ASSESSMENT BRIEF
COURSE: Bachelor of Business / Bachelor of Accounting
Unit: Business Communication
Unit Code: BCOM101
Type of Assessment: Assessment 3 – Individual Essay and Self Reflective Summary
Length/Duration: Essay - 1,000 words
Self-reflective feed-forward exercise – 500 words
Course Learning
Outcomes addressed: 2,4,5,7
Unit Learning
Outcomes addressed: 1,2,3,4,5
Submission Date: Essay due Week 7
Self-reflective feed-forward exercise due Week 10
Assessment Task: Part 1 - Essay
Write a persuasive academic essay on one of three given topics related to communication. The essay will be written in accordance with the guidelines for writing academic essays at ALS Essay Writing Handbook.
Part 2 – Self-reflective feed-forward exercise
A self-reflective summary (feed forward exercise) where students reflect on the learning and action to be taken from their essay feedback (500 words).
Total Mark: Essay 100 marks
Self-reflective feed-forward exercise 100 marks
Weighting: Essay 20%
Self-reflective feed-forward exercise 10 %
This is one assessment and both parts must be completed to attain any marks for the assessment.
Students are advised that any submissions past the due date without an approved extension or without approved extenuating circumstances incurs a 5% penalty per calendar day, calculated from the total mark
E.g. a task marked out of 40 will incur a 2 mark penalty per calendar day.
More information, please refer to (Documents Student Policies and Forms POLICY – Assessment Policy
& Procedures– Login Required)
ASSESSMENT DESCRIPTION:
Write an argumentative essay agreeing or disagreeing with one of the statements below:
1. Communication skills are secondary to technical expertise in effective leadership. OR
2. Team diversity has positive impact on the performance of organisations.
OR
3. Negative feedback is considered as criticism and as such it is usually avoided.
Your essay must include:
• At least five peer- reviewed academic reference sources including the prescribed text book, none of which are internet sources, e.g. websites.
• Correct argumentative essay structure. Refer to the Academic Learning Skills student guide on Essay Writing and Dwyer, J 2016 Communication for Business and the Professions, Strategies and Skills, 6th edn, Pearson Education, Australia pp. 611-621. Also refer to the Academic Learning Skills Student Guide on Essay Writing.
• Harvard Australian referencing style for any sources you use. Refer to the Academic Learning Skills student guide on Referencing.
ASSESSMENT SUBMISSION:
This assignment should be submitted online in Moodle.
The assignment MUST be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word format. Other formats may not be readable by markers. Please be aware that any assessments submitted in other formats will be considered LATE and will lose marks until it is presented in Word.
For assistance please speak to our Academic Learning Skills Coordinators, in Sydney (als_syd@kent.edu.au) or in Melbourne (als_mel@kent.edu.au). They can help you with understanding the task, draft checking, structure, referencing and other assignment-related matters.
GENERAL NOTES FOR ASSIGNMENTS [NOT APPLICABLE FOR THIS ASSESSMENT]
Assignments should usually incorporate a formal introduction, main points and conclusion, and will be fully referenced including a reference list.
The work must be fully referenced with in-text citations and a reference list at the end. We strongly recommend you to refer to the Academic Learning Skills materials available in the Moodle. For details please click the link http://moodle.kent.edu.au/kentmoodle/course/view.php?id=5 and download the file “Harvard Referencing Workbook”. Appropriate academic writing and referencing are inevitable academic skills that you must develop and demonstrate.
We recommend a minimum of FIVE references, unless instructed differently by your lecturer. Unless specifically instructed otherwise by your lecturer, any paper with less than FIVE references may be failed. Work that includes sources that are not properly referenced according to the “Harvard Referencing Workbook” will be penalized.
Marks will be deducted for failure to adhere to the word count – as a general rule you may go over or under by 10% than the stated length.
GENERAL NOTES FOR REFERENCING
High quality work must be fully referenced with in-text citations and a reference list at the end. We recommend you work with your Academic Learning Support (ALS) site (http://moodle.kent.edu.au/kentmoodle/course/view.php?id=5) available in Moodle to ensure that you reference correctly.
References are assessed for their quality. You should draw on quality academic sources, such as books, chapters from edited books, journals etc. Your textbook can be used as a reference, but not the lecturer notes. We want to see evidence that you are capable of conducting your own research. Also, in order to help markers determine students’ understanding of the work they cite, all in-text references (not just direct quotes) must include the specific page number/s if shown in the original. Before preparing your assignment or own contribution, please review this ‘YouTube’ video by clicking on the following link: Plagiarism: How to avoid it
PLAGIARISM: HOW TO AVOID IT
You can search for peer-reviewed journal articles, which you can find in the online journal databases and which can be accessed from the library homepage. Wikipedia, online dictionaries and online encyclopaedias are acceptable as a starting point to gain knowledge about a topic, but should not be overused – these should constitute no more than 10% of your total list of references/sources. Additional information and literature can be used where these are produced by legitimate sources, such as government departments, research institutes such as the NHMRC, or international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO). Legitimate organisations and government departments produce peer reviewed reports and articles and are therefore very useful and mostly very current. The content of the following link explains why it is not acceptable to use non-peer reviewed websites: Why can't I just Google? (thanks to La Trobe University for this video).
MARKING GUIDE (RUBRIC): ESSAY
Marking Criteria. Fail (0-9.9) Pass (10-12.5) Credit (13-14.5) Distinction (15-16.5) High Distinction (17-20)
Research
/20 Little evidence of research. Sources are missing, inappropriate, poorly integrated or lacking credibility. Lacks clear link of sources with
essay. No in text citations
A minimum of 5 academic sources. Basic use of sources to support ideas, generally well integrated, most sources are credible. May be weaknesses with paraphrasing or integration /application. Research is generally thorough. Good use of sources to support ideas, mostly well integrated, sources are credible. May be weaknesses with paraphrasing or integration/ application. Thorough research is indicated. Very good use of sources to support ideas, well integrated, sources are credible. May be minor weaknesses with paraphrasing or integration/application. Thorough research is indicated. Professional use of sources to support ideas, well integrated, sources are credible. Very minor, if any, weaknesses with paraphrasing or integration/application.
Information /
Content
/20
Essay lacks coherence; topic is poorly addressed; little analysis.
Essay is generally coherent; topic is addressed; analyses in reasonable depth with some description. There are some inconsistencies and weaknesses with flow. Essay is coherent and flows well; topic is addressed quite thoroughly; analyses in considerable depth. There may be some inconsistencies and weaknesses with flow. Essay is very coherent and flows well; topic is addressed thoroughly; analyses in depth. There may be minor inconsistencies and weakness with flow. Professional work. Essay is very coherent and flows well; topic is addressed thoroughly; analyses in great depth. Very minor, if any, inconsistencies and weaknesses with flow.
Structure
/20 Topic, concepts and thesis are not clear in introduction. Material in the body is generally poorly sequenced. No discernible conclusion; no links to introduction. Topic, concepts and thesis are stated with some clarity in introduction. Material in body is generally logically sequenced; some weaknesses. Conclusion does not clearly summarise essay; links to introduction are not clear. Topic, concepts and thesis are clearly conveyed in introduction. Material in body is logically and clearly sequenced; few or minor weaknesses. Conclusion summarises essay; may be some weaknesses; generally clear links to intro. Topic, concepts and thesis are clearly outlined in introduction. Material in body is logically and clearly sequenced; very few or minor weaknesses. Conclusion mostly effectively summarises essay; with recommendations and clear links to introduction. Topic, concepts are clearly outlined in introduction. Material in body is logically and clearly sequenced; very minor, if any, weaknesses. Conclusion effectively summarises essay; with recommendations and clear links to introduction.
Language/
Presentation
/20 Poor standard of writing. Word limit may not be adhered to. Incorrect format (e.g. includes Table of contents; bullet points; graphs etc.) A minimum of 1000 words. Basic and sound standard of writing; some errors in punctuation, grammar and spelling. Inconsistencies with the formatting. Good standard of writing; few errors in punctuation, grammar and spelling. Almost correct format. Very good standard of writing; very few or minor errors in punctuation, grammar and spelling. Correct formatting. Professional standard of writing; no errors in punctuation, grammar and spelling. Correct formatting.
