HOW TO WRITE YOUR

Dr.Chandima Bogahawatta(PhD),

ASSIGNMENT WRITING
The assignments you will undertake in university will require you to write in a well structured way. Nearly all forms of writing require the structure of beginning (introduction), middle (main body), and end (conclusion). Use this guide to learn how to structure your writing so that it makes sense in the most effective way.

1. 2. 3 4

Get the assignment topic questions.

Analyze the questions

Make research through internets, books or lecturers. Write up your assignment

ANALYZE THE QUESTION

Break the question down. Underline and note keywords. Look in a dictionary if need be. Possibly rewrite the title in your own words to aid understanding. If in any doubt of the meaning of words ask!

GATHER MATERIAL
Investigate all likely sources, books, articles Use best keywords for your internet search Use GOOGLE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Number 1 2 4 5

1. INTRODUCTION 2. BODY 2.1 Point A 2.2 Point B 2.3 Point C

2.4 Point D
2.5 Point E 3. CONCLUSION 4. BIBLIOGRAPHY

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8 9 10

ASSIGNMENT STRUCTURE
1. 2.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
MAIN BODY CONCLUSION

3.
4. 5.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. INTRODUCTION (1 Page)
Say what the essay is about - explain the question and outline the scope (what the essay will cover) Define any key terms. A good introduction will give the reader a clear indication of what the piece will contain (i.e. what will follow in the main body and conclusion). Written well, the introduction will make the reader want to read on.

Intro
Be sure to point out the main areas that will follow in the main body of the assignment. For example, in the last paragraph of your introduction state: In this assignment, I will discuss five factors..... This assignment is structured as follows..... There are six factors on how to be a good leader discusses in this assignment which are..........................

2. BODY OF THE ASSIGNMENT (7 Pages)

The body of an assignment normally consists of sections which are organized as sub heading. When you change topic/section start a new sub-heading too. Make sure you include adequate points/factors/concepts depends on topic given. (Example 5 points) Avoid a cut and paste essay. Always include your own evaluation and explanation. Also provide more examples to show your in depth understanding about the topic. Make sure your contents are written in a good paragraph structure, smooth sentences structure and has flow . Also careful with your grammar.

3. CONCLUSION (1 Page)
Summarize your main points. Give your own comment. Use your conclusion to check your answer to the question. A conclusion can be a good way to check your assignment. If you have summarized your main points, and these come together to fully address the question, then you should have a good assignment!

4. REFERENCE/BIBLIOGRAPHY (1 Page)
Your references maybe from books or internet. If from book, you should mention Author, Title, Publisher, Year Example: Bell, Stewart, Aviation Weather, New York, Wiley, 2005. If from internet, make sure you write full address link with the Title, Example: Essay Writing: The Basics, http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/essay1.html/20 13.05.26

PLAGIARISM
To avoid plagiarism, you must give credit whenever you use the information you get from the internet.
It has been found that people tend to make inferences about the speaker based on his or her accent (Bloggs 1998). As Smith (2000) has argued, we should not discriminate based on accent.

TIPS ON FORMAT
Numbering the pages and make sure according to your TOC. Numbering and bold the Heading/Sub Heading Use Justify tool to align the whole body text Bold and Italic any important/special word and terminology Use Table when necessary (Example: To make a comparison) No point/bullet format (All in Essay Form) Caption/naming the figure Explain the figure in text (Example: Figure 1 shows the aircraft de-icing process) Make use font types and size consistent (same)

YOUR ASSIGNMENTS MUST

Not more than 10 pages 1 line spacing Have Table of content& Bibliography (Full address link) Be handed before due date. **Any Delay: 1 mark off per day. Include the AMC format pages in front. Plagiarised (Copy) will be awarded 0 marks. Note: your maximum assignment score is 20 marks.

LECTURERS

ASSIGNMENT MARKING SCHEME

Item 1 Adequate definition or understanding of topic or issue. 2 Adequate of principles and concepts provided related to topic. 3 In-depth application (or knowledge or arguments) and relevant conclusion of principles and concepts. 4 Overall own paragraph structure and logical flow (not cut and paste) 5 Overall grammar and sentence structures 20% Max Scores 2 4 10/10

Referencing (HARVARD)

Referencing
(HARVARD)
How To Use The Harvard Style Of Referencing

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Referencing
(HARVARD)

Demonstrate use of the Harvard system of

referencing.
The Why, What, How of referencing.

Understand the guidelines for the submission

of written work.

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Referencing
(HARVARD)

Quote from the Student Handbook: A reference list must be provided, using the Harvard referencing system
DoHS student handbook 2001/2002 Appendix G page 45.

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Referencing
(HARVARD)

Why?
Acknowledge debts to other writers. Demonstrate the body of knowledge upon
which your assignment is based.

Enable the reader(s) to locate your sources

easily.

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Referencing Conventions
(HARVARD)

What ?

Citing/Citation
The way that (you) the writer refer to texts that you wish to include in
your work example to follow.
database search.

Can also be all of the information retrieved from a bibliographical

References
an alphabetical list describing each source that you have used.

Bibliography
a list of material you have used for information or inspiration but have
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not referred to directly in the text.

A paraphrase is...
your own rendition of essential information

and ideas expressed by someone else, presented in a new form. one legitimate way (when accompanied by accurate documentation) to borrow from a source. a more detailed restatement than a summary, which focuses concisely on a single main idea.
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Method of citation
Mention author(s)
Date of publication

Cole and Kelsey (2003) conclude that.

According to Cole (2001 p 25) the evidence suggests these systems will not continue unless
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Referencing Conventions
(HARVARD)

How ?
Book Reference: Author(s),. (Date) Title. Edition. Place: Publisher.

Nicklin, P., and Kenworthy, N. eds.,

Teaching and Assessing in Nursing Practice. London: Baillire Tindall.

(2000)
3rd ed.

Journal Reference: Nicklin, P. (2001) Safety Conscious. 5 (5), 24-25.

Health Management.
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Referencing Conventions
(HARVARD)

How to do it

prepare citation in text (check spelling and

date!)

Write the reference (or a prompt note) and

insert (alphabetically) into reference page

when proof reading check each citation in the

reference list

keep your references for re-cycling

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Referencing Exercise

Practice at writing references

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Referencing Exercise
Journal:
Author Surname, Author Initial. (Date) Article title. Journal Title, Volume (part), pages.

Burnham, J.F.(1994) Information management education for students in the health care professions: a coordinated, integrated plan. Medical Reference Services Quarterly. 13(2):45-62.

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Referencing Exercise
Journal:
Author Surname, Author Initial(s). (Date) Article title. Journal Title, Volume (part), pages.

Blythe, J., and Royle, J.A. (1993) Assessing nurses' information needs in the work environment. Bulletin of the Medical Library Association. 81(4), p433-5.

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Referencing Exercise
Journal - Online:
Author Surname, Author Initial. (Date) Article title. [format] Journal Title, Place of Publication: Publisher: Available at: <URL> [ Accessed Date].
Drury, R.M. (1997) Considerations in planning a computer learning lab for nursing students. [online] On-Line Journal of Nursing Informatics. Available at: http://cac.psu.edu/~dxm12/OJNI.html [Accessed 25 March 2003]
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Referencing Exercise
Journal:
Author Surname, Author Initial. (Date) Article title. Journal Title, Volume (part), pages.

Birx, E., Castleberry, K. and Perry, K. (1996) Integration of laptop computer technology into an undergraduate nursing course. Computers in Nursing. 14(2), p108-12.

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