HC7/3/AA/01U Academic Writing Skills Assignment Questions

HC73AA01U LEARNING OUTCOMES – Academic Writing | YHS243

1.    Be able to plan a structured written response.
2.    Be able to develop a structured response to a plan.
3.    Be able to present the response appropriately for audience and purpose.
4.    Understand how to apply academic writing principals to own work.

HC7/3/AA/01U Assignment Tasks

Task 1

Essay Title: Explain the importance of academic integrity in academic writing

Planning:

 1. Command Verb (AC 1.1a)

What command verb is used in the title?

The command verb used in the title is ‘’Explain’’.

What does this command verb requires you to do?
The command verb requires me to give clear information about what academic integrity is and why it is important. It also requires me to describe what it means and provide examples to demonstrate my understanding.

2. Subject of the Assignment (AC 1.1b)

What is the main subject of the essay?

The main subject of the essay is Academic integrity.

What context should the essay consider (where the subject applies)?

Academic writing.

3. Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to:
(What are you being asked to explain or show understanding of?)

The purpose of the assignment is to explain the importance of academic integrity in academic writing and demonstrate an understanding of academic integrity.

4. Main Points to be Covered (AC 1.1b)

List the key points you will include to answer the question.

What to Do After Planning and Before Writing Your Essay

(The Learning Stage)

Before you start writing your essay, you need to learn about the topic.
Your plan shows what you will write about, but research and learning help you understand what to say.

This stage is important because academic writing is based on learned knowledge and evidence.

Step 1: Understand That Writing Comes After Learning

You should not start writing the essay immediately after planning.

Instead, you must:

• Read and learn about academic integrity
• Understand academic malpractice
• Find out what your institution’s policies say - find them here

This ensures your work is:

• Accurate
• Academic
• Properly referenced

Step 2: Identify What You Need to Research

Use your plan to guide your research.

You need to find information on:

• What academic integrity means
• Principles of academic integrity (e.g. honesty, responsibility)
• What academic malpractice is
• Examples of malpractice (e.g. plagiarism, collusion)
• Consequences of malpractice
• Your institution’s academic integrity or malpractice policy - find them here

Write these as headings in your notes before you start researching.

Step 3: Use Appropriate Academic Sources

You should use reliable and appropriate sources, such as:

• Your course handbook or student policies
• Your institution’s academic integrity or malpractice policy - find them here
• Textbooks
• Course learning materials
• Reputable educational websites

Avoid:

• Copying directly from websites
• Using blogs or informal sources
• Relying only on one source (don’t just rely on the AOLL materials, add to this with your own research to evidence your own research skills)

Step 4: Take Notes – Do Not Copy

When researching, do not copy and paste large sections of text.

Instead:

• Read a short section
• Close the source
• Write the idea in your own words

This helps you:

• Understand the topic
• Avoid plagiarism
• Prepare for academic writing

Step 5: Keep Clear Research Notes

Your notes should show:

• What you have learned
•  Where the information came from

Recommended Note Format

Use a table or bullet-point notes like this:

Topic: Academic Integrity

• Academic integrity means acting honestly in academic work.
• It includes producing original work and acknowledging sources.
• Source: Smith (2022)

Topic: Academic Malpractice

• Academic malpractice includes plagiarism and collusion.
• Plagiarism is using someone else’s work without referencing.
• Source: University Academic Integrity Policy (2024)

Step 6: Record Source Details as You Go

Every time you make notes, write down:

•  Author
• Year
• Title
• Where you found it (book, website, policy)

This will make referencing much easier later and helps evidence your learning.

Step 7: Show Evidence of Learning Before Writing

Before you start writing your essay, you should have:

•  A completed plan
• Research notes under clear headings (to be uploaded in the research notes area)
• Sources recorded for each topic
• A basic understanding of the topic in your own words

Student Check: Am I Ready to Start Writing?

You are ready to start writing when you can tick all of these:

• I understand what academic integrity is
• I understand what academic malpractice is
• I know what my institution’s policy says
•  I have written notes in my own words
• I have recorded my sources
•  I feel confident explaining the topic without copying

Essay – if you are now ready to write, use the guidance below:

1. Introduction (Approx. 100 words)

Purpose:

To introduce the topic and set up the discussion.
Include:

• A brief explanation of what academic integrity means in an academic context.
• A short statement explaining why academic integrity is important in academic writing.
• A clear indication that the essay will:
  
  o    Explain the concept of academic integrity
  o    Explain the consequences of academic malpractice, with reference to your own educational institution’s policy

2. Explaining the Concept of Academic Integrity (AC 4.2) – 250 words

Focus:

This section must clearly explain what academic integrity is and how it applies to academic writing.

Content Guidance:

• Provide a clear definition of academic integrity.
• Explain the core principles of academic integrity, such as:
  o    Honesty
  o    Responsibility
  o    Fairness
  o    Respect for the work of others
  
  
• Explain how academic integrity is demonstrated in academic writing, for example:
  o    Producing original work
  o    Correctly acknowledging sources through referencing
  o    Paraphrasing appropriately
  
  
• Use appropriate academic terminology (e.g. plagiarism, citation, referencing, academic honesty).
  
  
• Explain why academic integrity is essential in maintaining:
  o    Trust in academic work
  o    Academic standards
  o    Personal credibility as a student

3. Consequences of Academic Malpractice (AC 4.3) – 300 words
Focus:

This section must explain the consequences of academic malpractice and make explicit reference to the AOLL policies.

Content Guidance:

• Define academic malpractice.
  
  
• Identify common forms of malpractice, such as:
  o    Plagiarism
  o    Collusion
  o    Poor or missing referencing
  o    Submitting work that is not your own
  
  
• Explain the academic consequences of malpractice at AOLL. 
  
  
• Refer directly to the policies, explaining:
  o    What happens if malpractice is confirmed
  
  
• Explain why these consequences exist, linking them to:
  o    Fairness for all students
  o    Maintaining academic standards
  o    Preparing students for higher education and professional practice

4. Conclusion (Approx. 100 words)

Include:

• A brief summary of what academic integrity is.
• A recap of why it is important in academic writing.
• A clear statement on the consequences of academic malpractice.
• A final sentence reinforcing the responsibility of students to follow institutional academic integrity policies.

Checklist

Before submitting, check that you have:

• Saved all drafts of your work
• Used clear academic English suitable for Level 3
• Used appropriate academic terminology
• Maintained a logical structure with clear paragraphs
• Written for an academic audience
• Used an appropriate referencing style consistently
• Included in-text citations and a reference list
• Clearly explained academic integrity (AC 4.2)
• Clearly explained consequences of malpractice with reference to your institution’s policy (AC 4.3)
• Describe how the Access to HE Diploma requires the use of quadratic referencing to ensure compliance with academic integrity policies.

Essay:

Bibliography: