This presentation was prepared for students of Contemporary Management at Massey University, New Zealand. It focuses on the essay questions for assignment 2.

1. ESSAY WRITING & REFERENCING
152200 Contemporary Management
These slides can be viewed at:
tinyurl.com/152200essays

2. You will learn how to to:
• Structure and plan an essay
• Structure a paragraph
• Support your argument with citations
• Compile a correct APA reference list
Learning outcomes

3. ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS

4. TWO WEEKS FROM NOW!
Use our assignment
planning calculator at
owll.massey.ac.nz

5. TYPICALLY, TEN
PARAGRAPHS OF
ABOUT SIX SENTENCES
OR SEVEN EACH.

6. TOPIC A TOPIC BRELATIONSHIP
TOPIC A
TOPIC B
RELATIONSHIP

7. Argue for OR against
the claim in the
question
Explain topics and
give examples
Refer to 6 – 20 books
or journal articles

8. ESSAY STRUCTURE

9. The question requires you to produce a logical,
evidence-based argument that:
Topic A has Relationship X to Topic B
You have to do this in 1500 words; i.e. about 10
paragraphs of about six or seven sentences each
This is a very common type of essay question and a very
common length!

10. Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Explain one topic
Paragraph 3: Explain the other topic
Paragraph 4: First reason supporting the relationship
Paragraph 5: Example
Paragraph 6: Second reason supporting the relationship
Paragraph 7: Example
Paragraph 8: Third reason supporting the relationship
Paragraph 9: Example
Paragraph 10: Conclusion
Possible essay structure for a
(Topic A has relationship X with Topic B) essay

11. Example essay question:
Confucianism has much to contribute to contemporary leadership.
Topic A has Relationship X to Topic B
Discuss with your partner
How could you plan a 1500 word essay on this question?

12. Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Key ideas of Confucianism
Paragraph 3: Key challenges of modern leadership
Paragraph 4: Contribution 1
Paragraph 5: Example
Paragraph 6: Contribution 2
Paragraph 7: Example
Paragraph 8: Contribution 3
Paragraph 9: Example
Paragraph 10: Conclusion

13. PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE

14. Confucianism is a philosophical and ethical approach to the maintenance of
social stability. Social relationships are categorised into five types: emperor-
subject, father-son, husband-wife, older-young brother, and friend-friend.
Leadership is central to all of these relationships because society is viewed as
hierarchical, with each member typically having power over some, while being
subservient to others. The potential for power struggles means that harmony is
seen as a key objective in order to secure the sustainability of the society.
Therefore, in an organisational context, leaders need to maintain a harmonious
environment in which employees willingly accept their duties. The credibility of
leaders is strengthened by a commitment to continual self-improvement, with
the aim of achieving the status of junzi, or person of exemplary moral
character.
Here is paragraph 2 from the Confucianism essay
DISCUSS WITH YOUR PARTNER: Is this well-written?

15. Confucianism is a philosophical and ethical approach to the maintenance of
social stability. Social relationships are categorised into five types: emperor-
subject, father-son, husband-wife, older-young brother, and friend-friend.
Leadership is central to all of these relationships because society is viewed as
hierarchical, with each member typically having power over some, while being
subservient to others. The potential for power struggles means that harmony is
seen as a key objective in order to secure the sustainability of the society.
Therefore, in an organisational context, leaders need to maintain a harmonious
environment in which employees willingly accept their duties. The credibility of
leaders is strengthened by a commitment to continual self-improvement, with
the aim of achieving the status of junzi, or person of exemplary moral
character.
The paragraph also has FLOW because each new sentence refers back to a key
idea In the previous sentence; OLD before NEW!
YES. The paragraph has a clear FOCUS on the theme of the essay, because
the key word is repeated throughout.

16. Confucianism is a philosophical and ethical approach to the maintenance of
social stability. Social relationships are categorised into five types: emperor-
subject, father-son, husband-wife, older-young brother, and friend-friend.
Leadership is central to all of these relationships because society is viewed as
hierarchical, with each member typically having power over some, while being
subservient to others. The potential for power struggles means that harmony is
seen as a key objective in order to secure the sustainability of the society.
Therefore, in an organisational context, leaders need to maintain a harmonious
environment in which employees willingly accept their duties. The credibility of
leaders is strengthened by a commitment to continual self-improvement, with
the aim of achieving the status of junzi, or person of exemplary moral
character.
But what’s missing from the paragraph?
• There are no citations (e.g. Ip, 2009).
• This means the reader has no idea what research the argument is based on.
• In other words, it is plagiarised!

