Writing your assignment
The Writing your assignment resource is designed and monitored by Learning Advisers and Academic Librarians at UniSA.
The purpose of a report is to investigate an issue and 'report back' findings which allow people to make decisions or take action and depending on your course. The report may require you to record, to inform, to instruct, to analyse, to persuade, or to make specific recommendations, so it is important to check your task instructions and identify the approach you are required to take. Your completed report should consist of clear sections which are labelled with headings and sub-headings, and are logically sequenced, well developed and supported with reliable evidence . In this section you will learn more about writing a report, including process, structure and language use. The report writing checklist at the end of this section can help you finalise your report.
- The main purpose of a report is usually to investigate an issue and report back with suggestions or recommendations to allow people to make decisions or take action.
- You will need to find information on the issue by reading through course materials and doing further research via the UniSA Library and relevant databases.
- Report writing requires you to plan and think, so give yourself enough time to draft and redraft, and search for more information before you complete the final version.
- The report is typically structured with an introduction, body paragraphs, a conclusion and a reference list.
- It usually has headings and subheadings to organise the information and help the reader understand the issue being investigated, the analysis of the findings and the recommendations or implications that relate directly to those findings.
- A report can also include dot points or visuals such as graphs, tables or images to effectively present information.
- Always check the task instructions and feedback form as there might very specific requirements for the report structure.
Locate the task instructions in your course outline and/or on your course site, and use this activity to plan your approach.
- Reports overview (pdf)
- Using headings in your writing (pdf)
- Abstracts and introductions (pdf)
- Writing introductions (pdf)
- Writing paragraphs (pdf)
- Literature reviews (pdf)
- Writing conclusions (pdf)
- Constructing graphs, tables and diagrams (pdf)
- Psychology example report (pdf)
- More example reports (link)
Click through the slides below to learn about the key characteristics of academic writing.
- Academic vocabulary and phrases (pdf)
- Expressing yourself clearly and concisely (pdf)
- Tentative language (pdf)
- Writing objectively (pdf)
- Academic phrasebank - Courtesy: Uni of Manchester (link)
Assignments
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| NO, they are not, but is strongly advised that you attempt and submit all of the assignments. Research done at Unisa has shown that students who submit assignments has a far better chance of success because: • assignments ‘force' students to work throughout the year, which in turn makes it possible to identify problems early; • students build up a year mark, which might prove to be valuable if something goes wrong in the exams. • the course, especially this one, may prove be to difficult to ‘cram' in the two weeks before exams. |
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| Will the assignments contribute towards the final mark? According to UNISA regulations, the assignments may count a small percentage of the final mark. In this course, our assignments can contribute a maximum of 15% to the final mark. The reason why it cannot be more than 15% is that we have no guarantee that the work submitted is the student's own work. Also, we allow students to work in groups, which implies that the work submitted is not entirely the own work of the student who submitted the work. However, we acknowledge the fact that most students work throughout the year and recognise your effort by making the assignments count. In most other courses at UNISA, assignments do NOT count towards the final mark, but simply serve as an entrance requirement for the examinations. The maximum of 15% is allowed by letting each assignment count 5% of the final mark. |
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| Nothing really, students will not be disadvantaged if they do not submit assignments. For this certificate course, ALL students have automatic entrance to the examination. If you have not submitted any assignments, you will simply have not year mark, and as a result, your examination mark will be the final mark. On the other hand, if you don't submit all the assignments, for example, If you submit only 1 of the 3 assignments, your year mark will only make up 5% of your final mark. We have a policy in this course, not to disadvantage students through their year mark, but use it to help them. For example, if your year mark is average (say 60%) and you gets 80% in the exams, your year mark will be disregarded. |
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| If you have Internet access, please introduce yourself to the rest of the class on the discussion forum under the "Hello..."-thread. The reason for this assignment is twofold. First, it ensures that you have proper access to our discussion forum and knows how to use it. The second reason for introducing yourself is to get to know the rest of your classmates. Experience has told us that students benefit a lot by communication with their fellow students! If you have Internet access, please make sure that you become part of this group. |
