ASSIGNMENT

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HMEF5133
DIRECTED READING
JANUARY 2019
ASSIGNMENT 1
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INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS

1. This assignment contains question that is set in English.

2. Learners are to submit assignment only in MsWord format unless specified otherwise.
Please refrain from converting text/phrases into picture format such as .gif / .jpeg /
print screen / etc.

3. Download the language version of the assignment template concerned from the
myINSPIRE for preparation and submission of your assignment. Your assignment
should be typed using 12 point Times New Roman font and 1.5 line spacing.

4. Your assignment should be between 3000 to 5000 words excluding references. The
number of words should be shown at the end of your assignment. Do not copy the
assignment question and instructions to your answer. Only assignment answer
developed within the approximate word limit will be assessed. The number of words
should be shown at the end of your assignment.

5. Submission of assignment:

a. Face-to-face Class Student:

You MUST submit a softcopy of your assignment online through myINSPIRE and a
hardcopy to your facilitator.
b. Online student:
You MUST submit a softcopy of your assignment via myINSPIRE and another
softcopy to the facilitator via e-mail.

6. You can submit your assignment ONCE only in a SINGLE file.

7. Your assignment must be submitted between 8th March 2019 until 10th March 2019.
Submission after 10th March 2019 will NOT be accepted.

8. Your assignment should be prepared individually. You should not copy another person’s
assignment. You should also not plagiarise another person’s work as your own.
9. Please take note that PENALTY will be imposed on late submission of assignment as
specified in the Registrar’s Office circular 6/2012 (Refer to Registrar’s Announcement in
myINSPIRE).

10. Please ensure that you keep the RECEIPT issued upon submisson of your assignment as
proof of submission. Your assignment is considered as NOT submitted if you fail to
produce the submission receipt in any dispute arises concerning assignment submission.

ASSESSMENT
This assignment accounts for 70% of the total marks for the course.

You would be given feedback on the assignment before the Final Semester Examination
commences.

PLAGIARISM: MARKS DEDUCTION

Warning: The submitted assignment will automatically undergo a similarity check. If

plagiarism is detected, marks would be deducted as follows:

No. % Similarity Group % of Mark Deduction

1 0 – 30 0
2 30.01 – 50 5
3 50.01 – 70 10
4 70.01 – 100 100
 ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

PURPOSE:
The aim of this assignment is to facilitate your abilities to research on a topic of study. This
practice will enable you to identify and formulate an inquiry question that is pertinent in the
education fraternity. You will also be able to know how to search and locate relevant
information from journal articles. Finally, you will be able to analyze and synthesize
information pertaining to your research.

REQUIREMENT:
This assignment requires you to complete a literature review on an educational topic of your
choice. The selected topic should not be the one you have attempted in other courses. You
are required to synthesise at least 6 empirical journal articles related to your topic and write
about a 20 page literature review based on the articles you have selected. The selected
research articles should be published within the last 10 years.

Guidelines:
You are required to summarize and critically evaluate relevant literature to establish current
knowledge of a topic. You may use the following steps as a guide to complete this task.

1. Identify an educational topic that you are interested in.

2. Formulate an inquiry question(s) that specifically describes what you would like to know
about your educational topic.
3. Search for journal articles that include your topic’s information.
4. Read the abstracts and skim the articles to determine if they correspond well to your
topic and inquiry question(s).
5. Select at least 6 journal articles.
6. Read your selected articles and begin to sort and classify them according to themes.
* Refer to Topic 4 of the module.
7. Write your review.
8. Identify gaps that may exist in the literature
Outline for writing your literature review:
1. Introduction
Write an introduction paragraph for your review. This paragraph includes:
 the topic and research questions of your research
 statement of the problem
 a brief discussion on the background on the selected topic
[10 marks]
2. Body
Before you begin this section, you are required to sort your articles into different
themes. Each theme should be given a descriptive name which will become the
heading of the sub sections. The body of your literature review should include;

a. Theme 1: several paragraphs that describe the first theme that you
identified by critically analyzing and synthesizing information by
comparing/contrasting the articles

b. Theme 2: several paragraphs that describe the second theme that you
identified by critically analyzing and synthesizing information by
comparing/contrasting the articles

c. Theme 3: several paragraphs that describe the third theme that you
identified by critically analyzing and synthesizing information by
comparing/contrasting the articles
*Refer to Topic 6 of the module. You may have more than 3 themes.

d. Your views in terms of;

- any problems or gaps in the literature
- the need to carry out the intended research and how it will contribute
to the body of knowledge
 e. You can compare and contrast the articles in terms of the following;
- Findings
- Methodologies
- Arguments put forth by the authors
[50 marks]

3. Conclusion
Briefly summarize the main findings of the reviewed articles. Discuss the importance
of your study in light of the literature you have reviewed, and how your proposed
research can contribute to the existing body of research.
[5 marks]

4. References
Use APA style for citations and references.
*Refer to Topic 7 of the module
[5 marks]

Points to consider

1. Avoid direct quotations. Instead use your own words to paraphrase. Paraphrasing
will ensure your review of literature is in your authorial voice.