Referencing
/20 No referencing is evident or, if done, is inconsistent and technically incorrect. No or minimal reference list, mixed styles. No in text citations Basic and sound attempt to reference sources; may be some inconsistencies and technical errors in style. Reference list is generally complete with 1 or 2 references missing. Good attempt to reference sources; inconsistencies and technical errors in style. Few inaccuracies in reference list and all references listed.
Very good attempt to reference sources; very minor inconsistencies and technical errors in style. Thorough and consistent reference list and all references listed.
Professional level of referencing and acknowledgment; no errors of style evident. Thorough and consistent reference list and all references listed.
Total /100
Kent Institute Australia Pty. Ltd.
Assessment Brief ABN 49 003 577 302 CRICOS Code: 00161E RTO Code: 90458
Version 1: 22nd December, 2016 TEQSA Provider Number: PRV12051
MARKING GUIDE (RUBRIC): SELF REFLECTIVE FEEDFORWARD EXERCISE
Categories Detail Score Comments
Interpretation of the feedback received.
Clearly and accurately describes and interprets the feedback given both written, in the essay ( in-text comments ) and through the rubric. 20
Self-disclosure
Seeks to understand the feedback by examining openly your own experiences in the past as they relate to the topic, to illustrate points you are making. 20
Strategies to use the feedback in the future
Synthesize the feedback and their reflection upon it to develop strategies to improve their essay writing in the future 50
Writing Skills
Cohesiveness, articulation of thoughts, evidences of work, presentation, spelling or grammar errors. 10
Total Score 100
GENERAL NOTES FOR ASSIGNMENTS
Assignments should usually incorporate a formal introduction, main points and conclusion, and will be fully referenced including a reference list.
The work must be fully referenced with in-text citations and a reference list at the end. We strongly recommend you to refer to the Academic Learning Skills materials available in the Moodle. For details please click the link http://moodle.kent.edu.au/kentmoodle/course/view.php?id=5and download the file “Harvard Referencing Workbook”.Appropriate academic writing and referencing are inevitable academic skillsthat you must develop and demonstrate.
We recommend a minimum of FIVE references, unless instructed differently by your lecturer. Unless specifically instructed otherwise by your lecturer, any paper with less than FIVE references may be failed. Work that includes sources that are not properly referenced according to the “Harvard Referencing Workbook” will be penalised.
Marks will be deducted for failure to adhere to the word count – as a general rule you may go over or under by 10% than the stated length.
GENERAL NOTES FOR REFERENCING
High quality work must be fully referenced with in-text citations and a reference list at the end. We recommend you work with your Academic Learning Support (ALS) site (http://moodle.kent.edu.au/kentmoodle/course/view.php?id=5) available in Moodle to ensure that you reference correctly.
References are assessed for their quality. You should draw on quality academic sources, such as books, chapters from edited books, journals etc. Your textbook can be used as a reference, but not the lecturer notes. We want to see evidence that you are capable of conducting your own research. Also, in order to help markers determine students’ understanding of the work they cite, all in-text references (not just direct quotes) must include the specific page number/s if shown in the original.
Kent Institute Australia Pty. Ltd.
Assessment Brief ABN 49 003 577 302 CRICOS Code: 00161E RTO Code: 90458 Version 1: 22nd December, 2016 TEQSA Provider Number: PRV12051
Before preparing your assignment or own contribution, please review this ‘YouTube’ video by clicking on the following link:Plagiarism: How to avoid it
PLAGIARISM: HOW TO AVOID IT
You can search for peer-reviewed journal articles, which you can find in the online journal databases and which can be accessed from the library homepage. Wikipedia, online dictionaries and online encyclopaedias are acceptable as a starting point to gain knowledge about a topic, but should not be overused – these should constitute no more than 10% of your total list of references/sources. Additional information and literature can be used where these are produced by legitimate sources, such as government departments, research institutes such as the NHMRC, or international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO). Legitimate organisations and government departments produce peer reviewed reports and articles and are therefore very useful and mostly very current. The content of the following link explains why it is not acceptable to use nonpeer reviewed websites: Why can't I just Google? (thanks to La Trobe University for this video).
Kent Institute Australia Pty. Ltd.
Assessment Brief ABN 49 003 577 302 CRICOS Code: 00161E RTO Code: 90458 Version 1: 22nd December, 2016 TEQSA Provider Number: PRV12051