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| • WORKING FROM PAPER Many people find it easier to work from paper than to work from a monitor. Web-based students might therefore find it easier to first print out the assignment before working on it. You can use a copy of our DUMMY ANSWER SHEET, (found at the end of this document) to assist you in preparing your answers for submission. For each question, select only the BEST possible answer, and write down the number of that answer next to the question number eg. (1.) 4. Complete all questions on your dummy answer sheet. If you intent to submit your answers electronically, keep your dummy answer sheet ready. |
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| Assignment 3 is a practical exercise based on the entire course. For this exercise, you will have to install (if you have not yet) and use the XML Spy editor that accompanied your textbook. You are expected to do the exercises, PRINT them and submit them through SOL or through postal mail. Only printouts of your practical work will be considered. |
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| Please remember that submission must be ON or BEFORE the due date. If there is a consistent problem with the Unisa-servers two days prior to the due date, we automatically extend the due date for a week (Also the section on Possible Problems). Remember that the automatic extension of one assignment does NOT imply extension of the follow-up assignments, you must therefore continue with your study programme as initially planned and not adjust your schedule according to the new date. |
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| All multiple choice assignments are marked electronically as a batch on a predetermined date. The system does NOT mark assignments as they are submitted, but all are marked at the same time as a single batch. This means if your assignment is not part of the batch it will not be considered for marking. The Assignment Department publishes the results of the marked assignment on SOL or send it by postal mail to correspondence students. Assignment 3 is marked by hand. Our response will be sent back to you as soon as possible. Remember, since this assignment is due a few weeks before the examination, it will NOT be possible to extend the submission date, as this will not allow us enough time to assess and return your work. |
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| Because the first two assignments are marked by batch processing, we cannot arrange for the marking of individual assignments. It is therefore very important that you submit your assignment ON or BEFORE the due. Please DO NOT ask for extension to submit an assignment. Because we cannot arrange for individual assignments to be marked, we also cannot grant extension. If you miss an assignment, please start working on the next assignment. The date of marking is usually set THREE days after the due date. As explained in the previous section, we can unfortunately also not accept any late submissions for Assignment 3. Please be on time to be eligible for improving your term mark. |
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| Can students work together in groups? Absolutely! You may work together in groups, as long as each person submits his or her own work. The electronic submission does not make room for group submission, therefore each person in the group has to submit an assignment. |
- Assignments & Examinations
Assignments
- General information about assignment submission
- Assignment submission with myUnisa
- How to submit multiple-choice assignment using the Unisa mobile application
Assignment Section (Formative Assessment)
The mission of the Assignment Division is the preparation and registration of all written, electronic and MCQ (Multiple choice question) assignments and assignment marks, in order to render an effective service to Unisa clients.
Assignment Management Team
General information
Unisa wants its students to succeed in their studies and to come to their examinations properly prepared. This is why we insist on all our students submitting a certain number of assignments per course before being allowed to take an examination. Assignments questions and due dates will be made available to you on myModules. More details concerning assignment requirements will be provided by the lecturer on the MyModule site.
Assignment submission methods
All Assignments should be submitted online (via the Internet) using the my Unisa site.
Join my Unisa
Before you can use the online assignment submission functions on my Unisa, you have to join as a my Unisa user and allocate yourself a password. Only students who are registered for the current academic year may use my Unisa. You will find a detailed explanation of how to join as a user on the my Unisa site. Go to https://my.unisa.ac.za/ and look for the Join myUnisa link.
Last modified: 2023/08/07
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Attention: UniSA network-related systems are currently down - impacting internet access and access to resources.
Phone support is available on 1300 137 659
- Develop your research question
- Search for your assignment
- Find books and journal articles
- Find evidence (Government and organisation information)
- Data & statistics
- Forgotten Australians
- Clinical skills
- Aged care & mental health
- Mental health resources: 0-65 years
Finding resources for your assignment
- HLTH 1036: Global and National Health – A1 Task 2 & A2
- HLTH 1047: First Peoples' Health – A1
- NURS 1072: Foundations of Nursing Practice
- NURS 2023: Health of Adults - Nursing Case Study Report
- NURS 2024: Health of Older Adults
- NURS 5164: Best Practice in Adolescent Mental Health
- NURS 3055: Evidence Based Nursing Practice
- NURS 3045: Nursing Context of Practice: Primary Health Care
- UniSA Online - NURS 1066: Living Skills and Life Routines in Aged Care
The search process
You’ll complete a variety of assessments while at UniSA, including essays, reviews, reports and more. While assessment types may vary, the essential search process stays the same.
This page will guide you through that process, from question interpretation and search strategy creation to resource evaluation and referencing.
Understand your task
Begin by clarifying the assessment requirements. Read the assignment instructions and marking criteria supplied on your course site. The video below explains more about writing assignments at university.
If you need to develop a research topic/question, visit the Develop your research question tab on this guide to learn how.
Key points from the video
- Doing an assignment isn't a linear process.
- Start by reading the task in detail, so you know what you need to do.
- The assignment instructions and feedback sheet will explain the structure of your assignment.
- You can find out more about different assignment types on the Study Help website.
- You might need to revise your assignment plan as you go - this might happen a few times before you write your final draft!
- As you read more, your argument should evolve to incorporate new information.
- Make sure you use reliable resources to support your argument.
- To interpret your task you will need to identify the content words and phrases - these show what you have to focus on.
- The instruction words tell you how to approach the content, for example, describing something is different to comparing.
- Identify the limits of your assignment by looking at keywords, word limits and other instructions.
- Start the process early to get ahead.
- Understanding assignments and instruction words - PDF (285 KB) The next step is to try and focus your question as much as possible. This makes it easier to identify what to search for later, to actually do the search, and to determine whether the resources found are relevant.
Think about your topic
You’ll need a broad understanding of your topic before searching. Brainstorm what you already know and what you need to investigate.
Searching for background information can build your understanding of your assignment. Find this through the Library Collection or the web (see step 6).
Select the plus symbols below to learn more about background information.
A mind map can also be helpful in organising your thoughts at this point.
| (free online mind mapping tool) |
Prepare your search strategy
To search effectively it is important to prepare a search strategy.
Identify the key concepts (main ideas) in your assignment. Terminology used will vary, so be sure to consider alternative terms for each. These will be your search keywords.
Have a look at the example question below to see how to start preparing your search strategy.
You can use quotation marks (“ “) to find an exact match, e.g. “healthcare professional”.
Combine your terms to form your search strategy (you'll type this in the search box):
- combine all the search terms for the same concept using OR This will search for any of the words included
- combine different concepts using AND This will search for at least one word from each line
This list doesn't show every possible search term, just a few examples.
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Know what you need
Now consider the types of resources needed to complete your assignment. As information comes in many different formats, some types may be more appropriate to your assessment requirements.
Select the plus symbols below to read more about some of the main resources.
Peer reviewed resources
You may be asked to use 'peer reviewed' or 'refereed' references. These are evaluated by subject experts before publication, so can indicate higher quality and more authoritative information. Not all 'scholarly' or 'academic' resources are peer reviewed.
- Study help: Scholarly sources explained (Video length: 2 min 22 sec)
- How to find peer reviewed journal articles (PDF - 273 KB) This resource discusses scholarly articles, peer reviewed articles, scholarly books and grey literature.
Start your search
- Where to search
- Library Collection
- Google Scholar
You can search for information using a range of tools, including the Library Collection and databases, Google Scholar, and internet search engines. Choose the sources that are best suited to your needs.
Select the plus symbols below to learn more about different search options.
- Choosing where to search video (2 min 31 sec)
Basic search This is the default option when searching in the Library Collection.
1. Add in one keyword for each concept, combining them with AND. Note: Searching for more general terms will find more results. 2. Select Search . 3. Swap your keywords with your alternative terms to see different results.
Advanced search If you would like to do a more comprehensive search, use the Advanced search.
1. Put each concept on a new line 2. Add your alternative words , combining them with OR. 3. Select Search.
Use the filters on the left to limit and refine your results. You could try limiting to:
Medline Searching in Medline is different to searching in the Library Collection.
1. Type your first concept and alternative words into the search box. 2. Untick the box labeled Map to Subject Heading .
Scopus You can do a basic or advanced search, just like in the Library Collection.
1. Type all your keywords for your first concept into the search box. 2. Select the plus symbol to the right to add a line for your next concept. 3. Add all your keywords for your second concept into the search bar. 4. Repeat steps 2-3 until you have used all your concepts. 5. Select Search .