17. How might the lecturer react to this paragraph?
• LOW or FAIL grade: This is regardless of how ‘true’ the
ideas are, or how well it was written.
• Possible academic PENALTY.

18. Confucianism is a philosophical and ethical approach to the maintenance of
social stability. Social relationships are categorised into five types: emperor-
subject, father-son, husband-wife, older-young brother, and friend-friend.
Leadership is central to all of these relationships because society is viewed as
hierarchical, with each member typically having power over some, while being
subservient to others. The potential for power struggles means that harmony is
seen as a key objective in order to secure the sustainability of the society.
Therefore, in an organisational context, leaders need to maintain a harmonious
environment in which employees willingly accept their duties. The credibility of
leaders is strengthened by a commitment to continual self-improvement, with
the aim of achieving the status of junzi, or person of exemplary moral
character.
How many citations do you think are needed?

19. It’s impossible to know just by looking at the text!
It depends how many different sources the student has used.

20. If the whole of this paragraph is based on ideas from one book or
article, it could have just one citation at the end.
In contrast to Fayol’s pragmatism, Confucianism is a philosophical and ethical
approach to the maintenance of social stability. Social relationships are
categorised into five types: emperor-subject, father-son, husband-wife, older-
young brother, and friend-friend. Leadership is central to all of these
relationships because society is viewed as hierarchical, with each member
typically having power over some, while being subservient to others. The
potential for power struggles means that harmony is seen as a key objective in
order to secure the sustainability of the society. Therefore, in an organisational
context, leaders need to maintain a harmonious environment in which
employees willingly accept their duties. Their credibility is strengthened by a
commitment to continual self-improvement, with the aim of achieving the status
of junzi, or person of exemplary moral character (Ip, 2009).

21. But academic writing is more credible when it contains
citations from a range of expert sources on the topic.

22. Here is the original paragraph, including citations
In contrast to Fayol’s pragmatism, Confucianism is a philosophical and ethical approach to
the maintenance of social stability (de Bettignies, Ip, Bai, Habisch, & Lenssen, 2011).
Social relationships are categorised into five types: emperor-subject, father-son, husband-
wife, older-young brother, and friend-friend (Li, 1984). Leadership is central to all of these
relationships because society is viewed as hierarchical, with each member typically having
power over some, while being subservient to others. The potential for power struggles
means that harmony is seen as a key objective in order to secure the sustainability of the
society (Ip, 2009; Zhang, Lin, Nonoka, & Beom, 2005). Therefore, in an organisational
context, leaders need to maintain a harmonious environment in which employees willingly
accept their duties (Tsui, Wang, Xin, Zhang, & Fu, 2004). Their credibility is
strengthened by a commitment to continual self-improvement, with the aim of achieving the
status of junzi, or person of exemplary moral character (Ip, 2009).
These five citations show that the student has read widely, has understood
what they’ve read, and is able to select relevant information to produce a
coherent interpretation of the topic.

23. The normal way to write citations is to use the information
first (in one or more sentences) and then put the author(s) in
brackets at the end. If there’s no individual author, put the
name of the organisation:
In the words of one of the most influential Utilitarians, John
Stuart Mill, an action is moral if it brings “the greatest happiness
to the greatest number” (Smith & Jones, 2008, p. 23).
If you copy a short phrase, you need to put it inside double
quotation marks and include the page number:
Only one in a hundred New Zealand women has an annual income
over $100, 000 (Statistics New Zealand, 2015).

24. REFERENCING BASICS

25. The most common references are to these four
types of expert source:
BOOKS CHAPTERS IN
EDITED BOOKS
ARTICLES IN
SCHOLARLY,
PEER-REVIEWED
JOURNALS
CREDIBLE
WEBSITES

26. You’re going to see an APA reference list which includes all of
these types of sources.
Discuss with your partner
• Which of the four types of source appears more than
once?
• Why are the references in this order?
• Why do some lines begin after a space?

27. References
Biggins, G. (2009). Why I became a social worker. In P. Te Ara & T.
Rogers (Eds.), Social work and social workers in New
Zealand/Aotearoa (pp.102-120). Auckland, New Zealand: Insight
Press.
Hamel, G. (2000). Leading the revolution. Boston, MA: Harvard
Business School Press.
Hubbard, J., Thomas, C., & Varnham, S. (2001). Principles of law for
New Zealand business students (2nd ed.). Auckland, New Zealand:
Pearson Education.
Silverblatt, A. (2004). Media as a social institution. American
Behavioral Scientist, 48(1), 35-42. doi:10.1080/09585190802707433
Statistics New Zealand. (2009). Mapping trends in the Auckland
region. Retrieved from
http://www.stats.govt.nz/Publications/PopulationStatistics/mapping
-trends-in-the-auckland-region.aspx.

28. References
Biggins, G. (2009). Why I became a social worker. In P. Te Ara & T.
Rogers (Eds.), Social work and social workers in New
Zealand/Aotearoa (pp.102-120). Auckland, New Zealand: Insight
Press.
Hamel, G. (2000). Leading the revolution. Boston, MA: Harvard
Business School Press.
Hubbard, J., Thomas, C., & Varnham, S. (2001). Principles of law for
New Zealand business students (2nd ed.). Auckland, New Zealand:
Pearson Education.
Silverblatt, A. (2004). Media as a social institution. American
Behavioral Scientist, 48(1), 35-42. doi:10.1080/09585190802707433
Statistics New Zealand. (2009). Mapping trends in the Auckland
region. Retrieved from
http://www.stats.govt.nz/Publications/PopulationStatistics/mapping
-trends-in-the-auckland-region.aspx.
‘References’ top and centred
Alphabetical order
Hanging indent

29. • should consist of expert sources
• includes only the sources you have cited in the essay
• is on a separate page at the end of your essay/report with
the title ‘References’ (at the top in the centre)
• is ordered alphabetically by author
• has a hanging indent (i.e. only the first line of each
reference begins at the left margin (see the last slide in
your handout for tips on how to do this)
An APA reference list:

30. BOOK
Hamel, G. (2000). Leading the revolution. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
surname,
initial
(year) title city
publisher
For more than one
author, include all
names with initials
(followed by . and ,)
Hubbard, J., Thomas, C., & Varnham, S. (2001). Principles
of law for New Zealand business students (2nd ed.).
Auckland, New Zealand: Pearson Education.
This is how you
indicate second, third
… edition

31. CITY OF PUBLICATION
UK, NZ etc
city,
country
Harmondsworth, England:
Penguin.
Palmerston North, New
Zealand: Dunmore Press.
USA
city, state
initials
Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Lawrence Erlbaum
Associates.
Check title of book in library catalogue and/or Google if city of
publication is not clear from the book itself
Australia
Either state
abbreviation
OR country
Milton, Qld: McGraw-Hill.
Milton, Australia: McGraw-
Hill.

32. CHAPTER IN
EDITED BOOK
Biggins, G. (2009). Why I became a social worker. In P. Te Ara & T. Rogers (Eds.),
Social work and social workers in New Zealand/Aotearoa (pp.102-120).
Auckland, New Zealand: Insight Press.
Title of chapter –
not in italics
Editors’ names (initial
before) and (Eds.)
Title of book
– in italics
Page numbers of chapter – in
brackets with pp. before
Author of chapter
and year of
publication
City &
Publisher

33. ARTICLE IN A
SCHOLARLY JOURNAL
Silverblatt, A. (2004). Media as a social
institution. American Behavioral
Scientist, 48(1), 35-42.
author’s name
year
Title (no italics; not in capitals)
journal name
(italics; main words start
with capitals)
volume number in italics;
issue number in brackets
page numbers
doi:10.1080/09585190802707433
doi number
(if the article has one)

