COM10003:Learning and Communicating Online
Assignment 2:Credible sources
Word limit: 900(+/- 10%)
Weighting: 30%
Due date: 5pm AEST Monday 16April2018 (Week 6)
After you have read this information, head over to theAssignment 2 Q&Adiscussion board to ask any questions and see what your peers are saying about this assignment.
Assignment overview
In today's information age, it has never been faster or easier to do research. It has also never been more important to be able to evaluate sources for credibility.(Morgan, 2016)
As a 21st century learner working in a digital environment, this is an issue you will need to deal with on an almost daily basis. The strength of your academic (and professional) writing is greatly determined by the credibility of the sources you use to support your arguments and ideas in that writing. So, locating relevant and reliable information in print or electronic formats is just the first step in your research journey. The next step is for you to evaluate the quality of the information that you have found. You can know if a source is credible by asking a series of questions like the following:
· Who is the writer?
· How contemporary or up-to-date is the source?
· What is the writer's purpose or point of view?
· What sources does the writer cite to support their point of view? Are they relevant and credible?
· What kinds of sources do your readers expect to see you use?
· Where was the source published or posted?
Related learning outcomes
This assignment assesses the following unit learning outcomes:
1. Explore, use and evaluate information online to develop research and communications skills.
3. Construct and publish knowledge in the online environment.
Assignment details
The three short answer questions that you are required to address with roughly 300 words each are:
1. Why is it important to me as a tertiary learner to use credible sources in my academic research and writing?
2. Why is it or will it be important to me in my career to use credible sources in my professional research and writing?
3. Compare the relative merits of two sources about the same issue or topic that you have located, one with greater credibility than the other (e.g. a journal article versus a social media post). In your comparison you are to briefly explain:
o why one source is more credible than the other
o how this source would help you in your professional/career practice more than the less credible source.
Additional resources
You will find a number of credible and relevantresources onAcademic integrity(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.andReferencing(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.in the Student Portal.
Assignment criteria
1. Responses to the prompts.
2. Use of the literature.
3. Structure.
4. Spelling and grammar.
5. Citing and referencing.
Your work will be assessed using the following marking guide:
| Criteria | No Pass | Pass 50-59% | Credit 60-69% | Distinction
70-79% | High Distinction
80-100% |
| Responses to the prompts
(30% | Did not meet criterion. | All three components of the task are attempted. Shows basic understanding of concepts with minimal evidence and analysis. The answers comply with the basic requirements. Nevertheless, the tone and vocabulary are often inappropriate for academic writing. | Generally clear, accurate and relevant. Adequately addresses all requirements of the task. Arguments, opinions and ideas are usually supported with appropriate evidence and examples. The tone and vocabulary are generally appropriate to academic writing with only few lapses. | Purposefully and logically developed. Addresses all aspects of the task. Synthesis of details and concepts shows evidence of sound understanding and thoughtful examination. Arguments, opinions and ideas are supported with appropriate evidence and examples. Vocabulary and tone are suitably academic, although occasionally excessive formality, stiffness or passivity is evident. | Purposefully and logically developed. Thoroughly addresses all aspects of the task. Synthesis of details and concepts shows evidence of insightful understanding and thoughtful examination. Displays creativity and originality. Vocabulary and tone are suitably academic without being excessively formal. An engaging read. |
| Use of the literature
(30%) | Did not meet criterion. | Some relevant literature has been used to support the discussion. However, fewer direct quotes should be used and the references could be better integrated into the writing and discussion without significantly impacting on the cohesion and fluency of the writing. | Mainly effective use of relevant and credible literature to support the discussion. The writing does not rely on direct quotes (less than 10% of word count) and the literature has generally been smoothly integrated into the writing and discussion without intrusive disruption of the flow. | Consistently effective use of relevant and credible literature to support the discussion. The literature is well paraphrased or summarised and integrated into the writing and discussion with only occasional disruption of the flow or logic. | Outstanding and highly effective use of relevant and credible literature to support the discussion. Multiple relevant points of view have been considered and addressed in the research and writing. Any direct quotes are sparingly but appropriately used. The literature is well paraphrased or summarised and integrated into the writing and discussion without disruption of the flow. |
| Structure
(20%) | Did not meet criterion. | There is a reasonably clear and intelligible structure most of the time to the three answers. Minor confusion occurs only no more than several times to the reader and is clarified by re-reading. | A clear and intelligible structure is present in the three answers with a logical flow and cohesion throughout. Seldom is the reader confused and generally he or she can follow the answer. New topics are given new sentences and/or new paragraphs. There is some attempt to use cohesive devices and signposting to aid the reader. | Clear structure present with a logical flow throughout and well-developed sections. Paragraphing is effective and appropriate. Cohesive devices and signposting are employed well to guide the reader. | Coherent and polished structure present with a seamless flow throughout and sophisticated use of introduction and conclusion statements. Paragraphing is used effectively and the reader is able to follow arguments and discussions effortlessly. An appropriate range of sentence types are deployed effectively. |
| Spelling and grammar
(10%) | Did not meet criterion. | There are some spelling errors and/or problems with grammar and punctuation that impact on the reader's understanding of the answers provided. Effective proofreading appears to be absent. | The writing is largely free of intrusive spelling errors and/or problems with grammar and punctuation. Those that are evident in the writing are not systemic. | There are very few spelling errors or problems with grammar and pronunciation. Editing and proofreading have clearly been used. | The work is free from any spelling errors or problems with grammar and punctuation. |
| Citing and referencing
(10%) | Did not meet criterion. | External sources are acknowledged but incorrectly referenced. | An author/date system of referencing has been used, however closer adherence to the Swinburne Harvard or APA style is required. | External sources are generally referenced correctly according to Swinburne Harvard or APA style guide with minor errors in formatting or the use of punctuation. | All external sources are referenced correctly according to Swinburne Harvard or APA style. |