CUC100 Assignment 4

Essay

Task:

For your final assignment, you need to write a 1500-2000 word essay in response to the question below:

The Charles Darwin University graduate attributes identify social responsibility, communication, and teamwork as the skills that make up the core employability attribute of ‘citizenship’.

Reflecting on your current or future workplace, what are the essential components of workplace citizenship? Critically argue the importance of at least three skills or values.

Weight:

50%

Length:

1500 – 2000 words (EXCLUDING reference list and in-text citations/footnotes)

Due:

Midnight, Sunday 19 October (Week 12)

Special instructions:

·         You must support your arguments with in-text citations, and paraphrased excerpts from credible academic sources.

·         You must include at least5 references/academic sources other than the 3 core readings. You can cite and reference the 3 core readings, too. However, at least 5 references should be from your own research.

·         Whether you choose to use the 3 core readings or not, you must have a minimum of6 references. With the above rule, this means that you can have 5 of your own readings plus 1 of the core readings, and this will be sufficient. The 3 core readings plus 3 of your own references to make the 6 will not be sufficient because it breaks the above rule.

·         You must use formal, academic language – i.e., no “I, we, me, you”

 

Submission:

You need to submit your Final Essay with a completed cover sheet in the “Assignment Submission” area of Learnline. You should submit your Final Essay before midnight on Sunday, 20^th October 2013. See also pg. 12 of this Unit Information Guide for advice on extensions and late submission.

For a detailed guide on correctly setting up your Word document for this assignment, check the guidelines for Assignment 4 in the “Assignment Guide” under “Assessments” in the CUC100 Learnline site.

NOTE: If your essay does not sufficiently meet the assessment criteria (see the “Assignment Guide” under “Assessments” in Learnline) – for example if it does not directly respond to the question, or if your referencing is incorrect – your tutor will ask you to resubmit a new version that satisfies the requirements. If you are asked to re-submit, the maximum grade you will be able to achieve is a Pass.

Tips for passing Assignment 4:

·         All of the work in CUC100 is intended to prepare you for your final essay. Assignments 1, 2 and 3 should have helped you to make a strong essay plan. It will help to review what you’ve learned throughout the semester and build on the research and planning that you did for your other assignments.

·         Draw from your textbook. It is an excellent source of information and advice on writing an academic essay. Chapters 1-5, 8, and 10 are especially relevant.

·         Start your research early. You can use the three core readings as references but you will also need to do your own further research. Check the “Research Guide” under “Help and Support” in the CUC100 Learnline site for help with this.

·         Use credible sources for your research and references. This means textbooks from your field, academic and professional journals, and credible websites (i.e., NOT Wikipedia). Check with the liaison librarians if you need further advice on this.

·         DO NOT leave it until the last minute to write your essay. We’re not just telling you this for the sake of it – most of your tutors/lecturers have been guilty of doing this at some stage so we’re speaking from experience. It doesn’t work.

·         Keep your arguments and ideas clearly separated from one another – don’t pack them all into one sentence or paragraph. A clear essay plan (which you should already have from Assignment 3) will help you with this.

·         REFERENCE your supporting research using in-text citations and a completed reference list at the end of your essay. The Research Skills Activity (see the Learning Guide for Week 4 in Learnline) and your Annotated Bibliography should have prepared you for this. You can also check the “Referencing Guide” under “Help and Support” in the CUC100 Learnline site for help with referencing.

·         Indicate on your cover sheet which standard system of referencing you are following (e.g., Harvard, APA, Chicago). We suggest that you use the system most commonly used in your area of study.

·         Before submitting your essay, check the Pre-submission Checklist on the following page to make sure that it meets all of the requirements:

 

Assignment 4: Pre-submission Checklist
Text organisation		ü
Introduction	Does the introduction include: –          an orientation to the topic? –          a clear thesis statement? –          an outline of the key ideas to be covered in the essay?
Body	Are the ideas organised logically into paragraphs which are arranged in an order that reflects the outline and the thesis?
Conclusion	Does the conclusion include: –          the thesis statement, re-stated and qualified if necessary? –          a summary that is clear, captures the key issues, and flows from the body of the paper?
Content		ü
Response to the question	Are the ideas presented relevant and do they provide a comprehensive response to the essay question?
Critical analysis	Is evidence of critical analysis of the issues reflected in: –          the presentation of different viewpoints related to the issues? –          analysis of these?
Language Style	Is the essay written in formal academic style? Does the essay include persuasive language to reinforce the argument?
Sentence Fluency	Is the sentence structure consistently logical and clear with ideas appropriately linked within sentences?
Word choice	Are formal/technical words relating to the issues used?
Grammar	Is the writing is free of grammatical and spelling errors?
Quality of evidence		ü
Research	Are the ideas are supported by a minimum of six different credible and relevant sources?
Referencing	Are in-text references and a reference list provided to support ideas and consistently follow accepted referencing conventions?
Presentation		ü
Word processing conventions	Is the essay presented with correct formatting, line-spacing with headers and footers (with student name, student number, and unit code,?)
University assignment conventions	Does the essay include a cover sheet with the student name, tutor’s name, course, unit code, unit title, date, and the CDU Logo?