Syllabus Academic Writing and Other Study Skills

                                        (CJVA401 / CJVA101)

                                      Author: David Hoeflaak


A: Aim of the Course

The aim of the course is to provide students with a solid foundation on how to write and structure
scientific texts in a coherent manner, using an appropriate academic style and method of
referencing. In addition, students will learn how to evaluate the merit of sources and find their
own voice based upon that source material.  The three pillars of the course are coherency,
referencing, and language / style.


B: Grading

Two grading points will be established. The first grading point will make up 30% of the total final
grade and will arrive midway through the course. It will be based on the selection of appropriate
source material, the formulation of a thesis statement (including sub questions), a short tentative
background and a short tentative introduction which will allow students to have a solid basis to
work towards the final essay which will make up the 70% remainder of the total grade. The first
grading point will be based upon a literature matrix using the thesis statement and sub-questions
to prove the merit of the source material in answering the research question and a thesis
statement, first draft of the background and an introduction.

Literature Matrix Example:


                                             Questions


                                         Deephouse (2000)


                                       Rindova et al. (2005)


                                     Roberts & Dowling (2002)


                                             Synthesis


What is corporate reputation?

(main question)














What are the dimensions of corporate reputation?

(sub question)















How is corporate reputation formed?

(sub question)














What are the effects of positive corporate reputation?

(sub question)
















The final essay will be graded in the following manner:


                                          Student's Name

                                      Highest Possible Score

                                           Actual Score



A. Introduction & Conclusion

Discussion of the relevance of the paper

                                                 2


Statement of the objective(s) of the paper

                                                 1


Discussion of the sections of the paper

                                                 1


Congruence between the research objectives and the concluding remarks

                                                 3


Conformity between the discussion and the concluding remarks

                                                 3


B. Body of the Paper

                                                10

                                                 0

Logical organisation of the paper into sections/subsections

                                                 2


Sufficient use of facts and information to support arguments

                                                 3


Balance between the writers voice and other authors' voices

                                                 3


Adequate operational definition of important terms and concepts (appropriate jargon)

                                                 2


C. Sentences and Paragraphs

                                                10

                                                 0

Clarity and correctness of sentences

                                                 5


Paragraph unity

                                                 1


Paragraph coherence via topic sentences & linking words

                                                 3


Logical transition between paragraphs

                                                 1


D. Grammar & Other technical writing aspects

                                                10

                                                 0

Appropriateness of word usage

                                                 2


Appropriateness of verb tenses

                                                 2


Adherence to the correct rules of spelling

                                                 2


Adherence to the rules of capitalization and proper use of punctuation marks

                                                 2


Appropriateness of the papers' tone

                                                 2


E. In-text Citation and Referencing

                                                10

                                                 0

Conformity of the in-text citation APA style

                                                 4


Conformity of the reference list (end-of-text)

                                                 4


Balance between direct quotation and summarizing

                                                 2


Score Computation

                                                10

                                                 0