UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 PORTFOLIO EXAMINATION PAPER

First Examiner: Dr T Nkhobo & Dr K Sevnarayan
Second Examiner(s): Dr C Mpanza, Ms T Ntsopi, Mr R Baloyi, Mr N Mohale, &
Dr V Pfeiffer

ENG1503

Academic Language and Literacy in English

100 marks

48 hours (2 days)

This paper consists of 6 pages.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Read these instructions carefully to ensure that you meet the requirements of each
question.
2. This question paper contains THREE essay questions. Choose ONE question ONLY.
3. Pay attention to the following aspects when you answer each question:
• Content
• Structure
• Language and style
• Citations and referencing

4. Use the checklist provided to make sure that you have answered all the questions. Copy
the checklist and declaration and paste it at the beginning of your script.
5. Submit the following as part of your portfolio: the completed checklist, the plagiarism
declaration and your answers.
6. When you have completed this portfolio, save everything as one PDF file and upload it
using the myModules platform under the ‘Assessment 3’ section of the ENG1503 site.
7. In the case of any cheating or plagiarism, no marks will be allocated.
8. NO LATE EXAMINATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. SUBMIT YOUR EXAMINATION
BEFORE THE SUBMISSION SYSTEM CLOSES AT 13:00 ON 25 OCTOBER 2023
9. Pay attention to the announcements on the ENG1503 site during the examination
session. This platform will be used to communicate any urgent information.
10. Make sure you submit the correct file. Incorrect submissions will be awarded a ‘0’
mark.

Open Rubric
CHECKLIST

Student name and surname: __________________________________

Student number: ______________________________________________

Is there a student name and number on this YES (put your initials here)
cover page/ checklist?
Is this your original work? YES (put your initials here)
Have you included the plagiarism declaration YES (put your initials here)
we have provided you with?

Did you answer ONE of the three questions? YES (put your initials here)
Are you submitting the correct portfolio and YES (put your initials here)
the correct file? (Please double check your
submission after you have uploaded)

Did you include an introduction, body YES (put your initials here)
paragraphs and a conclusion?
Did you include ALL THREE citations we have YES (put your initials here)
provided you with per question?

Have you appropriately referenced the YES (put your initials here)
citations you have used in your essays in
Harvard style?

Format if typed: YES (put your initials here)

Arial font
Font size 12
One and a half (1.5) line spacing

Format if hand-written and scanned:

Blue/black ink
Neat and legible
All pages scanned in 1 file in the correct order

Did you edit your work several times? YES (put your initials here)
Did you convert your document to a PDF file? YES (put your initials here)

Did you remove any password protection? YES (put your initials here)

Page 2 of 6
PLAGIARISM DECLARATION:

Name and student number: ………………………………………………

I declare that this ENG1503 examination is my own original work. Where

secondary material has been used (either from a printed source or from the
Internet), this has been carefully acknowledged and referenced in accordance
with departmental requirements. I understand what plagiarism is and I am aware
of the pertinent policies in this regard. I have not allowed anyone else to borrow
or copy my work.

Signature: ………………………………………………

Date: ……………………………………………………

Page 3 of 6
QUESTIONS:

There are THREE essay topics in this examination paper. Choose ONE essay topic. Each
essay should not be more than 500 words in length. Write down only the question number
(e.g. Question One) and your answer.

QUESTION ONE – ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

“Zambia has in the recent past witnessed an increase in economic activities which has led to
an increased energy demand. This increased demand for energy has overshot the hydroelectric
power generating capacity. Consequently, the national power utility company, the Zambia
Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) instituted nationwide load shedding schedules that last
up to 12 hours daily. This development has potentially far reaching social and economic effects
on the lives and operations of poor urban residents and small scale business enterprises
(SMEs) that routinely depend on stable access to electricity.”

Adapted from: Umar, B.B., & Kunda-Wamuwi, C.F. (2019). Socio-Economic effects of load
shedding on poor urban households and small business enterprises in Lusaka, Zambia. Energy
and Environment Research, 9 (2), 20–9. https://doi.org/10.5539/eer.v9n2p20

With the excerpt above as your starting point, write an argumentative essay in which you
discuss three negative effects of load-shedding to the citizens of Southern-Africa. Your essay
should include the following discussion pointers; interruption of business activities, medical
care, and education. In addition, suggest any two solutions to eradicate load-shedding crises
in Southern-Africa.