2. Organize your literature review around your themes and not simply report on each
author at one time. This will demonstrate your synthesis of the selected articles.

3. Use the given rubric as a guide in writing your assignment.

(TOTAL : 70 marks]
 ATTACHMENT
ASSIGNMENT RUBRIC
HMEF5133 DIRECTED READING / JANUARY 2019
Literature Review (70 marks)
Excellent Unsatisfactory/No
Good Fair Low Response Max
Criteria Weightage Marks
4 3 2 1 0
Introduction (10 marks)
Research topic and 1.25 The title is clear and The title is relevant or The title is adequately The title is poorly No attempt is made. 5
Research Questions very relevant to the current. The research stated/partly stated/not relevant or The research
current need. The questions are designed relevant/current. current. The research questions and
research questions are well. The research questions questions are poorly research topic are
clearly designed Good link made to the are poorly designed designed not related.
Clear link made to the selected topic. Adequate link of the Poor link of the research
selected topic. research questions to questions to the topic.
the topic.
Statement of the problem 1.25 Clear identification on Good identification on Adequate identification Poor identification on No attempt is 5
Background of the Study the statement of the the statement of the on the statement of the the statement of the made/Poor
problem. problem. problem. problem. identification on the
Clear discussion on Good discussion on the Poor discussion on the Vague discussion on the statement of the
the background of the background of the study. background of the study. background of the study. problem.
study. Poor discussion on
the background of
the study.
Literature review and conclusion (50 marks)
Identification and 2.5 Excellent identification Very good identification Adequate identification Poor identification and Vague/Lack of 10
organization of the themes and organisation of and organisation of the and organisation of the organisation of the identification and
the themes. themes. themes. themes. organization of the
themes
Ability to analyze and 3.75 Clearly demonstrates Quite clearly Adequately Poorly demonstrate the Inability to 15
synthesize articles the candidate’s ability demonstrates the demonstrates the candidate’s ability to demonstrate the
to analyze and candidate’s ability to candidate’s ability to analyze and synthesize candidate’s ability to
synthesize the articles. analyze and synthesize analyze and synthesize the articles analyze and
the articles. the articles. synthesize the
articles
Identification of gaps 2.5 Excellent identification Very good identification Adequate identification Poor identification of Inability to identify 10
/strengths and weaknesses of gaps/ strengths of gaps / strengths of gaps/ strengths gaps/strengths gaps/strengths and
in the study /weaknesses and /weaknesses and make /weaknesses and make /weaknesses and make weaknesses and lack
make excellent links to good links to the some links to the links to the suggested of links to the
the suggested study. suggested study. suggested study. study suggested study
Connection between 2.5 Very clear justification Clear justification for the Adequate justification Poor justification for the Inability to provide 10
literature and current study for the need to look need to look into the for the need to look into need to look into the justification for the
into the suggested suggested study. the suggested study. suggested study. need to look into the
study. suggested study.
Conclusion 1.25 Clear discussion on Good discussion on how Adequate discussion on Poor discussion on how Very vague with 5
how the study the study contributes to how the study the study contributes to hardly any discussion
contributes to the the body of research. contributes to the body the body of research. on how the study
body of research. of research. contributes to the
body of research.
Language 1.25 Writing is crisp, clear, Writing is clear. Minor Writing is generally Writing is poor. Meaning It is hard to know 5
and succinct. spelling, grammar or clear, but unnecessary is sometimes distorted. what the candidate is
Candidate punctuation errors are words are occasionally Paragraph or sentence trying to express.
incorporates the made. Paragraph or used. Meaning is structure is too Writing is
active voice when sentence structure is sometimes hidden. repetitive. Major convoluted.
appropriate and clear with minor errors. Paragraph or sentence spelling, grammar, or Misspelled words,
supports ideas with structure is too punctuation errors are incorrect grammar,
examples. No spelling, repetitive. Few spelling, made. and improper
grammar, or grammar, or punctuation are
punctuation errors are punctuation errors are evident
made. made.
Referencing including 1.25 References are very References are relevant References are fairly References are hardly No referencing/does 5
citations relevant and current and current to the area relevant and current to relevant and current to not follow the APA
to the area of study. of study. Most citations the area of study. Few the area of study. Most format. All citations
All citations are very are accurate and made citations are accurate citations are inaccurate are inaccurate/no
accurate and made according to APA style. and made according to and not made according citations are made.
according to APA APA style. to APA style.
style.
Total 17.5 70