This document provides guidance on planning and writing an academic assignment. It discusses demonstrating key skills to the lecturer such as research, analysis, organization and communication of knowledge. It emphasizes structuring the assignment like a legal case with an introduction, body and conclusion. Sample topics, word count and deadline are given. Guidance is provided on developing an argument plan, finding and organizing relevant resources, using an appropriate essay structure and format, and correctly citing sources using the Harvard referencing style.

1. Planning
your
assignment
Charmaine Botha
Learning Skills Advisor
Monash South Africa

2. 2
Learning Skills Advisors Librarians
Charmaine Botha Sibusisiwe Mgquba
Focus:
Health Sciences, Social Sciences, FP
& HDR
Tel: 011 950 4455
charmaine.botha@monash.edu
Focus
Health Sciences, Social Sciences, FP
& HDR
Tel. 011 950 4150
Sibusisiwe.mgquba@monash.edu
John Small Linda Mbonambi
Focus
Bus Eco, IT, HDR & FP
Tel: 011 950 4248
John.small@monash.edu
Focus
Bus Eco, IT, HDR & FP
Tel: 011 950 4032
Linda.mbonambi@monash.edu

3. 3
What do we want to achieve with an
academic assignment?
Demonstrate
to your lecturer that you are able to:
Embark on an inquiry / research – analyse question
Find Information / do research
Evaluate and Analyse the information
Organize the information
Apply the information to answer the question
Communicate (specific format) your knowledge
(written/oral)

4. 4
It’s like being a lawyer presenting a case
in court:

5. Assessment Task 1:
Academic Essay
5
• Value:
• Due Date: 7th September 2015, 4 pm
• Word limit: 2000 words
• Details of task:
• You are required to write an academic essay on:
 Compare and describe organised and disorganised crime
scenes and serial murderers
 Or
 Critically discuss the FBI Motivational Model. Make use of case
study to lead your discussion.

6. Introductory Readings:
• See reading list
6

7. Presentation requirements:
Academic essay format, Harvard referencing
The essay is to include
– Title page:
• the title of the research,
• the student name and student number,
• tutor name and
• the word count
– Table of Contents and page numbers
– Introduction
– Body
• Heading and sub headings
• Heading and sub headings
• Heading and sub headings
– Conclusion
– Reference List (Harvard) 7

8. Begin by identifying the key concepts
e.g. the topic/content areas
Identify the directive words e.g.
analyse, discuss, etc.
Note any limitations e.g. scope, time
period, field of study, area
8

9. Introduction
• Compare and describe organised and
disorganised crime scenes and serial
murderers
Or
• Critically discuss the FBI Motivational Model.
Make use of case study to lead your
discussion.
9

10. Plan your argument
 Once you have analysed the topic and read your starting
reference, you will need to construct a rough plan. This
allows you to put down YOUR academic (not personal)
ideas and opinions (to be verified through research)
 Mind-mapping usually works well here, as well as
discussing the topic with your fellow students. (but STOP
here so as not to fall into a collusion trap)
 Some students prefer to make a plan before researching,
some after.
 However, it is important to remain flexible, as your
knowledge of the topic and opinion on it may change as
you read more.
10

11. 11
Compare and describe organised and
disorganised crime scenes and serial
murderers
Disorganized
crime scene
(desribe)
How does
this relate to
Serial
murders??
Organized
crime scene
(desribe)
Using
relevant
research
findings
Offender
profiling
Compare
(similiarities and differences)

12. 12
Critically discuss the FBI Motivational
Model. Make use of case study to lead your
discussion
What?
Who?
Why?
When
Where?
How?
How does
this relate to
profiling of
serial
murderers
FBI
Motivational
Model
Using
relevant
research
findings
CASE
STUDY
Critically
discuss

13. 13
Critically discuss the FBI Motivational Model. Make use of
case study to lead your discussion
Critically discuss: present the information critically thus you are
evaluating the FBI MM
Thesis: Is the FBI motivation model worthwhile or not?
Introduce the FBI motivational model (What /who) and explain why,
when, where and how it can be applied to your case study
Present information to support your thesis:
• You have to present your academic point of view (NOT a personal
point of view)
• Why is it worthwhile or why is it not worthwhile, from criminology
principles
• Present information to contradict your thesis (….it can be argued
that…) also critically evaluate this in terms of criminology principles:
what else?
• Analysis of strengths and weaknesses
• Use research of others to compare your thoughts with
• Conclude… confirm/contradict thesis brief summarize main points

14. Find Witnesses (resources)
 Once you have identified the content area you will need to
examine, you will need to consider what kinds of resources are
required (books, journals, websites, statistics, etc.) and set about
acquiring them.
 Look at your Introductory reading, use the reference lists of these
books and journals, and identify what will be required.
 Remember you will need to evaluate the worth of these
resources, so read critically.
 Decide what kind of supporting information will be necessary,
and set about organising your resources to achieve your goal.
Often books are good for ‘big picture’ information, while journals
are often good for supporting details.
14

15. Library resources
Resource Name Keywords Results Comments
SEARCH
• SA Library
 Physical Books
 E-Books
Main key concept (e.g.)
• Crime scenes
• Organized
• Disorganized
• Serial murders
• Offender profiling
Physical Book(s) in SA libarary
Electronic Books
Do a secondary search within the book of
your sub-key concept
SA has limited books in this area
at least one or two versus large
number of students (lecturer
needs to reserve)
Everyone can use the same e-
book at the same time
DATA BASES Keywords Results Comments
• (S) >
SA e Publications
Main key concept(e.g.)
• Crime scenes
• Organized
• Disorganized
• Serial murders
• Offender profiling
Journal articles / Books/
Theses/ Web pages
Articles relevant to
SA and Africa
available
• (P) >
Proquest Criminal
Justice
(F) >
FORENSICnetBASE
Main key concept (e.g.)
 FBI motivational model
 Holmes and Holmes
 Case studies
Examples of relevant articles in
journals and other resources as
well (these are interdisciplinary
databases)
• Large number of
articles available
international
• (G) >
Google Scholar
(Monash)
Main key concept (e.g.)
 FBI motivational model
 Holmes and Holmes
 Case studies
Examples of relevant articles in
journals and other resources as
well (these are interdisciplinary
databases)
Large number of articles
available international
15

16. Finding Resources
16
Finding a specific Database:
Chose letter on the A-Z list:
(or according to subject):
• PsychINFO
• Science Direct
• Scopus
• Ovid Medline
General Search:
Type in key concepts
to do a general
search under the
Monash SA, e-book
or Online Articles tab
Using Lib Guides: Select
• Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
• Psychology

17. Possible key words for search:
(Play around and try alternatives)
Use “Advance search” option where available
Topic 1
 Crime scenes
 Organized
 Disorganized
 Serial murders
 Offender profiling
17
Topic 2
 FBI motivational model
 Holmes and Holmes
 Case studies
OR

18. 18
The essay/report structure
Can be seen as a diamond with the introduction and conclusion at the top and bottom and the
body paragraphs fitting into the middle of the diamond in a series of smaller diamond shapes.

19. Body paragraphs
19
Paragraph element Purpose
1. Topic
Sentence
This sentence starts by referring to the thesis/your
argument. It continues to include the main point of this
paragraph (your voice)
2. Additional
Information
This explains further the point made in the topic sentence.
(your voice)
3. Evidence
sentences
These are essential to justify your point. Your evidence
comes from your research and may include examples,
data, quotes, statistics, graphics and illustrations. All
supporting evidence must be from authoritative sources and
cited in your essay. (quote or paraphrase – reference voice)
4. Concluding
sentence
Again, this sentence links the main thesis of the essay with
the main point of the paragraph. (your voice)

20. Acknowledging your resources:
Citing and referencing
 NB NB NB : if you cite and reference correctly, you will not plagiarize
 Ways to cite and reference:
1. MANUALLY (DO the library on-line tutorial 15minutes):
 http://resources.lib.monash.edu.au/learning-objects/test/apa-quick-guide/
 http://monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/citing/
2. Using MICRO-SOFT WORD REFERENCING (but you still need to have
the manual referencing background knowledge)
3. Using ENDNOTE (but you still need to have the manual referencing
background knowledge)
Referencing resources: Monash Shared (S:)
S:UG-SubjectsSharedLibraryCharmaine Learning
skillsReferencingAPA Psychology 2015
20

21. Writing your report
 For more assistance on
writing or
communicating your
findings, contact a
learning skills advisor
in the library
21