ASSIGNMENT

OUMH1203
ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
JANUARY 2023 SEMESTER

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION

1. Answer in English.

2. Number of words: 2500 – 3000 words excluding references and outline.

3. Present your responses to the task in a SINGLE file.

4. Submit your assignment ONLINE.

5. Submission date : 14 March 2023

6. This assignment accounts for 50% of the total marks for the course.
 ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

This assignment consists of TWO parts, namely Part I (comprises TWO (2) tasks) and Part II.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this assignment is to expose students to proper essay writing skills and
introduce them to the step-by-step guide to writing an essay.

PART I: ESSAY WRITING (40%)

ESSAY TOPIC
According to a report from The World Bank- Malaysia Economic Monitor, the working-class in
Malaysia waste about 1 million hours annually stuck in traffic congestions daily. Traffic jams are quite
a synonym for big cities around the world. Not only that, traffic congestions also contributes to
pollution issues. It is like a two-in-one issue altogether.

There is a debate that the most effective way to solve the current traffic and pollution problems  in
big cities is by encouraging people to move from the city centre to the suburbs or countryside.

Persuade your readers to agree or disagree with the above solution. Elaborate
comprehensively with convincing techniques and relate with personal examples.
If you disagree with the above solution, offer a different solution to solve traffic congestion
issues in Malaysia.

The planning and writing of your essay are divided into TWO (2) tasks:

TASK 1 - ESSAY OUTLINE (10%)

The first initial stage of writing an essay is the Pre-Writing stage, where you brainstorm, list
your ideas and prepare any type of drafts for the essay.

Prepare an outline for the essay.

Task Requirements:
1. Prepare an outline with a thesis statement. You can opt for the Sample Outline Format
below or prepare your own outline.
2. The outline should be written according to the format of an essay: introduction, body
and conclusion.
3. The outline must list the points that discuss the topic given. These points must be
arranged in a logical and coherent order to show a good flow of ideas.

SAMPLE OUTLINE FORMAT

Introduction
- Introduction to the topic
- *Thesis Statement
Body
I. Point 1
A. Supporting Detail
i. Example
a) Sub-example (if any)

II. Point 2
A. Supporting Detail
i. Example
a) Sub-example (if any)

*
(same structure for Point 3 and so on)
Conclusion
-The conclusion of the essay

*one or two sentences encapsulation of your essay's main point, main idea, or main

message.

(Note: This outline is excluded in the word count of 2500 - 3000 words)
[Total: 10 Marks]
TASK 2 - ESSAY (30%)

Write a persuasive essay between 2,500 words and 3,000 words on the given topic.

Task Requirements:

1. The content of your essay must resemble the essay outline in Task 1.
2. Refer to the assignment rubrics as a guide to achieving cohesion and coherence.
3. Avoid plagiarism. You must support your essay with at least three (3) pieces of evidence
from current and related literature (2017 – 2022). Use the APA format for in-text
citations and the reference list. The THREE (3) references must be from different
sources: journals, credible websites, books, magazines and newspapers.
4. Remember to refer to Topics: 3, 4 and 5 of the OUMH 1203 Module.

[Total: 40 Marks]

PART II: ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)

Discuss the following topic(s) in the forum and submit proof of your participation in the
online discussions:

1. Share your experiences of learning how to write in English during your school years.
What was difficult for you then?
2. Discuss different types of proposals with examples.

[Total: 10 Marks]

[TOTAL: 50 MARKS]
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SUBMIT PROOF OF ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)
Do the following:
1. Select the BEST FIVE (5) own postings from the eforum discussion set up by your
tutor.
2. Do screenshots of the postings and include them as IMAGES in your assignment.
3. The screenshots should be in an image file (either in JPG or PNG format). Refer to the
sample of Screen Grab below.
4. The screenshots should CLEARLY display: Name, Title of the discussion, Day, Date
and Time.
 ATTACHMENT
ASSIGNMENT RUBRIC
OUMH1203 ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION / JANUARY 2023 SEMESTER
Unsatisfactory
Excellent Good Fair Poor Or
Max
No response
CLO Criteria Weight Marks
QN
4 3 2 1 0
TASK 1 - ESSAY OUTLINE (10%)
1 2 Essay Outline 1.0 Well-prepared outline Well-prepared outline A moderately-prepared The outline format is No proper 4
Format format with a format with a good thesis outline format with a poorly written. outline
comprehensively written statement. thesis statement that OR
thesis statement. requires further The details are written in
understanding. paragraphs or essay-
form.

.
2 Details in Outline 1.5 Details are placed in a Details are placed in a Some details are well Many details are not in a Missing support 6
logical order and the logical order, but the way supported and this logical or expected or details.
way they are presented in which they are distracts the organisation order. The outline is
effectively makes the presented sometimes of the outline. unorganized
outline very interesting makes the outline less
interesting.

TASK 2 - ESSAY (30%)

2 1 Introduction 1 The introduction very The introduction clearly The introduction states There is no clear The 4
clearly states the thesis states the thesis the thesis statement but introduction of the main introduction
statement and previews statement and previews does not adequately topic or structure of the presents no
the structure of the the structure of the paper. preview the structure of paper. purpose.
paper. the paper.

