Assessment Task Advice Sheet
Introduction to Academic Communication 2
700210/900108
Term 1 2020
Persuasive Analytical Essay
OVERVIEW
The persuasive-analytical essay, which is worth 30% of the overall marks for the unit, assesses your ability
to critically read and analyse academic texts to produce an academic evidence-based argument in an
appropriate essay structure. The essay is to be approximately 1200 words (+/- 10%) in length. It is to be
submitted through Turnitin by 11:50pm on Friday 15 May, 2020 –Week 10.
ASSESSMENT DESCRIPTION
This exercise assesses the learning outcomes 1 (Critically read and analyse academic texts), 2 (Summarise
the main points of arguments), 3 (source and cite evidence using the conventions of academic research), 4
(apply the moves of a persuasive-analytical essay), 5 (produce well structured, logical, coherent and
cohesive responses to writing tasks) and 6 (produce an academic evidence-based argument).
Guidelines
Both the research and written components of the task must be completed individually.
You must write an essay following the structure of a persuasive analytical essay as identified in
class.
Your essay must address the following question:
Respond to the statement ‘The internet is creating a generation of anti-social youth’. In
your response, critically analyse how young people use online technologies.
In this essay you are required to take a position on the topic as a result of your research and to
support your position using your own evidence-based arguments.
You are required to use a minimum of four (4) academic texts (compulsory), and a maximum of
six (6) academic texts (recommended). It is also a requirement that you include the text that you
used for your Annotated Bibliography assessment task (assessment 1) and at least two texts that
you have located yourself.
All sources need to be cited appropriately in-text, with a matching reference list.
The total word count of direct quotations must not exceed 10% of the essay length.
Submissions must be within +/- 10% of the allocated word count.
Marking Criteria
When marking this task, the following criteria will be assessed:
Clear and cohesive arguments
Persuasive-analytical structure
Use and relevance of evidence
Written expression
Referencing using the nominated style
Style
Use 12 point Times New Roman font
Use double line spacing except for the reference list, which should be single line spaced, with
a double line space between entries.
Include a cover page which identifies:
Your name
Your student id
Your teacher’s name
Your course
The word count excluding the reference list
The referencing style used
Repeating Students: You must make changes to your arguments in CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR TEACHER.
Penalties
Penalties for plagiarism will be applied based on the extent of matching as identified by
Turnitin after adjusting to exclude small matches, the Title Page, the Reference List, in-text
eferences and any other matches (text) that do not constitute plagiarism
A penalty of 10% per calendar day applies for submissions made after the due date and time
unless an extension has been granted
A penalty of 10% will be deducted from your final mark for texts which are outside the
ange of plus or minus 10% of the stipulated word length. The word length does not
include the title page or reference list
Additional Notes
You should begin your reading and note-taking as early as possible.
Your writing should reflect the research you have conducted by presenting an in-depth
understanding of the topic and providing academic evidence to support your arguments. Search in
li
aries and online databases for suitable material, e.g. books or peer reviewed journal articles plus
material available in the workbook and on vUWS.
It is highly recommended that you submit your essay through Turnitin and check for matchings at
least once before the final submission date, as penalties for poor paraphrasing are severe.
Introduction to Academic Communication 2
Persuasive – Analytical Essay (online) ru
ic XXXXXXXXXX__________/60
Criteria No attempt XXXXXXXXXXFail XXXXXXXXXX10 Developing XXXXXXXXXX20 Pass XXXXXXXXXX30 Credit XXXXXXXXXX40 Distinction XXXXXXXXXX50 High Distinction XXXXXXXXXX60
Arguments
/9
There is no
presentation of
arguments.
0
The coverage of the
arguments is not
adequate and they do not
elate to each other and
to the thesis.
1.5
The arguments presented are
underdeveloped and they
loosely relate to each other and
to the thesis.
3
The coverage of the arguments
is adequate and relevant. There
are some relationships
etween the arguments and
they relate to the thesis.
4.5
The arguments are mostly
pertinent and relate to each
other and to the thesis.
6
The arguments are pertinent
and strongly relate to each
other and to the thesis.
7.5
The coverage of the arguments
is excellent and they are
pertinent and clearly relate to
each other and to the thesis.
9
PA structure
/9
There is no essay
present.
0
There is no PA structure
and no clear position held
throughout the essay.
1.5
The PA structure is not adequate
and there is no consistent
position held throughout the
essay.
3
The PA structure is adequate
and there is a basic position
held throughout the essay.
4.5
The PA structure is appropriate
and there is a specific position
held throughout the essay.
6
The PA structure is as
equired and there is a
alanced position held
throughout the essay.
7.5
The PA structure is excellent
and there is a complex position
held throughout the essay.
9
Evidence use
/9
There is no evidence
presented.
0
Any evidence presented
does not relate to the
points of argument and it
has not been integrated.
1.5
Evidence presented loosely
elates to the points of
argument. It is very poorly
integrated into the essay.
3
Adequate evidence is
presented to support the key
points of argument. It is
adequately integrated into the
essay.
4.5
Relevant evidence is presented
to support most of the points
of argument. It is generally
consistently integrated into the
essay.
6
Specific evidence is
presented to support all the
points of argument. It is
mostly consistently
integrated into the essay.
7.5
Excellent evidence is presented
to support all the points of
argument. It is consistently
integrated into the essay.
9
Written
expression
/12
There is no resource
or rateable language
present.
0
Most of the text is very
hard to understand due to
problems that may have
een caused by sentence
structure and/or grammar
and/or vocabulary e
ors.
Ineffective use of
academic language. There
may be very limited
examples of student
expression to mark.
2
Substantial difficulties imparting
meaning may be caused by
sentence structure, and/or
grammatical, and/or vocabulary
e
ors. Very little effective use of
academic language. There may
e insufficient examples of
student expression to mark.
4
Generally imparts meaning
adequately although there may
e lapses caused by sentence
structure and/or grammar
and/or vocabulary. Some
academic language is present
and there is evidence of
adequate student expression of
ideas.
6
Imparts meaning fluently and
accurately with regular use of
academic language features,
including effective student
expression of ideas.
8
Imparts meaning with