[100 MARKS]

N.B.: You are allowed to use in-text citations cited from the sources we have provided you with
below to support your arguments. DO NOT refer to any external source that is not listed below
or not cited in the sources themselves. The links listed below should be cited in the body of
your essay and referenced in full Harvard style at the end of your essay. DO NOT copy from
these sources to avoid failing this portfolio.

REFERENCE LINKS:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6167164/pdf/nihms1501659.pdf

https://doi.org/10.5539/eer.v9n2p20

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2021.10.018
NB: If the above links are not accessible, you may download them from the Additional
Resources section on the ENG1503-23-S2 site.
Page 4 of 6
 OR

QUESTION TWO – DISCURSIVE ESSAY

“Human activities such as agriculture and mining are leading causes of water pollution
worldwide. Individual contaminants are known to negatively affect microbial communities.
However, the effect of multifaceted pollution on these communities is less well understood.”

Adapted from: Valverde, A., Cason, E.D. & Gómez-Arias, A. (2021). Pollution shapes the
microbial communities in river water and sediments from the Olifants River catchment, South
Africa. Archives of Microbiology, 203, 295–303.
https://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/247036/3/Pollution%20shapes%20the%20microbial%20
communities%20in%20river%20water%20and%20sediments.pdf

Use the direct quotation above as your point of reference and write a discursive essay in which
you discuss three causes of water pollution and its impact on marine life. Your essay should
focus on the following factors; extinction of marine life, fishing, and contamination of water.

[100 MARKS]

N.B.: You are allowed to use in-text citations cited from the sources we have provided you with
below to support your arguments. DO NOT refer to any external source that is not listed below
or not cited in the sources themselves. The links listed below should be cited in the body of
your essay and referenced in full Harvard style at the end of your essay. DO NOT copy from
these sources to avoid failing this portfolio.

REFERENCE LINKS:
https://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/247036/3/Pollution%20shapes%20the%20microbial%20
communities%20in%20river%20water%20and%20sediments.pdf

https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2010.300107

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Maxwell-Musingafi-
2/publication/264515450_Fresh_water_sources_pollution_A_human_related_threat_to_fresh_
water_security_in_South_Africa/links/53e2252d0cf24f90ff65be8e/Fresh-water-sources-
pollution-A-human-related-threat-to-fresh-water-security-in-South-Africa.pdf

NB: If the above links are not accessible, you may download them from the Additional
Resources section on the ENG1503-23-S2 site.

Page 5 of 6
 OR

QUESTION THREE – COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY

“Reasoning skill is crucial for students to translate the learning material provided by the teacher
in online mode during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many teachers choose analogy-based learning
to explain a concept by bringing the concept to facts that are close to students’ daily lives. Analogy-
based learning that was carried out face-to-face before the pandemic improved students’
reasoning skills, and now its implementation is tested in online mode.”

Adapted from: Ellianawati, E., Subali, B., Khotimah, S.N., Cholila, M., & Darmahastuti, H. (2021).
Face to Face Mode vs. Online Mode: A Discrepancy in Analogy-Based Learning During COVID-
19 Pandemic. Jurnal Pendidikan IPA Indonesia, 10(3), 368-377.
https://doi.org/10.15294/jpii.v10i3.30037

Read the extract above and write a compare and contrast essay in which you highlight the
advantages and disadvantages of online versus face-to-face modes of teaching and learning.

[100 MARKS]

N.B.: You are allowed to use in-text citations cited from the sources we have provided you with
below to support your arguments. DO NOT refer to any external source that is not listed below
or not cited in the sources themselves. The links listed below should be cited in the body of your
essay and referenced in full Harvard style at the end of your essay. DO NOT copy from these
sources to avoid failing this portfolio.

REFERENCE LINKS:

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/8/4381

https://doi.org/10.15294/jpii.v10i3.30037

https://doi.org/10.12669%2Fpjms.36.COVID19-S4.2785

NB: If the above links are not accessible, you may download them from the Additional
Resources section on the ENG1503-23-S2 site.

[TOTAL: 100 MARKS]

© UNISA

Page 6 of 6