LIBRARY AND LEARNING COMMONS

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 Learning Skills Advisors Subject Librarians
Charmaine Botha Sibusisiwe Mgquba
Focus: Focus
Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Social Sciences,
PGD & HDR PGD & HDR
Tel: 011 950 4455 Tel. 011 950 4150
charmaine.botha@monash.edu Sibusisiwe.mgquba@monash.edu
John Small Linda Mbonambi
Focus Focus
Bus Eco, IT, HDR, PGD & FP Bus Eco, IT, HDR, PGD & FP
Tel: 011 950 4248 Tel: 011 950 4032
John.small@monash.edu Linda.mbonambi@monash.edu

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 Writing an academic essay is like
being a lawyer presenting a case in court

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 What do we want to achieve with
an academic assignment?

RSD facets of research

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 Details of task: Assignment 2
Write an academic essay
Due date: 5th May at 4pm Word limit: 1500 words Value: 15%

Introduction:
Both media and psychology have made major contributions to western and African culture throughout the 20th century. Can you imagine
popular magazines such as Cosmopolitan without Freudian references or Jason Bourne without operant conditioning? Our awareness of
media, however, has reached the collective consciousness, as if we all woke up yesterday, awakened by our programmable alarm with the
iPod attachment, and over our coffee made automatically by our coffeemaker, checked our blackberry for emails and headline news and
then looked up shocked to see that everyone is doing much the same. This awareness is leaving people clamouring for a new level of
understanding. There is an infiltration of media applications and information technologies into nearly every aspect of our lives.

What does it all mean for the future of psychology?
What role does media play in defining what psychology is and what it will be in the future? (Make
reference to the development of psychology in South Africa as well)
Students should spend a week or two observing and noting any coverage of psychology in the media (including radio and television, newspapers and
magazines, and motion pictures).

Students are required to write a short (1500 words) paper:

Discussing the role that social media plays in defining psychology internationally and in the African context.
Students papers should address the following questions:

(a) What is psychology and does media present psychology more as a science
or more as a form of common sense? What effect does this have in what psychology is seen as?
(b) Does the media present the diverse fields of psychology or only a few? (If only a few, which are
overrepresented and which are underrepresented? And implications of this)
(c) Does the media present psychological information more in a sober manner or in a sensationalistic
manner?
(d) What implications does media usage have on psychological practice?
(e) Why is this issue of media effect on psychology of importance and in need of discussion?
(f) Conclusions: what answers did your research provide for you? What are the unanswered questions?

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 Additional Instructions
Presentation requirements:

Academic essay in APA formatting as detailed in:

Findlay, B. (2014). How to write psychology research reports and
essays (7th ed.). Australia: Pearson
(also see guidelines and template on:
<Sharedrive/UG/Library/Charmaine/ writing skills/general/APA>

- The essay should be no longer than 1500 words (excluding

references) and should be
typed, Times New Roman,
size 12,
double spaced on
A4 Word Document (this is part of APA format).
include a cover page,
a plagiarism declaration and a full reference list.
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Rubric: Letter to the Editor

What is a marking rubric ?

Criteria for marking:
Accuracy of information (including citation), clarity and conciseness of presentation, understanding of topic,
evidence of analysis of sources used. Academic writing style: Language and vocabulary, sentence and
paragraph grammar use, referencing.
Not Poor Fair Good Excellent
Criteria for Marking(Required Elements) Don
e
Structure and Organisation of Arguments 3
There should be an introduction, main argument(s) and conclusion. The line of the
argument should be clear. Organisation (logical, sections linked with each other.

Evidence of critical consideration 3

Is the student just reciting or thinking critically about the quality of evidence?

Consideration of counterarguments 3
Students should show that these topics are contentions with well
organised arguments for both sides of the case.
Relevance of material to chosen topic 2
Use of related and significant articles No lecture notes, under-graduate texts
Correctly referenced APA style (6th Ed) 1
Style appropriate to the assignment
No first person, dot point, or colloquialisms 1
Spelling and Grammar
Clarity, Grammar & punctuation Length Penalise up to 1 mark if 150 words over word 2
limit
TOTAL: 15
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 Analysing your question

Begin by identifying the key concepts e.g.

the topic/content areas
Identify the directive words e.g. analyse,
discuss, etc.
Note any limitations e.g. scope, time
period, field of study, area
Format of the assignment (essay, report,
review, poster, annotated bib etc)

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 Descriptive words
COMPARE Identify characteristics or qualities that resemble each other. Emphasise similarities and also
mention differences where appropriate.
CONTRAST Stress the dissimilarities and differences between concepts, ideas, qualities, events, problems,
other writers findings, things, events, or theories
DISCUSS Examine, analyse carefully, and give reasons for and against. Be complete and give details,
usually with a view to assessing how satisfactory something is. You may write about an issue
from two or more viewpoints and give balanced support and examples for each viewpoint.
Then make a judgement about how satisfactory each viewpoint is based on the evidence you
gave. Be sure to cover all aspects why, how, when, where, who etc
DESCRIBE Recount, characterise, outline, and relate in sequence. Write about the features of something
in a logical manner. Do not give your opinion or explain why it is the way it is.
EXPLAIN Clarify, interpret, and elaborate on the material presented. Give reasons for differences of
opinion or results, and try to analyse causes. You need to explore a variety of reasons for
something. Make sure you give enough detail to clarify, to interpret or to analyse causes as
relevant.

STATE (LIST) Present the main points in a brief and clear sequence, usually omitting details or examples,
without explanation.

Find more on the share drive

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 Key concepts
Limitations
Analysing the question Directive words
Format

Introduction:
Both media and psychology have made major contributions to western and African
culture throughout the 20th century.
Can you imagine popular magazines such as Cosmopolitan without Freudian references
or Jason Bourne without operant conditioning?
Our awareness of media, however, has reached the collective consciousness, as if we all
woke up yesterday, awakened by our programmable alarm with the iPod attachment, and
over our coffee made automatically by our coffeemaker, checked our blackberry for
emails and headline news and then looked up shocked to see that everyone is doing
much the same.
This awareness is leaving people clamouring for a new level of understanding. There is
an infiltration of media applications and information technologies into nearly every aspect
of our lives.

What does it all mean for the future of psychology?

What role does media play in defining what psychology is and
what it will be in the future? (Make reference to the
development of psychology in South Africa as well)
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 Key concepts
Limitations
Analysing the question Directive words
Format
A. Students should spend a week or two observing and noting any coverage of
psychology in the media (including radio and television, newspapers and magazines,
and motion pictures).

B. Students are required to write a short (1500 words) paper:

Discussing the role that media plays in defining psychology internationally and in the African
context.
Students papers should address the following questions:
(a) What is psychology and does media present psychology more as a science
or more as a form of common sense? What effect does this have in what psychology is seen
as? [WHAT]
(b) Does the media present the diverse fields of psychology or only a few? (If only a few, which
are overrepresented and which are underrepresented? And implications of this) [HOW]
(c) Does the media present psychological information more in a sober manner or in a
sensationalistic manner? [HOW]
(d) WHAT implications does media usage have on psychological practice?
(e) WHY is this issue of media effect on psychology of importance and in need of discussion?
(f) Conclusions: what answers did your research provide for you? What are the unanswered
questions?
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 Mapping your argument : Essay
Outline
Once you have analysed the topic and consulted your text book and
your starting references, you will need to construct a rough outline /plan.
Introduction
Statement of thesis /argument (what am I going
to explore, why am I exploring it, how will I
explore this)
Concept clarification (key terms defined)
Body
A
B
C (etc)
Conclusion (what have I found (concluded) and
the implications of this)

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1
 PLAN YOUR ESSAY

Introduction

Conclusion A

Media and
psychology
E B

D C

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 Find Witnesses
Once you have identified the content area you will need to
examine, you will need to consider what types of resources will
answer (books, journals, websites, statistics, etc.) and set about
acquiring them.
Often books are good for big picture information, while
journals are often good for supporting details.
START with your textbook (or other textbooks) and the starting
references:
Benjamin, L. T. (1986). Why dont they understand us? A history of psychologys
public image. American Psychologist, 43, 8794.

Kolmes, K. (2012). Social media in the future of professional psychology.

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 43(6), 606-612 .
Use the reference lists of these books and journals,
Remember you will need to evaluate the worth of these
resources, so read critically.
Decide what kind of supporting information will be necessary,
and set about organising your resources to achieve your goal.

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 Library resources
Resource Name Keywords Results Comments
SEARCH
Library Catalogue Main key concept (e.g.) Physical Book(s) in SA libarary SA has limited books in this area at least
one or two versus large number of students
Physical Books (lecturer needs to reserve)
Electronic Books
E-Books Do a secondary search within the book of your Everyone can use the same e-book at
sub-key concept the same time

DATA BASES Keywords Results Comments

Main key concept(e.g.)
Africa and South African research Articles relevant to
(S) >
and publications SA and Africa
SA e Publications Journal articles / Books/ available
Theses/ Web pages

CATALOGUE Main key concept (e.g.) Examples of relevant articles in Large number of articles
journals and other resources as well available international
(these are interdisciplinary
SEARCH databases)

PRESS READER

Main key concept (e.g.)

WEBSITEs

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 The essay/letter structure
Can be seen as a diamond with the introduction and conclusion at the top and bottom and the
body paragraphs fitting into the middle of the diamond in a series of smaller diamond shapes.

Connect to
next paragraph
and main idea

Your
own
voice

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 Body paragraphs
Paragraph element Purpose

1. Topic This sentence starts by referring to the thesis/your argument. It

Sentence continues to include the main point of this paragraph (your voice)

2. Additional This explains further the point made in the topic sentence. (your voice)
Information

3. Evidence These are essential to justify your point. Your evidence comes from
sentences your research and may include examples, data, quotes, statistics,
graphics and illustrations. All supporting evidence must be from
authoritative sources and cited in your essay. (quote or paraphrase
reference /witness voice)

4. Concluding Again, this sentence links the main thesis of the essay with the main
sentence point of the paragraph. (your voice) and links to the next paragraph

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1

Compare the changes in these sentences from informal to academic style.
Informal writing
When I look at the situation in
emergency wards, with many staff
leaving, it's hard not to worry
about how many doctors will be
available to treat patients in the
future.
It's so obvious that people were
given jobs just because they were
male or female. I don't think that is
an acceptable approach and is even
against the law.
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ACADEMIC WRITING
Academic writing
If we consider the situation in
emergency wards, with increasingly
low staff retention rates, there are
concerns about the capacity of
hospitals to maintain adequate
doctor to patient ratios.
It appears that in a number of
instances jobs were assigned on the
basis of gender. Given the current
anti-discrimination laws, this raises
serious concerns.
1
 MORE TIPS
Objective writing: In general, academic writing aims to be objective in its
expression of ideas. Therefore specific reference to personal opinions, or to
yourself as the performer of actions, is usually avoided. .
Expressing opinions
Personal 'Objective'
In my opinion It has been argued that
I believe that Some writers claim
In my view Clearly,
It is clear that
There is little doubt that
Avoiding too much reference to yourself as agent in your writing
(Passive vs active voice)
Agent or performer No agent or performer

I undertook the study The study was undertaken

I propose to It is proposed to
In this essay I will examine This essay examines
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 What do you need to remember?
You will notice that, in general, in academic writing we:

minimise the use of the personal I in the text: avoid writing

'When I look; I don't think this is an acceptable approach
(avoid this by using passive voice E.g. This is not thought (considered)
to be an acceptable approach)
use formal verbs, and fewer verb phrases (verb + preposition),
use consider rather than look at
use impersonal expressions: there are, this raises
use more nouns than verbs: concerns, rather than to worry
avoid emotional expressions, such as it's so obvious ( it
appears is preferable); just because ( assigned on the basis of is
preferable)
aim for concise, often abstract expression, e.g. gender, rather
than male or female.

http://www.monash.edu/lls/llonline/writing/general/academic/index.xml
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2
 Referencing requirements:
Plagiarism must be avoided. Materials used should be appropriately
referenced and included in a References Cited list
The preferred style in Psychology is the APA style. For further information on
this style of referencing, please see
http://guides.lib.monash.edu/citing-referencing/apa
To build your skills in citing and referencing, and using different referencing
styles, see the online tutorial
Demystifying Citing and Referencing at
http://www.lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/

As well as this:
Citations must be provided in-text (do not reference using footnotes or endnotes).
A reference list is required, and it:
should only be those works you have cited in your assignment
must be given on a separate page at the end of your assignment
must be in alphabetical order
must be carefully checked for consistency of format throughout.
(Note: The reference list does not form part of the required word length.)
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2
 Acknowledging your resources:
Citing and referencing
NB NB NB : if you cite and reference correctly, you will not plagiarize
Ways to cite and reference:
1. MANUALLY (DO the library on-line tutorial 15minutes):
http://monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/citing/
http://resources.lib.monash.edu.au/learning-objects/test/apa-quick-
guide/
2. Using MICRO-SOFT WORD REFERENCING (but you still need to
have the manual referencing background knowledge)
3. Using ENDNOTE (but you still need to have the manual referencing
background knowledge)

Referencing resources:
Monash Library Website, Moodle and Libguides
https://www.monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials
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 Additional resources on Referencing

Monash Share Drive

- UG - Library > Charmaine Learning
skills > Referencing

Lib Guides
Moodle

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 ASK for HELP
For
assistance
with learning, writing or communicating
your findings,
contact
a learning skills advisor
in
the library

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