ASSIGNMENT

OUMH1203
ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
SEPTEMBER 2020 SEMESTER

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION

1. Answer in English.

2. Number of words: 2500 – 3000 words excluding references.

3. Submit your assignment ONCE only in a SINGLE file.

4. Submit your assignment ONLINE.

5. Submission date : 15 NOVEMBER 2020

6. This assignment accounts for 60% of the total marks for the course.

1
 ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

This assignment is intended to give you practice in academic writing. It requires you to refer
to materials/ articles (minimum, 3 articles) and include relevant ideas and quotes in your
essay. You are also required to acknowledge ideas and concepts from sources that are
included in your writing.

TOPIC
The disadvantages of social media have long been the topic of debate. People argue that
that social media has not only affected communication but also contributed to crime rates.
As example, several Internationals were allegedly using the social media to scam Malaysians
for money. There were also several fraud schemes by notorious Malaysians which lead to a
lot of victims losing thousands of savings. It seems that the use of social media has bring
more harm than good.

Persuade your readers on your stand of the issue above. Elaborate comprehensively with
convincing techniques and relate with personal examples.
Additionally, give suggestions on how to safeguard oneself from falling into the scam/fraud
schemes.

TASK

For this assignment, you need to:

i. Prepare an outline for your essay (must be submitted before the essay - in one
document as the essay).
ii. Write an essay and discuss the issue(s) related to the above topic and give reasons
for your suggestions / opinions.

Note:
1. Write your own outline and essay, and avoid plagiarism.
2. The content of the essay must be written based on the essay outline that you have
prepared. Refer to the sequenced and numbered outline format stated on page 27
(3.1 Planning to Write Essays) of the OUMH1203 module and refer to the attached
sample outline format.

2
 3. Support your discussion with evidence drawn from a review of current and related
literature (2014 – 2020). Use the APA format for in - text citations and the reference
list. There are many website and videos on APA referencing, this is one example:
https://youtu.be/bYk86hC9GzE
4. Refer to the assignment rubrics as a guide to achieve cohesion and coherence.

[Total: 60 marks]

SAMPLE OUTLINE FORMAT

Title of Essay

Introduction
- Introduction to the topic
- One Thesis Statement

I. Topic Sentence 1
A. Supporting Detail
i. Example
a) Sub-example (if any)

II. Topic Sentence 2 (same structure for Topic Sentence 3 and so on)
A. Supporting Detail
i. Example
a) Sub-example (if any)

III. Conclusion
-The conclusion of the essay

3

OUMH1203 ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION / SEPTEMBER 2020
Excellent
QN CLO Criteria Weight
4 3
1 Essay Outline 2.5 Correct and accurate
format.
Details are placed in a
logical order and the way
they are presented
effectively makes the
outline very interesting.
1 Introduction 2 The introduction very
clearly states the thesis
statement and previews
the structure of the
paper.
2 Content: 2.5 Fully addresses all aspects
Discussion on the of the writing assignment.
issue: social media
brings more harm Ideas are very
than good comprehensive, coherent
(scam/fraud/crime and organised logically.
) logically and coherently.
Personal examples are
very relevant and
sufficiently elaborated
2 Content: 2.5 Full and rich development
Persuasive of the content.
techniques and
ASSIGNMENT RUBRICS
Good
Parts of the format are
correct.
Details are placed in a
logical order, but the way in
which they are presented
sometimes makes the
outline less interesting.
The introduction clearly
states the thesis statement
and previews the structure
of the paper.
Adequately addresses the
writing assignment.
Some ideas may not be
arranged logically and
coherently.
Personal examples are
relevant and elaborated
Clear and complete
development of content.
4
ATTACHMENT
Unsatisfactory
Fair Poor Or
Max
No response
Marks
2 1 0
The content and the Outline is poorly written No proper use 10
organisation of ideas in and the format is wrong. of outline
the outline are weak. The format.
format is wrong. Many details are not in a
logical or expected
Some details are not in a order. The outline is
logical or expected order, unorganised.
and this distracts the
organisation of the
outline.
The introduction states There is no clear Introduction 8
the thesis statement, but introduction of the main presents no
does not adequately topic or structure of the purpose.
preview the structure of paper.
the paper.
Generally writes about the Some attempt to address A weak attempt 10
topic but with a few the writing assignment. at addressing
digressions in parts of the the written
writing. Organisation of ideas assignment.
lacks clarity and may lead
Ideas may not be arranged to confusion.
Lack of personal
Personal examples are examples
moderately written.
Development of content is Development of content Off - topic for
adequate. is limited, may be the most part. 10
incomplete or unclear.
 devices and the Main points are very
offering of some convincing and extended
suggestions very persuasively with the
support of relevant details.
Excellent use of persuasive Good use of persuasive
techniques and devices. techniques and devices.
Comprehensive and well
discussed suggestions
1 Conclusion 2 Conclusion skillfully
reinforces thesis and gives
closure to essay.
1 Language/ 2 Sentence style fits the
Sentence Skills paper’s purpose.
Sentences are varied, yet
clearly structured and
carefully focused.
Language is excellent with
hardly any error in
grammar, lexical choice
and punctuation.
2 References 1.5 A reference of more than
3 relevant articles.
All the references are
effectively used, correctly
Main points are quite Some main points may not Not a
convincing and extended be fully convincing; Most main points are not persuasive
adequately with the support supporting details may not convincing, serious lack essay.
of relevant details. be relevant or adequate. of supporting details.
A moderate use of Lack of persuasive
persuasive techniques and techniques and lack of
devices. suggestions.
Good suggestions
Moderate suggestions
given.
The conclusion is The conclusion is Conclusion is weak. Conclusion is 8
recognizable and ties up recognizable, but does out of topic /
almost all the loose ends. not tie up several loose unrecognisable.
ends.
Sentences are generally Sentence structures are Contains several Contains many 8
clear, well structured, generally correct, but awkward or awkward
focused, though some may sentences may be wordy ungrammatical sentences.
be awkward or ineffective. or repetitive. sentences. Sentence Displays general
structure is simple or inability in
Language is satisfactory Frequent errors in monotonous. writing
with some errors in grammar, lexical choice grammatical/m
grammar, lexical choice and and punctuation, which Very frequent errors in eaningful
punctuation, which do not may impede grammar, lexical choice sentences.
seriously impede understanding and and punctuation that
understanding and clarity. clarity. seriously impair Errors in
understanding and grammar,
clarity. lexical choice
and punctuation
are too
frequent and
severe, making
it highly difficult
to understand
the message.
A reference of 3 relevant A reference of 3 articles, A reference of LESS than No articles used 6
articles. but not necessarily 3 articles, but not as reference.
relevant. necessarily relevant.
Most of the references are References are
effectively used, correctly References are References are not
5
 cited and correctly listed cited and correctly listed in sometimes not effectively inappropriately/unclearl incorporated or
in the reference list the reference list according used, and/or correctly y incorporated. incorporated
according to APA style. to APA style. cited and/or correctly inappropriately.
listed in the reference list
according to APA style.

Total 15 60
*QN = Question Number