9000EHR Academic Communication for Postgraduate Students Assessment 4: Essay
Due Dates: Weight:
Part A: Proposal Week 8, Sunday 10pm 5% Part B: Draft Week 10, Sunday 10pm 10% Part C: Final Week 12, Sunday 10pm 30%
Learning outcomes: 3,5 Word length: 2000 words
Topic: Rapid global development over the last century has resulted in changes that have transformed our society. The post-industrial world now presents a range of new opportunities and challenges to the way we think, live and work. Twenty-first century graduates will enter the workplace with an understanding that their industry will likely continue to be impacted by social, economic, and environmental change on a global scale. Consider that you are a postgraduate student preparing to enter an industry related to your Masters degree: Choose one issue that is likely to have an impact on your industry and discuss how the industry can either prepare for this opportunity, adapt to this challenge or manage the issue in another way. You will need to find sources to show how this issue will likely impact the industry in the future and evaluate the ways that the industry can manage this issue (see below for a list of suggested issues).
You will need to decide which particular industry you wish to focus on and identify this in your argument. You will need to refine your argument based on academic research.
This assignment will require students to conduct independent secondary research and respond to the topic in an academic essay format.
• There is a minimum of ten (10) relevant scholarly sources required overall in your essay.
• Your essay must use full academic essay structure with an introduction, body and conclusion. (no headings, abstracts or other report features)
• Your essay must have a clear argument with developed paragraphs and topic sentences.
• Your essay must be appropriately referenced with in-text citations and a reference list.
• You must not use Google Translate or non-scholarly websites as sources of information for your essay. For example, Wikipedia or Baidu.
• Submission: your essay must be submitted via Turnitin using the Moodle assignment submission point on your course site.
Social, Economic and Environmental Issues
Choose One of the issues below. Please note, only some suggestions are listed here but you are welcome to explore other issues beyond this list. Please discuss any issue not listed here with your teacher to ensure it is appropriate.
Social, Economic and Environmental Issues
Inequality
World trade practices
Reliance on fossil fuels
Quality of life and/or Work-life balance
Reliance on the global economy
CO2 Emissions
Cultural diversity
Population Growth
Pollution and/or Resource decline
Urbanisation
Employment and/or Changes in the labour market
Loss of biodiversity
Migration and/or the increased global movement of people (eg. refugees, global workforce)
The rise of new global markets/powers (eg. Brazil, India, Russia, China)
Natural disasters: Disease, pests (eg. locust swarm), climate impacts (eg. rising sea levels, bushfires)
Health and well-being
Multinational corporations
Sustainability
Political instability or conflict
Global debt (financial and fiscal risk)
Food security and/or Food safety
Personal security
Inclusive growth
Environmental degradation or change
Infrastructure demands
Big data
Green designs and/or eco-friendly practices
Access to education
Digital currencies
Water Security and/or water safety
Job security/loss
Casualisation of the workforce
Environmental accreditation
Loss of local diversity (cultural, natural etc)
Rise of nationalism, protectionism OR terrorism
Your Proposal Should include the following:
• A thesis statement (or research statement if you don’t know what your argument is yet)
• A brief outline of the essay (5-8 paragraphs) or a paragraph describing what points you plan to discuss
• A reference list with 10 sources
Marking Criteria
Criteria
Unsatisfactory
Developing
Satisfactory
Competent
Proficient
Research
A minimum of ten (10) scholarly sources
The essay provides no citations or cites less than 10 sources in the essay text. Sources may not be relevant or reliable to the topic.
The essay cites the minimum amount of scholarly sources but may not support all claims with a reference. The sources are relevant to the topic.
The essay cites the appropriate number of scholarly sources. The sources are relevant and useful to the topic.
The essay cites the appropriate number of scholarly sources. The sources are carefully selected for the topic.
The essay exceeds the expectation for scholarly sources. The sources are relevant, reliable and carefully selected.
Argument
Clear argument is formulated in response to the topic
There is little or no evidence of an argument formulated in response to the essay topic or the argument has misunderstood the essay topic.
There is some evidence of an argument formulated in response to the topic but this is unclear or requires further development.