More useful databases:
- Web of Science
Google Scholar You can search Google Scholar in the same way as a basic search on the Library homepage.
- Access Google Scholar on the Library website
- Follow the instructions to link your session to UniSA
- Use the basic Collection search on the Library website
- Look for the PDF links or Fulltext at UniSA links to access the resource
Relevant websites
To find relevant websites that are recommended for your area of study, have a look at the Find evidence: government and organisation information tab in this guide.
You could also visit the following resources:
- Aboriginal Health page
- Aged Care and Mental Health page
- Data and Statistics page
- Grey Literature Guide
- Mental Health 0-65 page
- Migrants and Refugee Health page
- Rural and Remote Health page
You can use Google to search for information from professional bodies, governments, and non-government organisations. This might include reports, clinical guidelines, professional standards, codes of conduct, and more.
Google has a number of useful search features that can make your searching more efficient:
- Google Search Tips
LibKey Nomad
If you are looking for information on the internet, it's worth downloading LibKey Nomad. It's a browser extension that will look for full text PDFs of journal articles from websites outside of the Library Collection. This is helpful when looking on pages such as Wikipedia, because you can easily access and read the articles from the reference list. Instructions to download LibKey Nomad are available here .
Select appropriate references
You should critically evaluate all resources found to determine their appropriateness for your assignment. The video below explains more.
- Having access to a lot of information can be overwhelming.
- Evaluating information helps you decide what resources you should use.
- One technique you can use is the CRAAP test .
- Currency: How recent is the information? Does it suit your needs?
- Relevance: Is the information relevant to your assignment?
- Authority: Who wrote the information? Are they an expert?
- Accuracy: Is the information accurate? Is it supported by evidence?
- Purpose: Why was the resource created? Is there any bias?
- You can use the CRAAP tool to think about these issues when evaluating your resources.
Correctly reference your sources
You must appropriately cite (‘acknowledge’) all references used in your assignment to avoid plagiarism.
- Referencing hub
Write it up
- Written assignments
- Oral presentations
- Videos / Podcasts
The Study Help: assignment writing page has lots of information to help you with writing various types of assignments, including
- Study help: Writing essays
- Study help: Writing reports
- Study help: Writing case studies
- Study help: Writing literature reviews
- Study help: Writing annotated bibliographies
- Study help: Reflective writing
The following resources will help you prepare for oral presentations:
Watch: Building great business presentations (1:08:00) Read: Oral presentations (Study Help page) Read: Ten simple rules for making good oral presentations
The following resources will help you formulate your debate:
Visit: Toastmasters International website Read: Debating: a brief introduction for beginners (Debating SA) Watch: Debate skill: argument building (11:08) Watch: Debate lesson: refutation and rebuttal (11:11)
The following resources will help you create videos: Watch: How to write a script (3:51)
The following resources will help you create podcasts: Watch: Producing podcasts (1:42:00) Watch: How to start a podcast (14:26)
Open source (free) software:
- Sceencast-O-Matic
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- Last Updated: Jul 15, 2024 5:36 PM
- URL: https://guides.library.unisa.edu.au/Nursing
The text within this Guide is licensed CC BY 4.0 . Image licenses can be found within the image attributions document on the last page of the Guide. Ask the Library for information about reuse rights for other content within this Guide.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
2.1 Plan Schedule your work on a particular assignment over a specific period, such a three weeks. Stick to the schedule. 2.2 Consult the prescribed study material- Tutorial letter 101, appropriate study guide and other relevant sources. 2.3 Study the instructions of the assignment and the guidelines- look at the type of an assignment.
Assignments submitted online via myUnisa will be marked online. The marked assignments will be returned to students to be viewed online. If you made a mistake and want to re-submit your assignment, you must do so immediately. You will only be able to submit an assignment while the re-submit link shows next to the assignment number.
Assignments. Assignments help lecturers to see whether you understand the module, and they help you to learn the work and prepare for exams. They're critical and compulsory - you won't be allowed to write the examination unless you've completed the relevant assignments. Last modified: 2023/08/07.
Hi !Here is one of my assignments. I try and keep it as simple as possible. I will share the feedback from this assignment as soon as I receive the marked as...
To check that Unisa has received your assignment, login to myUnisa, click on "myAdmin", "Assessment Admin" and then "Assignments submission". Types of assessments. ... If descriptions are required, for example, then mere artefacts/specimens/photos are inadequate. Please adhere to format and submission requirements.
The Writing your assignment resource is designed and monitored by Learning Advisers and Academic Librarians at UniSA. Write your essay. Use your essay plan to develop your introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion in full. Your completed essay should have a clear argument which is relevant to the assignment task, logically organised so that ...
The information contained in this brochure was correct at the time of publication (20 November 2019) | STUDY @ UNISA | Section 3 47 Set the paper size to A4, default tray, auto feed or auto select Set the left margin to at least 2,5cm and the right margin to 5cm Use black ink Font size: 16 for headings 12 for normal text Use common fonts, eg
• Post each assignment in an individual Unisa C4-sized assignment envelope (extra postage is required for C4-sized envelopes). • Include your module code, assignment number and student number on each page. Due to delays at the South African Post Office, we advise you to submit assignments via myUnisa (online), by courier or at
Assignments. Assignments help lecturers to see whether you understand the module, and they help you to learn the work and prepare for exams. They're critical and compulsory - you won't be allowed to write the examination unless you've completed the relevant assignments. Last modified: Mon Aug 07 11:29:56 SAST 2023.
The Writing your assignment resource is designed and monitored by Learning Advisers and Academic Librarians at UniSA. Write your report. The purpose of a report is to investigate an issue and 'report back' findings which allow people to make decisions or take action and depending on your course. The report may require you to record, to inform ...
that your assignments are received by Unisa (preferably 72 hours before the closing date). To enquire whether the university has received your assignment, go to myUnisa or send an e-mail to [email protected] (include your student number in the subject line). Assignments may be • submitted via myUnisa (online) • placed in a Unisa assignment box
•Submit your assignment with a DECLARATION signed by yourself and a witness. Your study material includes it , if it does not, you may access it on myUnisa at the beginning of each academic semester under "Additional resources". •By including a declaration at the beginning of your
For example, if your year mark is average (say 60%) and you gets 80% in the exams, your year mark will be disregarded. TYPES OF ASSIGNMENTS: Informal Assignment for students with Internet access ... Put your assignment in a Unisa envelope and post it to Unisa. (Use the services and procedures booklet, that you have received with your ...
Assignments. Assignments help lecturers to see whether you understand the module, and they help you to learn the work and prepare for exams. They're critical and compulsory - you won't be allowed to write the examination unless you've completed the relevant assignments. Click here for more information.
Login with your student number and myUnisa password. Find the module code for which you want to submit a take-home or portfolio answer file. The link will only display if the examination session is still open for submissions. Click on the link to submit your answer file. A new screen will open that will guide you through the steps to upload ...
Step 1: Load assignment file from your PC to myUnisa. Click on the Browse button next to File Name. In the Choose File dialog box, select the file you want to upload, and then click OK. Select the correct programme format from the File Format drop-down list (i.e. MS Word, Excel, WordPerfect, PDF etc.) Click on the Continue button.
Assignment submission methods. All Assignments should be submitted online (via the Internet) using the myUnisa site. Join myUnisa. Before you can use the online assignment submission functions on myUnisa, you have to join as a myUnisa user and allocate yourself a password. Only students who are registered for the current academic year may use ...
UNISA Assignments Submission. User Name: Password: University of South Africa UNISA Assignments Submission. User Name: Password ...
Prepare your search strategy. To search effectively it is important to prepare a search strategy. Identify the key concepts (main ideas) in your assignment. Terminology used will vary, so be sure to consider alternative terms for each. These will be your search keywords. Have a look at the example question below to see how to start preparing ...
To check that Unisa has received your assignment, login to myUnisa, click on "myAdmin", "Assessment Admin" and then "Assignments submission". Types of assessments. ... If descriptions are required, for example, then mere artefacts/specimens/photos are inadequate. Please adhere to format and submission requirements.
PYC4808 Assignment 6 2023 Guide and Answers. Exam (elaborations) • 69 pages • 2023. Available in package deal. 2023 Guide contains assignment answers that got over 90%. Includes: Intro and conclusion points; Analysis in context of FOC and SOC with examples about UNISA and COVID for each principle of FOC and SOC.