone else to do 1+1+3=5
unauthorized materials or your assignment and passing marks
(1 mark)
information to gain an it off as yours
advantage over your fellow -copying someone elses
students. Giving unauthorized assignment/allowing them to
assistanceto others or copy your work
receiving assistance from -Claiming someone else work
unauthorized sources. as your own
(1 mark) -Making use of calculators
when not permitted
-Smuggling notes into the test
centre and referring to them
-Alteration of answers to a
returned test
-Downloading or copying
computer files belonging to
someone else without
permission

Any three of the above (1mark

each)

Fabrication Making up false information or -Making up false quotes, 1+1+3=5

data and then presenting it as statements, data or sources marks
(1 mark)
factual information for your assignment
(1 mark) -Citing a source that was not
used in your assignment
-Alteration or falsification of
records related to your
academic performance

(1 mark each)

Facilitation To make an activity easier by -Providing test answers to 1+1+3=5

getting advice from another student marks
(1 mark)
friends/academic Staff. -Giving or receiving
unauthorized assistance in the
(1 mark) form of copying an assignment
or during an exam
-Not reporting that someone
else copied during an exam.

(1 mark each)
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Plagiarism Intentionally or unintentionally -Not citing the references and 1+1+3=5

using an authors words, sources used marks
(1 mark)
ideas or research without -Using identical structures in
giving credit or acknowledging an authors work without
the author citation and reference
(1 mark) -Paraphrasing and quoting an
authors work without citation
and reference
-Stating facts and research
that are not common
knowledge without proper
citation and reference

Any three of the above(1mark

each)

Accept any relevant answer

(4 x 5 marks = 20 marks)