6
1 Content: 2.0 Fully addresses the Adequately addresses the Generally writes about There is little attempt to A weak attempt 8
to agree or stand for or against the stand for or against of the for or against of the write about for or at addressing
disagree with the chosen solution. chosen solution. chosen solution but with against of the chosen the written
solution presented: NO clear stand. solution assignment.
encouraging Explanations and claims Some explanations and
people to move are very comprehensive, claims may not be The development of OR OR
from the city coherent and organised arranged logically and explanations and claims is
centre to logically. coherently. adequate. There are many concerns Writing is
the suburbs or of plagiarism evidences. heavily
countryside to The arguments for or The arguments for or The arguments for or plagiarized.
solve traffic against are supported by against are supported by against are somewhat
congestion in big authentic, clear and clear and appropriate supported by a few
cities. appropriate examples in examples in the Malaysian examples in the
the Malaysian context. context. Malaysian context.

An excellent attempt to A good attempt to discuss A moderate attempt to

discuss points all points throughout the discuss points.
throughout the paragraphs.
paragraphs.
1 Organisation: 1.25 Full and rich persuasive Clear and complete Persuasive development Persuasive development Off - topic for
Persuasive development of the persuasive development of content is adequate. of content is limited and the most part. 5
techniques and content. of content. may be incomplete or
devices unclear. Not a
The main points are very The main points are quite Some main points may persuasive
convincing and extended convincing and extended not be fully convincing; Lack of persuasive essay.
very persuasively with adequately with the supporting details may techniques and lack of
the support of relevant support of relevant not be relevant or suggestions.
details. details. adequate. OR

Excellent use of Good use of persuasive A moderate use of There are many concerns
persuasive techniques techniques and devices. persuasive techniques of plagiarism evidences
and devices. and devices.
Good suggestions
Comprehensive and well Moderate suggestions
discussed suggestions given.

7
2 Conclusion 1 The conclusion skillfully The conclusion is The conclusion is The conclusion is weak. The conclusion 4
reinforces the thesis and recognizable and ties up recognizable but does not is out of topic /
gives closure to the almost all the loose ends. tie up several loose ends. unrecognisable. 
essay.
1 Language/ 0.75 The sentence style fits Sentences are generally Sentence structures are Contains several Contains many 3
Sentence Skills the paper’s purpose. clear, well-structured, and generally correct, but awkward or awkward
Sentences are varied, focused, though some sentences may be wordy ungrammatical sentences.
yet clearly structured may be awkward or or repetitive. sentences. Sentence Displays general
and carefully focused. ineffective. structure is simple or inability in
monotonous. writing
grammatical/m
Language is excellent Language is satisfactory Frequent errors in Very frequent errors in eaningful
with hardly any errors in with some errors in grammar, lexical choice grammar, lexical choice sentences.
grammar, lexical choice grammar, lexical choice and punctuation, may and punctuation that
and punctuation. and punctuation, which do impede understanding seriously impair Errors in
not seriously impede and clarity. understanding and grammar,
understanding and clarity. clarity. lexical choice
OR and punctuation
are too
There are many concerns frequent and
of plagiarism evidences, severe, making
thus the language and it highly difficult
sentence skill is not to understand
clear. the message.

8
 2 References 1.5 A reference of more A reference of 3 relevant A reference of 3 articles, A reference of lesser No articles are 6
than 3 relevant articles articles and all are from but not necessarily than 3 articles, but all used as
and all are from different sources. relevant, or not from from the same source. references.
different sources. different sources.

All the references are Most of the references are References are References are References are
effectively used, effectively used, correctly sometimes not effectively inappropriately/unclearl not
correctly cited and cited and correctly listed used, and/or correctly y incorporated. incorporated or
correctly listed in the in the reference list cited and/or correctly incorporated
reference list according according to APA style. listed in the reference list inappropriately.
to APA style. according to APA style.

Total 10 40
*QN = Question Number

9
 PART II: ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)
Max
Excellent Good Fair Poor Unsatisfactory
QN CLO Criteria Weightage marks
4 3 2 1 0
All five comments are Four of the comments are Two or three of the One post submitted. Postings done
good, appropriate, good, appropriate, relevant, comments are somewhat OR All posts done in past assignment
relevant, meaningful, and meaningful, and respectful. good, appropriate, one day. timeline. 
respectful.  Postings reflect meaningful and  OR None of the OR No postings
Postings reflect active participation within respectful.  comments are good given as proof of
Quality of
participation within assignment timeline.  Postings show relatively and relevant.  participation in
1, 2 2 Postings 2.5 10
assignment timeline. short participation time.  OR Comments are discussion
short responses that
are not substantial nor
meaningful. Minimum
effort (e.g. “I agree
with Tina”)

Total Marks 2.5 10

Note: This course also requires students to complete the Online Activity (10%) in MyInspire as part of the assignment total of 60%. The Online Activity is categorized under CLO
1.

10