ASSIGNMENT

OUMH1203
ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
MAY 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 : 26th July 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 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
There is a long debate on freedom of speech in many societies for many years.
As example, during the political restructuring of Malaysian government and the worldwide
pandemic Covid-19 situation, several Malaysians are allegedly promoting the issue of
freedom of speech in a negative way. There are few cases of misusing the social media on
this issue as well.

To what extent do you agree with the scenario above? Discuss this issue comprehensively.
Give suggestions on how to approve or disapprove freedom of speech through social media.
You must be aware of sensitive issues if you are discussing politics.

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.
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:

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 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 / MAY 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: freedom of
speech in Malaysia Ideas are very
comprehensive, coherent
and organised logically.
2 Content: 2.5 Full and rich development
Discussion on the of the content.
issue of using
social media for Main points are relevant
freedom of speech and extended satisfactorily and extended adequately
and the offering of with the support of
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.
Clear and complete
development of content.
Main points are relevant
with the support of relevant
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 writing
writing. Organisation of ideas assignment.
lacks clarity and may lead
Ideas may not be arranged to confusion.
logically and coherently.
Development of content is Development of content Off - topic for
adequate. is limited, may be the most part. 10
incomplete or unclear.
Some main points may not
be fully extended; Most main points are not
supporting details may not fully extended, serious
 some suggestions relevant details.
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 All the references are
effectively used, correctly
cited and correctly listed
in the reference list
according to APA style.
Total 15
*QN = Question Number
details. be relevant or adequate. lack of supporting details.
Good suggestions Moderate suggestions Lack of 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.
Most of the references are References are References are References are 6
effectively used, correctly sometimes not effectively inappropriately/unclearl not
cited and correctly listed in used, and/or correctly y incorporated. incorporated or
the reference list according cited and/or correctly incorporated
to APA style. listed in the reference list inappropriately.
according to APA style.
60