SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN

Foundation in Natural and Built Environment (FNBE)

English 1 [ENGL0105 / ELG 30505]
Assignment: Essay Question
LO
Assignment

As per
stated in the
module

Individual work.

25%

Essay

Week 13
27th October,2015

INTRODUCTION

This assignment evaluates academic writing skills for a basic 5-paragraph expository or
argumentative essay. It also evaluates the students ability to research information to support the
arguments proposed in the essay, to cite the sources of information and also to provide a list of
references.
Referencing:
All persons, books and other sources of information are to be referenced in accordance with the
APA Style.
OBJECTIVES OF ESSAY WRITING

The objectives of this project are as follows:

1. Provide practice in basic 5-paragraph essay writing.
2. Provide instructions in basic referencing skills.
3. Provide basic analytical skills for contemporary essays and reading texts.
LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THIS REPORT
The learning outcomes of this assignment are:

1. Write a well-developed and well-organised 5-paragraph expository and argumentative

essay.
2. Apply correct APA style referencing techniques.
3. Analyse contemporary essays and reading texts critically.
Taylors University FNBE - English 1
1|P a g e

P a g e | 1 of 4

TASKS METHODOLOGY
Your tasks are as follows:
1. University education should be restricted to the very best academic students, rather than being
made available to a large proportion of young people Think about the causes and effects of this
statement very carefully and use that as a basis for a cause and effect essay.
2. Write a compare or contrast essay about any two unique buildings of your choice. You need to
choose existing buildings and state their locations.
3. Select an exterior space of your choice. Then, write a process essay to describe the methods
that are involved in designing the landscape for your selected area.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT
1. You are required to answer only ONE question.
2. The word limit for this assignment is 600 to 800 words only.
3. You must research the topic that you choose and write an essay that is informed by
authority.
4. Submissions after 27th October, 2015 will not be entertained.
5. The essay must be typed on A4 paper using font style ARIAL point size 12 with double
spacing.
6. Your essay must be submitted with the following:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

pre-writing
citations within the text supporting your argument (APA referencing format)
a list of references (Works Cited in APA format) attached at the end of your
essay
cover page (follow the attached format)
Turnitin report with a similiarity index of below 20%.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
The assessment for this assignment will be based on:
Your demonstrated understanding of the brief.
The content of the write-upstrength of central idea and relevance to the question.
Clear and coherent organization of ideas and argument.
Ability to use scholarly references to support arguments and ideas.
Grammar and mechanics.
Taylors University FNBE - English 1
2|P a g e

P a g e | 2 of 4

MARKING CRITERIA
Descriptors
Percentage
Prewriting - 10
(per paragraph)

Level 1
40-49%
Lack
supporting
details or
examples
Unity 10
Essay is not
(Structure)
assigned
Intro/Supporting with the
Paragraphs/
topic with
Conclusion
general
introduction
and
conclusion

Level 2
50-59%
One
supporting
detail or
example
2 main
ideas
provided
with general
supporting
ideas with
general
introduction
and
conclusion.

Support 30

Provides
two specific
details.

Provides
general
ideas with
one specific
detail.

Coherence 30 Essays
show little
development
or
relationship
among
ideas.
Sentence skills
20

Compose
simple and
monotonous
sentences.
Serious
errors in
choice of
words and
mechanics.

Uses 2 or
less
transitional
words or
other word
connectors.
Lack of
logical
progression.
Compose
simple
sentences
with
numerous
errors in
mechanics.
Appropriate
choice of

Taylors University FNBE - English 1

3|P a g e

Level 3
60-69%
Two
supporting
details or
examples
3 main
ideas
provided
but they
are loosely
connected.
Introduction
with a
thesis
statement
and a
general
conclusion.
Logical
progression
in ideas. 34specific
details
included.

Level 4
70-79%
3 supporting
details or
examples

Level 5
80% & above
Good and
sequentially
developed

Provided a
thesis statement
with 3 topic
sentences but
each paragraph
contains 2 or
less specific
details. No
recommendation
for the
conclusion.

Well developed
introduction with
a thesis
statement, 3 topic
sentences and 3
specific details for
each paragraphs
and has
recommendations
for the
conclusion.

Logical
progression in
ideas. 5-7
specific details
included.

Uses 3
word
connectors.
Sequence
of idea is
evident.

Uses 4 word
connectors.
Logical
progression of
ideas.

Ideas are clear

and logical.
Provides 8 or
more specific
details with
resource
information.
Shows an indepth
understanding of
topic and
provides
independent
thought.

Compound
sentences
with fewer
errors in
mechanics.
Ability to
use precise
choice of
words.

Complex
sentence
structure and
consistent use
of mechanics.

P a g e | 3 of 4

Free from errors

in sentence
structure, choice
of words and
grammar.

Total
Marks

words.

SUGGESTED REFERENCES
1. Langan, J. (2008). College Writing Skills with Readings. (7th Ed.)New York: McGraw Hill.
2. Terry, M. & Wilson, J. (n.d.) Focus on Academic Skills for IELTS. Longman.

SUGGESTED COVER PAGE / AUTHORSHIP

Should be well designed with the necessary information;
[Name / all in group]
[Id]
[Module]
[Session] August, 2015

Taylors University FNBE - English 1

4|P a g e

P a g e | 4 of 4