Academic Reading Task Brief

Reading Task 2

For Reading Task 2, you should write between 250-350 words in each section
(in total, that is a minimum of 500 words and maximum of 700 words).

Complete both the Source Used and Reading Log sections of the Reading Task
document available on Blackboard.
The Source Used Sheet section should include:
1. The reference information of your source (recorded according to Harvard
conventions)
2. A selected part of your source (copied-and-pasted text or a screen shot)
that shows what you used from it. This should provide evidence of what
you discuss in the reading log. Do not show so much that it is hard to
identify what you actually used, but show enough so that the reader can
understand what the source provided and its context. You should highlight
the parts of your chosen source that you have used to inform your writing.
3. The paragraph from your writing in which you cite the source (from WT4).
This is the paragraph that you will discuss in the reading log and it should
contain a source that is both relevant and effectively used for your writing
purpose.
The Reading Log section should include:
1. Between 250-350 words that explain how the source is relevant for your
writing purpose.
2. Between 250-350 words that explain how you used the source effectively
for your writing purpose.
3. Remember to refer to the Source Used Sheet (especially the highlighted
parts), and consider how the source used relates to what you wrote.

Advice for completing the Reading Tasks:

Explain does not mean ‘list’. As in your writing, one clearly explained point is
better than ten that are not explained. Aim for quality over quantity.

More words do not mean a higher score – the ideal number of words depends on
what you need to explain. Make sure you select the most important points and
explain them fully, rather than mentioning every point you can think of.
You need to describe what is relevant and effective about your chosen source,
but you also need to think about why the source / your writing have these
qualities, how you can show that clearly, and what the effect has been on your
own writing.
 What you discuss must be related to your purpose for using the source, i.e. the
context of your writing – sentence, paragraph and/or essay.

You will be marked according to the Reading Task Criteria (available on

Blackboard in the Assessments area). Guidance from this document is below.

Guidance:

This task assesses your ability to explain how and why you used sources in your
writing. Important terms are defined below:

Relevance: The content of the source is well-suited and well-chosen for its
purpose in your writing.

Effectively: The source is used to perform a useful function within the paragraph
and essay (e.g. to present alongside other sources and your own voice, to
support an idea, or to define a key term before you discuss it). Therefore, being
clear as to how you will be using the source is key.

You will need to submit Reading Task 1 via eAssignments before the deadline
stated on Blackboard. The Student Office will email you instructions for using
eAssignments. When you submit this task, please ensure that you:
 put your student and class number at the top of the page (no name)
 use font size 12 (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman or Lucida Sans)
 1.5 or double space your text (do not use single spacing)
 put the word count in the Reading Log section
 if necessary, include any links or references (not included in the word-count)
to data that helps you explain your point further (e.g. a journal website or
another article)

You have two Reading assessments on the Pre-sessional programme and, as they
are the same task, the higher score of RT1 and RT2 will be your summative
(final) grade, and the lower score will not count towards your final grade for
Reading.

You are expected to show that you can select relevant and suitably academic
sources to support and develop your points. You will need to present your Reading
Logs in a clear and coherent way, and consider the Reading Task Marking Criteria
(in the Assessments folder on Blackboard). Your work should be logical and
analytical, showing that you understand and can engage in academic source use.