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Academic Writing Assignment

Follow the instructions in this document in order to support you in producing an academic

paper. The instructions mirror the 12-step writing process described in Mitcham (2019). At

the end of the process you will submit two items: (1) your final paper and (2) evidence of the

process that you followed that led to the paper.

Use the space provided in this document to choose your topic, brainstorm your knowledge of

that topic, read, analyse, research/do further reading, interpret, plan, write, revise, share, re-

revise and review your paper. Papers may be word processed and should include a title, an

abstract and five or more references.

Marks will be awarded for following the 12 main steps of the academic writing process as well

as the final academic paper. The former is worth 80% of the grade; the latter, worth the

remaining 20%, will be scored on content, structure and accuracy.

You may write about an academic topic of your own choosing. The best topic to write about

is one that inspires you or that you are curious to know more about. On no account should

your writing be plagiarised (copied) from any source. When you refer to, or quote the work

of, other authors, be sure to reference them. Reference at least five credible sources (note that

Wikipedia and blogs are not credible). References should be made in the text and listed at the

end of the paper under the heading ‘References’.

You may begin work on your Academic Writing Assignment at any time. Follow the

instructions below. Complete instructions 1 to 7 for homework before Week 13. In class in

Week 13 complete instruction 8. By Week 15 complete instructions 9 to 11. You will submit

this document at the end of class in Week 15.

Your final academic paper should be between 1500 and 5000 words in length (including

abstract, notes and references). If your final paper is of outstanding quality and represents

an important contribution to scholarship around your topic, you may be invited to

submit it for publication.

Write your name and student ID below:

Name: _______________________

Student ID: ___________________

Contact email: ________________

References

Mitcham R 2019 At the Time of Writing: The Three Tenets of the Writing Process Academe

2, 27-43

1. Before Week 13: Choose a topic to write about, ensuring it is one that you are passionate

about. Use brainstorming techniques if required. Then brainstorm your existing knowledge

of that topic.

2. Before Week 13: Read the literature on your topic. Then analyse it critically in order to

identify your contribution (List all the references you have read).

3. Before Week 13: Research/Further Reading and Interpretation. Summarise your research

methods and findings and/or list and summarise your further reading. Then interpret your

findings and/or further reading.

4. Before Week 13: Plan your academic paper

5. Before Week 13: Write your academic paper

6. Before Week 13: Revise your paper. Mark your amends on the text above.

7. Before Week 13: Write your paper with your amends in clear, legible script on the

following page. Include a title, section headings and Notes (if necessary). Reference quotes

and the work of authors you discuss in the text and in full at the end of your paper under the

heading ‘References’. Remember to take this document to class in Week 13.

8. Week 13 (in class): Exchange your paper with a class member. Read the paper and

complete the Feedback Checklist (FC) answering all questions. When you have finished,

return the FC with the paper. Remember to take your paper and FC to class in Week 15.

9. By Week 15: Read and consider your feedback. Next to the feedback you find helpful and

will use, draw a smiley face . Revise your paper. Then write it below in clear, legible

script. Finally write an abstract of 150-250 words summarizing your paper.

10. By Week 15: Review your paper. In particular, check accuracy (missing words,

grammar, word choice, spelling, punctuation and capitalization). If necessary, use a

dictionary. Mark your corrections on the text above.

11. Week 15: Final Academic paper submission: Write your paper below one final time.

Remember to include the abstract, a title, section headings (if relevant), notes (if necessary)

and at least five references. Sources should be referenced both in the text and in full at the

end of your paper under the heading ‘References’.

Academic Writing Assignment: Final Grade

Grading: Writing Process (worth up to 80%)

Grade (0=poor max score=excellent)

Brainstorming a

topic/knowledge of topic

0 6 12 18 24 30

Reading and analysis

0 10 20 30 40 50

Researching/further reading

and analysis

0 6 12 18 24 30

Planning

0 10 20 30 40 50

Writing

0 6 12 18 24 30

Revising I

0 6 12 18 24 30

Sharing*

0 6 12 18 24 30

Revising II

0 6 12 18 24 30

Reviewing

0 4 8 12 16 20

Total

/300

Remarks

Grading: Final writing assignment (worth up to 20%)

Grade (0=poor max score=excellent)

Content

0 5 10 15 20 25

Structure

0 5 10 15 20 25

Accuracy

0 0 3 5 7 10

Total

/60

Remarks

Final Grade Raw Score (%) Weighted (%)

Writing Process

Final Writing Assignment

Total (%)

* Here consideration will be given to how well the feedback was understood and the extent to which you saw yourself as the final authority

on your essay. (for further details see Belcher W 2009 Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks: A Guide to Academic Publishing Success

California, Sage)