You have developed a satisfactory argument in response to the topic. The argument is clearly linked to the research.
The argument is valid and supported throughout the essay. Ideas are balanced (more than one perspective has been considered).
The argument is compelling and well supported throughout the essay. Ideas are balanced and a counter-argument is present.
Analysis
Evidence of careful, critical thinking and analysis
There is little or no evidence of careful, critical thinking and analysis presented in the essay [through absence of analysis; over reliance on description; or lack of understanding of the content].
There is some evidence of critical thinking and analysis presented in the essay. Some misunderstandings of the topic might be present.
There is evidence of critical thinking and analysis presented in the essay. The essay demonstrates a good understanding of the scope of the topic.
There is strong evidence of careful, critical thinking and analysis presented in the essay. The essay demonstrates a thorough understanding and scope of the topic and provides some depth of analysis.
There is strong evidence of careful, critical thinking and analysis presented in the essay. The argument demonstrates a sophisticated understanding and scope of the topic and provides depth of analysis.
Organisation
Essay structure with introduction, body and conclusion Paragraph cohesion
The essay does not have a sufficient structure or is missing something. The organisation of ideas may be poor or illogical. Paragraphs may lack coherence and have limited evidence of linking between and within paragraphs.
The essay does not have a clear introduction, body and conclusion or is in report format. The organisation of ideas is often clear. Paragraphs may occasionally lack coherence and the essay may require more linking within or between paragraphs.
The organisation of the essay is generally logical. There is an introduction, body and conclusion. Paragraphs are logically connected and ideas within paragraphs are often linked. Small omissions or errors may be present.
The organisation of the essay is logical. There is a strong introduction, body and conclusion. Paragraphs are connected and developed to create coherence and flow.
The organisation of the essay is sophisticated. There is a strong introduction, body and conclusion. Ideas flow well with sophisticated use of linking within/between paragraphs.
Use of sources
Paraphrasing and quoting
The essay has little or no paraphrasing. Quotations are not present, irrelevant, unclear or inaccurate. Academic integrity issues may be present.
The essay lacks adequate paraphrasing or evidence of acknowledging sources or is present but unclear/ inconsistent. Quotations are sometimes inaccurate or unclear.
The essay paraphrases adequately, using some paraphrases to support the argument. Quotations are accurate and relevant.
The essay paraphrases effectively, using suitable paraphrases to support the argument. Quotations are effective.
The essay paraphrases effectively, using a discerning amount of paraphrasing to support the argument. All quotations are discerning and selected for impact.
Expression
Written academic conventions of English
The essay does not adhere to written academic conventions of English. Substantial editing is required to fix errors. Meaning is substantially impacted by errors.
The essay sometimes adheres to written academic conventions of English. Some editing is required but errors have minimal impact on meaning.
The essay largely adheres to written academic conventions of English. Small omissions, errors or misapplications may be present but meaning is not impacted by errors.
The essay adheres well to written academic conventions of English. Few omissions, errors or misapplications are present.
The essay adheres well to written academic conventions of English. No omissions, errors or misapplications are present.
Referencing
Appropriate and consistent
The reference list and in-text citations may be missing or incomplete. In-text citations may not match the reference list.
The reference list and in-text citations are largely consistent with citations providing enough details to identify the source. There may be some missing information or errors.
The reference list and in- text citations provide adequate information for readers to identify the sources being used with few omissions or errors.
All information is provided. Formatting errors may be present in the in-text citations and reference list.
No omissions or errors are present in the in-text citations and reference list.
Draft
Evidence of development
No draft was submitted and there is no evidence of development
An introduction or small section of the essay submitted as a draft or limited evidence of required development.
A substantial section of the essay was submitted as a draft and there is adequate development.
An almost complete rough draft of the essay was submitted and there is evidence of required development.
A full rough draft of essay submitted and evidence of acting on all feedback given to develop final submission.
Proposal
No proposal submitted or many elements are missing
A proposal is submitted but some sections are missing
A full proposal is submitted
A full proposal is submitted and shows some development
A full proposal is submitted and shows substantial development of ideas