help! what does my assignment question...

Help! What does my assignment question

mean ?

Webinar Presentation

How to use this recording

• Watch

• Pause to do activities

• Slides: http://tinyurl.com/slideswebinar

Understanding your assignment question

The goals of this webinar are to:

• Understand the different parts of an assignment question

• Learn how to answer different question types

• Use the marking criteria as a guide for your assignment

Why is understanding the question so vital?

Careful task analysis will help you:

• Research and read on the correct topic

• Answer the question appropriately

• Pass the assignment!!!

Quiz: My experience answering questions in writing

A. I have a lot of experience answering complex questions in writing through work or study

B. I have some experience writing to answer complex questions

C. I don’t have much experience writing answers to complex questions, or not for a long time

D. I haven’t ever really answered complex questions in written form

Analysing the question

Instruction/task Topic

Discuss the effects of the internet on tertiary education.

Limiting words

Parts of an assignment question

1. The instruction words (sometimes called task descriptors) tell you the

approach you need to take in your answer

2. The general topic words tell you what the general topic is

3. The limiting words narrow down the topic so you know what part of the

general topic to focus on

Identify the three elements of the question

Communication is an essential component of nursing. Explain how good verbal and written communication skills allow nurses to provide proper and safe care for their patients (HSA).

Discuss the influence of popular music personalities on gender role modelling (ACAP).

Choosing one illicit substance and examine the effects that wider factors have had on use trends of this drug throughout this period (NCPS).

Have a list of ‘Task Words’ on hand

Instruction words: Match the words to their meanings

Task descriptor What to do in your essay

Decide the value of, judge, measure the importance of.

Set two or more things in opposition and explain the differences. Indicate whether the differences are significant.

Thinking deeply about a topic, analyse your own beliefs and values to gain understanding of a topic

Consider and interpret a topic from different points of view - considering all angles. Present your position on the topic.

Give the exact words used – word for word

Instruction words:

Contrast, Reflect, Verbatim examples, Discuss, Assess

Other important words

Concept:

an important idea

Criteria:

the standards

Factor:

Circumstances bringing about a

result

Significance:

meaning and importance

Role: what part it plays

Example question 1: Instruction word

Write an essay discussing this statement:

Indigenous culture in Australia has been systematically broken down since white settlement.

The instruction word for this question is:

A) Assess

B) Discuss

C) Evaluate

D) Communicate

Example question 1: General topic and limited topic

Write an essay discussing this statement

Indigenous culture in Australia has been systematically broken down since white settlement.

What are the general topic words?

What are the limiting words?

Example: General topic and limited topic

Write an essay discussing this statement

Indigenous culture in Australia has been systematically broken down since white settlement.

What is the general topic?

Australian Indigenous culture and breakdown

What is the limited topic?

since white settlement

Example question 2

Cognitive and emotional intelligence are considered to be important individual differences in the field of organisational behaviour.

Write an essay critically evaluating these concepts, and discuss how cognitive ability

and emotional intelligence can be applied in modern organisations.

The instruction words for this question are:

A) Reflect and discuss

B) Consider and evaluate

C) Differentiate and evaluate

D) Critically evaluate and discuss

Example question 2: General topic and limited topic

Cognitive and emotional intelligence are considered to be important individual differences in the field of organisational behaviour.

Write an essay critically evaluating these concepts, and discuss how cognitive

ability and emotional intelligence can be applied in modern organisations.

What is the general topic?

What are the limiting words?

Brainstorming

Prepare a scaffold

Finding your assignment information on your class space

Assignment question from Organisational Behaviour

Marking criteria continued

Marking criteria continued

Using the assignment question

Keep the assignment question and marking criteria next to you when you are researching.

Check the assignment question regularly when you are writing. Don’t go off track!

In the introduction to your essay, refer directly to the assignment question and give your answer to it.

In the conclusion to your essay, summarise and comment on what you have written in your assignment AND refer directly back to the assignment question and give your answer to it.

More help and information: http://learningsupport.acap.edu.au

In particular, the section on Assessment Writing

More resources

Task word lists

http://www.student.uwa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/19296

85/List_of_common_task_words.pdf

https://student.unsw.edu.au/glossary-task-words

Webinar slides: http://tinyurl.com/slideswebinar

Contact the Learning Support Team: Sydney and online students contact:

(02) 9964 6320 /http://sls.navitas-professional.edu.au/

Melbourne and Adelaide students contact:

(03) 8613 0626 /http://sls.navitas-professional.edu.au/

Brisbane students contact:

(07) 3234 4405 /http://sls.navitas-professional.edu.au/