New TMA Format
The TMA comprises two in-class writing tasks each carries 10% of
the semester grade. Students will be required to perform two in-class
writing tasks of approximately 350 words each. The first task is done
in week 5, and the second task in week 11. Tutors will evaluate and
grade each of the two tasks, spot the writing (structure and
mechanics) problems and then compare the students’ performance in
each task while measuring the degree of progress in task 2.
1
EL112: English Communication Skills II
TMA: FIRST SEMESTER 2011/2012
PART I: TMA INFORMATION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
ASSIGNMENT DUE DATE
UNITS COVERED
Week 10
New Headway Plus (Upper-Intermediate):
Units 1 - 6
NUMBER OF PAGES
10
ASSIGNMENT COMPONENTS WRITING
TOTAL POINTS
20
PART II: STUDENT INFORMATION (to be completed by student)
Student's NAME
ID
I confirm that the work presented here is my own and is not copied from any
source (i.e., no act of plagiarism is committed).
Student's signature:
Tutor's Name
Section
PART III: TUTOR REMARKS (to be completed by tutor)
Tutor's name
Date received
Signature
Date returned
INPORTANT NOTE: Students are advised to consult the attached Grading Rubric
& Grade Descriptors (last 2 pages of TMA) which explain how their piece of writing
will be graded/evaluated.
NOTES:
GRADE:
2
The following are guidelines on plagiarism:
If you submit an assignment that contains work other than yours without acknowledging
your sources, you are committing plagiarism. This might occur when:







Using a sentence or phrase that you have come across
Copying word-for-word directly from a text
Paraphrasing the words from the text very closely
Using text downloaded from the Internet
Borrowing statistics or assembled fact from another person or source
Copying or downloading figures, photographs, pictures or diagrams without
acknowledging your sources
Copying from the notes or essays of a fellow student
(Slightly adapted from OU document on quoting versus plagiarism)
It is important to remember that plagiarism is strictly barred and would be subject
to punitive action by the Arab Open University.
Part One: Assignment (1): 10 points
Write a four-paragraph essay of approximately (500 words) on the following topic:
"The job market is getting more competitive than ever before.” Discuss.
It is important that you consult the following checklist before submitting your
assignment.

Introduction (relevant background about the topic).

Thesis statement (the main idea discussed or analyzed)

Body (details to support the thesis)

Conclusion (restatement of the thesis)

Organization of ideas or paragraphs.

Variety of sentences.

Mechanics of writing

Transitional words.

Editing, revising, and proofreading
3
Write your essay here: (10 points)
* Underline/highlight: (1) the thesis statement, and (2) the topic sentence in each body
paragraph.
4
5
End of Part 1/Assignment 1
6
Part two: Assignment (2): (10 points)
Write a four-paragraph essay of approximately (500 words) on the following topic:
"The concept of voluntary work/services: How does it appeal to you?”
It is important that you consult to use the following checklist before you submit your
assignment:

Introduction (relevant background about the topic).

Thesis statement (the main idea discussed or analyzed)

Body (details to support the thesis)

Conclusion (restatement of the thesis)

Organization of ideas or paragraphs.

Variety of sentences.

Mechanics of writing

Transitional words.

Editing, revising, and proofreading
7
Write your essay here: (10 points)
* Underline/highlight: (1) the thesis statement, and (2) the topic sentence in each body
paragraph.
8
End of Part 2/ Assignment 2
[Please see Grading Rubric and Grade Descriptors on pages 9 & 10 below]
9
EL112 TMA Grading Rubric
I. The EL112 TMA consists of two extended pieces of writing; each carries 10%, with a
total of 20% of the semester grade.
II. The TMA is marked as follows:
a) An introductory section with a clear and underlined thesis statement:
b) Supporting sentences/details:
8 marks
11 mark
mark
, divided as follows:
1- Use of relevant ideas/supporting sentences and vocabulary
to support the thesis statement:
[2 marks]
2- Grammatical structure: [verb forms, tenses, s-v-agreement, etc.]:
[3 marks]
3- Mechanics of writing: punctuation, spelling, and overall paragraph
format/layout:
[2 marks]
4- Transition/linking words:
[1 mark]
c) Concluding section, with a clear concluding/closing signal:
11mark
mark
Grade Descriptors
Grade
Content
Language, Organization & Documentation
A
- Excellent answers showing confident and
wide-ranging knowledge of core material,
good understanding of any relevant theory,
a capacity to address the question in a
structured, direct and effective way,
thoughtfully and with insight.
- Originality of thought or ideas from
outside the course are an added asset.
Examples are to the point.
B
- Very good answers showing secure
knowledge of course materials.
- Adopting an analytical approach and
providing relevant discussion covering
most of the key issues.
- Has an introduction defining plan of essay.
- Body divided into several paragraphs
- Conclusion which directly relates arguments to
topic.
- Using relevant references/resources [ other than
course teaching materials] and properly documenting
them
- Evidence that essay has been edited.
- Error-free grammar & register.
- Wide range of specialized terminology.
First five criteria above maintained
- Demonstrates extensive grammar control.
- Terminology specialized but less varied.
To
B+
10
- Distinguished from A answers by being
less insightful or by showing less
comprehensive knowledge of the course.
C
To
C+
Competent answers reflecting adequate
knowledge of the more directly relevant
course material and concepts, with
reasonable structure and adequate
coherence related to the question set.
D
Answers which omit some concepts
/evidence and/or lack coherence
/structure, and/or make minor errors while
still demonstrating basic understanding. Or
Bare pass answers which show awareness
of some relevant material and attempt to
relate it to the question.
F
Bare fail answers which attempt to draw
upon relevant material but do not reflect
sufficient knowledge of the course and/or
neglect the focus required by the question,
and/or are incomplete in some important
aspects whilst being acceptable in others.
11
- Introduction and/or conclusion short but still
satisfactory.
- Evidence of editing.
- Reasonably documented
- Less grammar control than above.
- Good range of specialized terminology.
- Introduction and/or conclusion short but
acceptable.
- Slightly confused introduction and/or conclusion,
but body still fair.
- Not documented properly
- Few grammatical errors that impede
communication.
- Above average range of specialized terminology.
- No evidence of editing.
- No introduction and /or no conclusion.
- Body badly organized or irrelevant.
- absence of references
- Poor grammar control (extremely limited range of
grammar & register).
- Limited or not specialized range of terminology.