UCU 110: COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATIVE SKILLS WRITING

PROJECT GUIDELINES
Below are the steps for the group-writing project.
CATS
There will be no formal SIT-IN CAT for the unit UCU 110. Instead, you will be taken
through a semester-long project, which will give you opportunities to practice the
skills covered in class. This project is done and submitted in closely monitored
and graded stages. Deadlines will be set for each step.

1. FORMING GROUPS

● Form groups of 6 taking into consideration shared core units for ease of
operation.
● Appoint/elect a group leader (GL)
 ● Formulate ONE argumentative/debatable essay topic on an issue of
academic or national importance and submit it for vetting before you
proceed.

● Find published research, books or other sources to help you formulate the topic
and support your argument.
● Prepare guidelines on how you will operate and have every member sign.

II. TASK 1: LIST OF REFERENCES (INDIVIDUAL) (5 Marks)

● Submit a tentative reading list of varied sources of information as

directed by your lecturer/facilitator.

NB:
While the facilitators will guide you on the referencing style to use while organising the
list , you are urged to read about referencing styles or techniques such as the American
Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association and others to boost your
understanding of the various styles.

III. TASK 2: NOTES (GROUP) (5 Marks)

Make notes, as directed by the facilitator, on one reference that you

will use in drafting the essay.

Order of information:

● Essay topic

● Reference with its full bibliographic information/details.

● Notes under the reference.

Iv. TASK 4: ESSAY PLAN/OUTLINE (GROUP) (5 Marks)

Submit a plan/outline of the structure (sequence of ideas) most suitable to your essay
topic.

TASK 4 a: Essay (20 Marks)

NB:

Remember to write your topic at the beginning of the essay.

Essay Length:
 Aim at an essay length of 1500- 2000 words, written in continuous prose. Show well
developed paragraphs without inserting sub-headings such as ‘Introduction’,
‘Body’, and ‘conclusion’.

TASK 4b: Bibliography/Works cited/Reference List (5 Marks)

Write the bibliography/reference list/works cited at the end of the essay.

V SUBMISSION

Submit the essay with all your graded/marked tasks in a spring or spiral bound file,
neatly organised and clearly labelled:

● Project group number:

● School: Education (The unit is offered by the School of Education)
● Department: Educational Communication and Technology
● Members’ registration numbers: Starting with the lowest digits E.G
D33/2040/2019,

/D332041/2019, D33/2042/2019
 Names: Surname, Comma followed by other names

● Lecturer:
● Task: e.g. List of references
● Topic: Your argumentative essay topic
● Date of submission:

● ALL the group members should sign against their names before
submiting the file. Do the same before submitting any stage of the
assignment for marking (If done during face-to-face sessions).
● The group leader or the member submitting the file should sign on
the handing in sheet provided by the lecturer.

VI. GRADING

The essay assignment is graded as follows:

● Introduction: (Thesis statement matters a lot here). (4 Marks)

● Content/Main points (4 Marks)

 ● Organisation (Flow of ideas: E.g.Cohesion, coherence) (4 Marks)

● Works cited/Referencing Style (3 Marks)

● Mechanics (Sentence Structure, Punctuation, (2 Marks)

Capitalization)

● Conclusion (3 Marks)

VII. Rubric
Use the rubric below as a guide during the writing process.
 UCU 110 PROJECT ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY RUBRIC

Adapted from Argument Essay Grading Rubric & Rubric for

Assessment of the Argumentative Essay

MASTERY PROFICIENCY DEVELOPING BEGINNING Score

B. Six or more Six or more Six or more Less than six

MAIN main points main points main points main points,
stated in topic stated in topic stated in with some poor
sentences and sentences, but topic development of
are well may lack detail sentences, ideas.
developed with and but all lack
supporting development development
POINTS/CONTENT details. in one or two. . Refutation
paragraph(s)
missing
and/or Refutation
vague missing or
vague.
Body Refutation Refutation
Paragraphs paragraph(s) paragraph(s)
Refutation acknowledges acknowledges
the opposing the opposing
view and view but does
summarizes not summarize
their main points.
points.

(4 MARKS)
(5 MARKS) (5 MARKS) (2 MARKS)
(3 MARKS)
C. Logical, Overall, the Progression Arrangement of
compelling paper is of ideas in essay is unclear
progression of logically essay is and illogical. The
ideas in developed. awkward, yet writing lacks a
essay; clear moves the clear sense of
structure reader direction. Ideas,
which through the details or events
enhances and text without seem strung
showcases too much together in a
the central Progression of confusion. loose or random
idea or theme ideas in essay The writer fashion; there is
and moves makes sense sometimes no identifiable
ORGANIZATION the reader and moves the lunges ahead internal structure
through the reader easily too quickly or and readers
text. through the spends too have trouble
(5 MARKS) text. much time following the
on details writer’s line of
that do not thought. Few,
matter. forced
transitions in the
Body flows essay or no
from thesis; transitions are
transitions present.
guide the
reader Transitions
smoothly appear
through the sporadically,
text; Strong but not
conclusion transitions equally
effectively exist throughout
wraps up the throughout and the essay.
essay. add to the
essay’s
coherence
(2 MARKS)

(3 MARKS)
 (5 MARKS)

(4 MARKS)

D. Uses sources Source material Uses Lacks sources

to support, is used. All relevant and/or sources
extend, and sources are sources but are not
inform, but accurately lacks in accurately
not substitute documented, variety of documented.
writer’s own but a few are sources
WORKS CITED development not in the and/or the
of ideas. desired format. skillful
(4 MARKS) Source Some sources combination
material is lack credibility. of sources.
announced by Format is
a signal incorrect for all
phrase and sources.
ended with
intext
citations. Quotations
and
paraphrase
s may be Overuse of
too long quotations or
and/or paraphrase to
inconsistent substitute
ly writer’s own
referenced. ideas. (Probably
uses source
material without
acknowledgemen
All sources t.)
are accurately
documented
 in the desired (3 MARKS) Many are Uses
format both in not in the
the text and desired
on the Works format.
Cited page.

(4 MARKS)
(1 MARK)
(2 MARKS)

E. Sentence Sentence Work Work contains

MECHANICS structure structure is contains multiple
is correct. generally structural incorrect
correct. Some weaknesses sentence
awkward and structures.
sentences do grammatical There are four
appear. There errors. or more errors
Sentence are There in
Structure Punctuation
Punctuation & and
Capitalization capitalization
are correct.

one or two are three or

errors

(3 MARKS)
 in four errors punctuation
punctuation in and/or
and/or punctuation capitalization.
capitalizatio and/or
n. capitalizatio
n. (1 MARK)

(3 MARKS)

(2 MARKS) (0.5 MARKS)

F. Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion does

CONCLUSION summarizes summarizes summarize not adequately
the main main topics. s main summarize the
topics without Some topics, but main points. No
repeating suggestions for is suggestions for
previous change are repetitive. change or
sentences; evident. No opinions are
writer’s suggestions included
opinions and for change
suggestions for and/or
change are opinions
logical and well are
thought out. included
(4 MARKS)
 (4 MARKS)
(3 MARKS) (1 MARK)

(2 MARKS)

TOTAL

VIII. SUMMARY TABLE

SER. TASK MODE OF MARKS

NO SUBMISSION

1 List of references Individu 5

al
 2 Plan/Outline Group 5

3 Notes Group 5

4 Essay Group 20

5 Bibliography (minimum 5 Group 5

references)

Total 40

DATE OF PROJECT SUBMISSION Group Specific date to be

communicated by
the facilitator of your
lecture group

Appendix Project Submission Schedule Semester I 2022/2023

SER. TASK MODE OF DATES MARKS

NO. SUBMISSION
1. 26/9 -
2/10/2022
List of references Individua 5
l

2. 3/10 –
9/10/2022
Notes Group 5

3. 17/10 –
23/10/2022
Plan/Outline Group 5

4. 14/11 –
20/11/2022
Essay/Project file Group 20

5. 14/11 –
20/11/2022
Bibliography Group 5
(minimum 5
references)

Group 14/11 – 40
20/11/2022
DATES OF PROJECT
FILE SUBMISSION

D.K.Njoka
Last updated:

5/9/2022 Dkn/DKN

Course coordinator