Wednesday 6 September 2017

22750 Task


US22750 Version 4: Write a crafted text for a specified audience using researched material in English for an academic purpose
Level 4                                                   6 credits

English for Academic Purposes unit standards are designed to assess a candidate’s readiness to study at undergraduate level.

People credited with this unit standard are able to write a crafted text for a specified audience using researched material in English for an academic purpose.

In this assignment, you will select (in consultation with Ms Quick) a topic or assignment from another subject and develop the essay or report to the standard needed for US22750.

The draft for this assessment is due Monday 18 September.  This draft should be submitted as a google doc, with commenting rights given to Ms Quick.  While you are on study leave, Ms Quick will give you feedback on the draft.  

The final copy of this assessment is due on Friday 29 September (the last day of Term 3).  Your final copy of the assessment should also be submitted as a google doc, with commenting rights for Ms Quick.


PERFORMANCE CRITERIA: You will be assessed against the seven performance criteria as below.  You must meet all of these criteria to achieve this standard.

1.1 Writing addresses and develops the topic in a manner appropriate to audience and academic purpose.

1.2 Ideas are developed and display a broad knowledge base to achieve the purpose of the discussion.

1.3 Text structure has clear overall progression, paragraphing and some effective use of cohesive devices.

1.4 Writing uses a formal style appropriate to the academic context.  Style includes but is not limited to – lexical and grammatical features, and a variety of sentence structures.

1.5 Writing makes consistent use of appropriate lexical and grammatical forms throughout the text.

1.6 Writing integrates source material.  Integration includes but is not limited to direct quotation, paraphrasing, summary, analytical interpretation, synthesis, and informed judgment.

1.7 Source material is acknowledged.  This includes but is not limited to – in-text citation, and a reference list.  Acknowledgment must be in accordance with APA referencing, as per these guidelines.


Guidance Information

1 Candidate is required to write one text of a minimum of 800 words.

2 Candidate’s writing may contain inaccuracies in surface features, but these do not interfere with meaning.

3 Candidate’s writing competence must be assessed after they have been given the opportunity to edit and proofread their work.  Drafting should be submitted to the teacher for general guidance only.  General guidance is to direct a candidate back to given performance criteria.  It is not to identify specific errors of content, grammar, sequence, or discourse.

4 Resource material used by the candidate must be attached to the completed assessment.  All resource material used must be in English language.

5 Definitions
A crafted text refers to an academic writing task, such as – essay, paper, report.
Academic purpose refers to answering a research question which may include but is not limited to – comparing, contrasting, problem solving, discussion, argument.
Broad knowledge base means candidates must have drawn upon source materials of sufficient complexity of content.
Ideas are developed refers to the skills of clarifying and expanding upon ideas, and drawing conclusions e.g. incorporation of theoretical concepts, analytical interpretation, making informed judgments.
Formal style refers to vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure common in academic writing.  It does not usually contain slang, colloquialisms, contractions etc.
Surface features refers to grammatical accuracy, lexical forms, punctuation and spelling.



Additional supporting materials (guidance & an exemplar) have been given out in class.

Wednesday 9 August 2017

Using EPIC

Go to the school website, then to "students," then to "library," and click on "Epic."  Then choose
and use the search function to find an article which is of personal interest to you or is relevant to your study or your future study.

Tuesday 8 August 2017

T3w3 focus on research

Learning objective: to understand the role of research in academic writing
Success criteria:
1. We can define research.
2. We can identify possible topics for study
3. We can describe the key ideas in a text

Two possible topics for our practise research and writing: the advantages and disadvantages of the prison system in New Zealand OR the ideal school system.

We looked together at an article by a US university student Heather Schmitt on her observations on visiting schools in Cuba.

Then we looked at academic language in the article which was challenging, but could be found in many academic articles on different topics:
preconceived
rigorous
consensus
multicultural
acquisition
facet
aptitude

Sunday 23 July 2017

T3w1 focus on equality

Learning objective: to accurately process written texts into key information and supporting information
Success criteria:
1. I can paraphrase with confidence
2. I can identify key information in a text
3. For each piece of key information, I can identify two pieces of supporting information

This week we are looking at equality, and the debates about equality in New Zealand.  This topic will form the basis of our third listening skills assessment, and of our first academic writing project for the term.

Monday is all about identifying the hot topics around equality in New Zealand.  Questions which have provoked a lot of debate about equality in New Zealand in the past include:

  1. Should women have the vote?
  2. Should the terms of the Treaty of Waitangi be respected?
  3. Should religion be part of school education?
  4. Do men and women's sport get equal coverage and sponsorship in New Zealand?
  5. Should it be legal for adults to have consenting sex with their partner of choice?
  6. Should people of all sexual orientations be able to marry?
  7. How should tax money be spent so that people get equal health care no matter where they live in New Zealand?
I have created a table for you to each complete on this.  I have smart-shared this document to your EAP313 folders, and have printed versions for those who prefer to handwrite.

Wednesday 28 June 2017

Dr Rangi Matamua on Matariki


Maori astronomer Dr Rangi Matamua on Matariki.  Please listen to this interview, and make notes, organising your notes according to key information and supporting information.  Then I would like you to write a summary of what you have learnt and explain why this knowledge is special and important in New Zealand.

Wednesday 21 June 2017

Why you should care about whale poo

Learning objective: To use note taking and processing skills to create a review of the TED talk "Why you should care about whale poo"

Success criteria:
1. We can take notes on the key and supporting information in the talk
2. We can identify five examples of specialist vocabulary and define them.
3. We can write a review of the talk

Asha de Vos, Why we should care about whale poo

Guidelines for writing a review
Introduction: name of presenter and title and what the purpose of the talk is.
Paragraph one: Summarise what we learn about whales
Paragraph two: Explain why humans will benefit from whale poo and whale carcasses
Conclusion: how convinced were you by this talk, and why (relevance to you, level of scientific knowledge, quality of evidence, techniques to make you interested)