English Writing Requirement Assignment Guidelines (SPEED)

Subject code SPD2318

Subject title Exploring International Relations in the Contemporary World

Credit value 3

Weighting of the writing Draft 1: 700 words

requirement assignment
Draft 2: 1,800 words
Draft 3: 2,500 words

Word limit
2500- 2600 words

Genre Argumentative essay

Writing instructions for students 1. What is the purpose of the assessment?

a. To analyse global issues with concepts, approaches

and perspectives covered in this course
b. To apply knowledge gained from reading (and lectures
if appropriate) to the topics
c. To evaluate challenges and opportunities regarding IR
issues
d. To express clear arguments regarding global IR issues
through critical thinking

2. What skills do you expect students to demonstrate?

a. Critical thinking skills including analysis and

evaluation of IR topics and application of concepts
b. Organisation of ideas in a logical sequence within the
essay and within paragraphs
c. Research skills, for locating relevant examples and
data to support the students argument
d. Writing skills with appropriate tone and grammatical
expression
e. Referencing skills to show sources of ideas and
information which are not the students

Role of reading What is the role of reading in this assignment?

Students are expected to read the required texts and use them
as source material where appropriate for the writing
assignment (properly referenced).
What kinds of sources are acceptable?
Journal articles, academic books, and credible news sources
(e.g. BBC, The Economist)
Are sources in languages other than English acceptable? Ok
Are you expecting a minimum number of references? The
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 assigned readings should be used as references; additional
references found through research indicate better effort

Organisational pattern What organisational pattern do you expect?

Introduction which gets readers attention and generates

interest in the topic, provides sufficient background
information, has a clear thesis statement, and previews the
organisation of the rest of the essay.

Body paragraphs which begin with an effective topic

sentence that contains the complete main idea of the
paragraph and supports the thesis. Development of that idea
with discussion of concepts, examples, data and statistics.

Conclusion which restates the thesis statement, briefly

summarises the main points of the essay, and gives a final
word on the topic.

References which include all sources used (with

corresponding in-text citations in the essay).

What should be covered in the 1st and 2nd drafts?

First draft:
Introduction
Body paragraphs with topic sentences and some development
In-text citations and end-of-text references

Second draft:
Revisions based on Feedback report
Introduction
Body paragraphs with topic sentences
Development
In-text citations and end-of-text references

References / Formatting style APA, Chicago or Harvard

Font size 12; double spacing

Submission deadlines Submission of first draft

From October 3 - 6 (Deadline Oct. 6, 23:55)
(soft copy via Moodle/Blackboard)

Submission of second draft

From October 31 Nov. 3 (Deadline November 3, 23:55)
(soft copy via Moodle/Blackboard)

Submission of final draft

Beginning of lecture in week 13
(hard copy submitted in class AND soft copy via Turnitin on
Moodle/Blackboard)

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Plagiarism Turnitin will be used to discourage plagiarism.

Marking criteria What criteria will you use to assess this assignment?

Analysis of global issues with the concepts, approaches and

perspectives covered in the course, including:
Show thorough and in-depth understanding of the
concepts learned
Apply all concepts correctly in the research context
Demonstrate independent and critical thinking
regarding global and IR issues
Analyse IR issues creatively and logically
Evaluate strategies and give relevant justifications
Argue coherently and thoroughly
Give logical and well supported recommendations