ACADENG 101 - Academic English Writing Assignment 1 2026 | University of Auckland

ACADENG 101 - Academic English Writing Assignment

Learning Outcomes: 

1) Assignment 1 is an expository essay on the topic:

Teaching and learning online is increasingly commonplace. Examine the advantages and disadvantages of online education and Zoom classes.

The word limit is 650-750 words. We suggest that 650 words is the bare minimum.
The words used in the Planning are not included in the word count - only the words in the essay. Any essays under 650 words, or over 800 words long, will be penalised for being the wrong length.

2) No resources

You MUST NOT look at any resource to write this essay - no Google, no Wikipedia... in fact, no websites at all - no books - do not ask your classmates or friends for ideas - do not approach any other person for any kind of help. It must be your own ideas only and there must be no references to any source. You work will be submitted to Turnitin automatically. If Turnitin, or any other source, shows that you have copied any part of a resource for this essay, you may receive zero marks for this assignment and risk disciplinary procedures for plagiarism (cheating).
Do NOT ask a classmate if you can look at their essay - this is also cheating.

3) No English language help

You MUST NOT get help with your English. ACADENG 101/93F is different from other courses you take at university in that your ability to write clear, accurate English and edit your own work is part of what is being assessed through your assignments. Therefore, you are not permitted to have help with writing or re-writing all or any part of your assessed work by third parties. Examples of "third parties" are: other students, friends, parents or other family members, Student Learning Services or ELE staff, and professional editing services. This applies to all work for this course.

4) Formatting in WORD document:

Type your essay in a clear font such as Times New Roman, font size 12, in a WORD doc. (not .pag or .pdf) You must DOUBLE-LINE SPACE in the WORD doc (see 'Paragraph', 'Spacing' option in WORD) - this is because it will be marked online so the marker can fit in comments around your words. Double line spacing should look like this spacing if you have correctly set it. Also use page margins of 2.5cm Left and Right.

5) Planning

You must include the Planning i.e. Mind Map 1, or Listing 1, with labels showing organisation (a,b,c headings), plus Mind Map 2 with the branches showing the organised ideas, or Listing 2 showing the items grouped under headings. Include an outline. The outline must have a full sentence for the thesis statement and preview of essay structure. The Body paragraphs use note form/bullet points - not full sentences. Mind maps or listing is OK for planning.
You can only upload ONE document and can only submit your assignment ONE TIME. So, if you do the planning as a diagram, take a photo of each item and insert the images into your WORD document (see pp. 25-26 of the coursebook).

6) Deadline

Assignment received after the deadline will incur a penalty of -5% per day late, for up to 5 days. For details of the penalties policy, see pp. 2-4 of the course outline. Any request for an extension must be supported with appropriate evidence e.g. a signed medical certificate from a doctor confirming the severity of your illness and inability to hand in work on time. Note that penalties are automatically calculated on CANVAS so even a minute past the deadline will be considered late. So make sure you submit on time otherwise you will receive a penalty and this is non-negotiable.

How your assignment will be marked ...

7) Marking - Your work will be marked using the following 5 criteria:

• Planning 20% (Brainstorming and further organisation of ideas; Fully developed outline - use a full sentence for your thesis in the outline but use note form, not full sentences, for body paragraphs. in the outline),
• Paragraph format 20% (Correct structure of Introduction, Body paragraphs with topic sentence and supporting sentences, correct structure of Conclusion),
• Content Quality 20% (Achieves task, clear logical and well-developed ideas, correct length),
• Academic Style 20% (no informal or conversational language),
• Language Accuracy 20% (grammar, punctuation and spelling are accurate).

Planning 20%

Brainstorming + further organisation of ideas.
Fully developed outline (full sentence thesis, note form for body paragraphs.)

Parag. Format 20%

Intro. + conclusion have appropriate structure.
Body parags. have a clear topic sentence and appropriate supporting sentences. Appropriate use of cohesive devices.

Content Quality 20%

Quality ideas + clear explanation of subject matter. Logical reasoning and development of points.
Task achievement and satisfactory word count.

Academic Style 20%

Academic language and style.
No informality or conversational style.

Lang. Accuracy 20%

Accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling.