Assignment Procedures

General Conventions for Assignments

Referencing

• You should use the Harvard referencing method taught during this course.
• A list of references must be included and should only include those resources that you have referenced for your essay.

Presentation Layout

The essays should:

• be printed on A4 paper
• be printed on one side of the paper only
• use 1.5 line spacing
• have margins of at least 2.5 cm
• use a 12 point font size
• have page numbers
• have a title page
• have a UOSS assignment cover sheet
• be typed or written neatly (if your essay is hand-written, write on every second line. Make sure your handwriting is neat and that your pages have margins)
• be firmly stapled in the top left hand corner

Word Limit

• You must adhere to the word limit for each assignment.
• Long quotes are not included in the word limit—as someone else has written them, they are not your work.

Written Expression

• Colloquial and conversational expressions are inappropriate in an academic essay.
• Avoid vulgarisms and slang.
• Avoid using emotive language. A detached stance is usual in academic writing. Emotive language takes away from an argument.

Don't use:

• Headings: An academic essay does not include headings. They are used in reports.
• Bullet points: Do not use bullet point lists in essays. Write in complete sentences and paragraphs.
• Personal pronouns: Do not use “I”. Whilst using personal pronouns (such as ‘I’ or 'I think') is acceptable in some schools and faculties, UOSS students should write their essays without using them. Remember, we know that it is your opinion—you wrote the essay—so phrase it in other ways.
• Contractions: Do not use contractions (such as isn’t, doesn’t, they’re). If it can be said as two words then it should be written as two words.
• Abbreviations: Do not use general abbreviations like 'e.g.' or 'etc.' in essays. Think of other ways to express your ideas.
• Sexist and discriminatory language.

Spelling

• Accurate spelling is essential. If there is more than one correct way to spell a word, then the same spelling
  should be used consistently.
• Do not use American spelling (unless quoting directly from a publication in which the American form is used).

Please refer to the marking criteria for each essay

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Acknowledging Sources & Academic Misconduct

What is Referencing?

Academic writing is governed by the convention of referencing. This is based on the understanding that knowledge is a collaborative activity and never stands on its own. It acknowledges that current knowledge builds on the thinking and writing of previous scholars and those who report on those understandings. In your academic writing you will be required to explore such 'sources' (readings). This will help you to arrive at and support your argument (your thinking) in the form of evidence.

"They are sources of information that you interpret; of ideas that you support, criticize, or develop; of vivid language that you quote and analyse." (Harvey 1998 p.1)

This active process of research and exploration is fundamental to your university experience. Understanding the referencing conventions and using sources and evidence effectively strengthens your argument in an academically appropriate way. For the purpose of UOSS a standard form of referencing will be adopted. This is based on a simplified Harvard (author/ date) system of referencing.

Not acknowledging your sources appropriately can result in the serious claim of academic misconduct known as plagiarism.

What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is taking the ideas or words of others and passing them off as your own. Plagiarism is a type of intellectual theft. Plagiarism can take many forms, from deliberate cheating to accidentally copying from a source without acknowledgement. Plagiarism can have serious consequences, so it is important that students be aware of what it is, and how to avoid it.

• Copying words, ideas or information and presenting it as your own is plagiarism. If you are indebted to any source for ANY fact or opinion, even if it is not a direct quotation, your debt must be acknowledged. All students must reference all the information and ideas they gain from their research.
• All written assignments must be in your own words. Rearrangement of an author's words in a sentence or paragraph (paraphrasing) is not considered original and should therefore be referenced with appropriate in-text citations.
• An assignment that depends on 'cutting and pasting' the work and citations of others is plagiarism. The piece of work does not represent your own words or ideas.

The act of plagiarism is often unintentional and a result of poor academic literacy skills. Avoiding plagiarism starts at the very beginning of your university career. It is your job to develop effective reading, note taking and note making skills which will help you to organise your own thinking and the thinking of others.

What is cheating?

Cheating is another form of academic misconduct which implies a conscious intention. It is a serious offence to:

• submit any work which is copied from the work of another student, whether that work was submitted in the current year, previously, or in another course.
• cheat in examinations
• get other students to write your essays, etc.

If you have been working closely with another student undertaking (say) research for an essay, you should discuss this cooperation with your UOSS tutor to ensure that no misunderstandings arise about the originality of the work, and to identify your contribution.

Cheating and plagiarism can attract serious penalties, ranging from failure of the course to failure of all courses and exclusion from the university for a specified period. For further information please see http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism/index.html

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