Step Up for International Students -2011

Student Development International

Assignment types, academic

language, referencing and plagiarism.
Presented by The Learning Centre
 Essays
Reports
Presentations
Critical reviews
Annotated bibliography
Exams
and many more....
The Essay
The essay presents an answer to the essay
question.
The answer is an argument you formulate

after researching the topic.

Your argument has to contain evidence

(support from academic sources)

The essay contains the Introduction, Body and
Conclusion but usually no visuals.
Reports
Reports are usually written on a given topic (
you may need to follow a brief or form your
own research questions)

Reports often contain visuals: graphs, pictures,

tables

Reports have a very clear structure with

headings, page numbering etc
Presentations
A formal talk on a topic ( 5 to 30 mins)
Similar to the essay: has introduction, body and
conclusion
Make it concise and focused

Prepare informative visuals: slides or OHTs

Rehearse at least 3 times

Critical Review
You need to summarise and evaluate a text (
usually set by the lecturer). It has the following
structure:
Introduction

Summary

Critique

Conclusion

References
Annotated Bibliography
Presents a concise review of the research in
your field.
It contains a summary of each source

It contains your evaluation of each source

It contains your insights/ ideas arising from

reading each source
Often used by researchers to keep track of
large amounts of reading
Exams
Multiple choice

Essay Exams

Open book

Check what type of exam questions a month

before the exams
Features of Academic Language
Use Full forms of words:
Incorrect Correct
werent were not
shes she is
dont do not
cant cannot
Use Academic Vocabulary
Non-academic Academic
go up increase
set up establish
cut down reduce
get rid of eliminate
look into investigate
Use Transition Signals

Between Sentences
Within a Sentence

while furthermore

whereas however

although as a result

despite the fact that in contrast

because for example

Use Tentative Language when ideas
are not proven or hypothesising
It may be
It is possible

It is likely

Probably

One might say

It is almost certain that

Common Forms of Plagiarism
Downloading an assignment from an online source and submitting it
as your own work.
Copying a section of a book or an article and submitting it as your
own work.
Quoting from a source 'word for word', without using quotation
marks is plagiarism.
Copying, cutting and pasting text from an electronic source and
submitting it as your own work.
Using the words of someone else and presenting them as your own.
Using significant ideas from someone else and presenting them as
your own.
Copying the written expressions of someone else without proper
acknowledgement.
Relying too much on other people's material
How Can I Avoid Plagiarising?
Take clear and useful notes
Collect all the required bibliographic
information
Limit your use of quotations

Try to write as much in your own words but still

reference the source of information
Think about what the information means and
how you can use it in your report
What happens if I plagiarise?
It is considered academic misconduct, it is
serious.
You may get a warning initially.

Assignments can be failed.

Repeated evidence of plagiarism can mean

you fail a course.

In some cases you can be expelled from uni.

For more examples & explanation see:

http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism/index.html
 Why Do We Reference?

A way of showing how you know something. (This

requires sources being mentioned in the body of
the text and at the end of the text.)
Gives credit where it is due.
Avoids plagiarism (ie: presenting other peoples
ideas and information as your own).
Shows the depth and relevance of your
research.
If you use your sources well, you can show that
you understand the information.
How Do We Reference?
1.In-text referencing Harvard Style

Surname and year of publication

(Smith, 1998)
Smith (1998)
Note: INCLUDE PAGE NUMBER IF INFORMATION IS ON A SPECIFIC PAGE
Based on Snooks and Co(2002), Style manual for authors editors and printers (6 edn.), John Wiley
and Sons,Australia.
 Summarising, Paraphrasing and
Integrating Sources
Smart Car Technology Heading Topic sentence
Technological developments are greatly improving the entertainment,
communication and safety systems available in vehicles. These
systems include: Internet access for entertainment, services,
communication , navigation or emergency assistance (Bretz 2001) , Sources
and on board sensors that allow adaptive cruise control (ACC) for
collision avoidance (Jones 2001). Because these systems are at a
microprocessor and software level, cars can also be customised in
their engine systems specifications (Whitehorn-Umphres 2001). As
fantastic and promising as these systems may appear some authors Synthesise sources
warn of the dangers of increasing visual and mental distractions that
these systems will create for drivers (Bretz 2001, Curry 2001).
Ultimately ACC systems that are designed to avoid crashes seem to
be the best mechanism for overcoming the distractions that many
new interfaces will pose for drivers. Therefore, it is essential that ACC
is increasingly available along with other smart car features. Concluding opinion
This section will now explain the interfaces for in car internet access,
customising of engine systems and adaptive cruise control
Link sections
Quotations

Introduce quotation smoothly and appropriately.

The grammar linking all parts of the sentence must be
correct .
Inverted commas around the exact words.
Author Year Page !

Check punctuation and spelling!

Smith (1999) defines the global market as blah,
blah, blah (p.271).
 Examples
Of Quotations
Author focus

Gardener (1980) describes it as "above all, an

architectural experience" (p.23).
Idea focus

The Pantheon has been described as "above all, an

architectural experience" (Gardener 1980, p.23).
How Do I make a Reference List?
Sort all sources alphabetically by authors
surnames (Harvard & APA Style)
Be consistent in sequencing all elements of
each reference list entry. E.g. follow the
Harvard style guide
Eg: Surname, Initial, Year, Title, Publishing
details
References Heading new page

Beder, S 1998, The new engineer: management and professional

responsibility in a changing world, Macmillan Education Australia,
Book
South Yarra.

Harber, M (ed) 1993, Manual on scientific writing, TAFE Publications, Edited Book
Victoria.

Hesketh, T, Jiang, YA, Clements, DJ, Butler, DH & van der Laan, R
Journal Article
1998, 'Controller design for hot strip finishing mills', IEEE Transactions
on Control Systems Technology vol.6, no.2, pp208-218.

Johnston,S, Gostelow, P, Jones, E & Fourikis, R 1995, Engineering and Multiple Authors
society: an Australian perspective, Longman, Australia.

Riezenman, M 1998, Engineering the EV future in IEEE Spectrum, November

1998, pp35 38, viewed 20 August 2002, Online Journal
http://www.spectrum.ig/spectrum/nov98/features/int.html
To avoid Plagiarising
Record all bibliographic details at the research
stage
Take accurate and clear notes

Try to put info. in your own words as much as

possible and always reference the source
Use sources to support your points/opinions

Use style guides and be consistent

Need more ?
Learning Centre resources:
http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/olib.html
Learning Centre services:

http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au
OWeek Workshops- My Start & Restart:
https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/start/index.html