34. WEB PAGE REFERENCE
Statistics New Zealand. (2009).
Mapping trends in the Auckland
region. Retrieved from
http://www.stats.govt.nz/Publication
s/PopulationStatistics/mapping-
trends-in-the-auckland-region.aspx.
author’s name
(or organisation that owns the web site)
Year
(if it’s missing put (n.d.)
Retrieved from
followed by full internet address
Title of page

35. You’re going to see another APA reference list.
Discuss with your partner
Which two of these elements are missing?
A) city of publication B) page numbers
C) publisher D) volume & issue numbers

36. References
New Zealand Ministry of Education. (2015). What we get for what we spend: Retrieved
from http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/data/assets/pdf_file/0011/163685/What-we-
get-for-what-we-spend-Inputs-outputs-and-outcomes-of-Govts-tertiary-education-
expenditure-2004-2013.pdf
Nicol, D. J., & Macfarlane-Dick, D. (2006). Formative assessment and self-regulated
learning: A model and seven principles of good feedback practice. Studies in Higher
Education, 31(2), 199 — 218.
North, S. M. (1995). The idea of a writing center. In C. Murphy & J. Law (Eds.), Landmark
essays on writing centers. Davis, CA: Hermagoras Press.
Parker, M. (1992). Post-modern organizations or postmodern organization theory?
Organization Studies, 13(1), 1.
Pascarella, E. T., & Terenzini, P. T. (2005). How college affects students: A third decade of
research. Jossey-Bass.
A) city B) page numbers C) publisher D) volume & issue numbers

37. A & B were missing References
New Zealand Ministry of Education. (2015). What we get for what we spend.
Retrieved from
http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/data/assets/pdf_file/0011/163685/Wh
at-we-get-for-what-we-spend-Inputs-outputs-and-outcomes-of-Govts-
tertiary-education-expenditure-2004-2013.pdf
Nicol, D. J., & Macfarlane-Dick, D. (2006). Formative assessment and self-
regulated learning: A model and seven principles of good feedback practice.
Studies in Higher Education, 31(2), 199-218.
North, S. M. (1995). The idea of a writing center. In C. Murphy & J. Law (Eds.),
Landmark essays on writing centers (pp. 71-85). Davis, CA: Hermagoras
Press.
Parker, M. (1992). Post-modern organizations or postmodern organization
theory? Organization Studies, 13(1), 1.
Pascarella, E. T., & Terenzini, P. T. (2005). How college affects students: A third
decade of research. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

38. In this session you have learnt how to:
SUMMARY
• structure and plan an essay
• include citations when required
• write an in-text citation in APA style
• write end-of-text references for books,
articles and web pages in APA style

39. EXTRAS
• Finding sources
• Using sources
• Referencing software
• Indenting a reference list

40. FINDING SOURCES

41. USING
DISCOVER
USING
DATABASES
USING
REFERENCE
LISTS
Three ways to find academic sources

42. USING
DISCOVER

43. USING
REFERENCE
LISTS

44. USING
DATABASES

45. RESULTING
ARTICLES

46. USING SOURCES

47. Look especially in introduction, discussion and
conclusion sections of articles to identify key ideas
on your topic.
Make brief notes as much as possible in your own
words, from memory and include the reference.

48. 4 major features: social hierarchy, obedience, balance
and give and take Tsui et al., 2004
Example 1
Using my own words in my notes (instead of ‘cut and
paste’) means that I can write without
risk of plagiarism.
Original text
My note

49. Example 2
Original version
social harmony = basis of stable society – depends on
people showing respect and accepting norms and
position in society
My note
Zhang, Lin, Nonoka, & Beom, 2005

50. Example 3
Confucianism = philosophical & ethical / system /
guides social behaviour / supports stable government
(de Bettignies, Ip, Bai, Habisch, & Lenssen, 2011
Original text
My note

51. Example 4
Junzi = exemplary individual – committed to behaving
ethically (Ip, 2011)
Original text
My note

52. Build up a single set of notes divided into themes and add
notes from different articles under the same theme.
Qualities of Confucian leader
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Arvey, Dhanaraj, Javidan, & Zhang)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Fernandez)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Lang, Irby, & Brown)

53. Then you need to select the ideas you want to include ….
… and expand your notes into sentences which
flow

54. Confucianism = philosophical & ethical / system / guides social
behaviour / supports stable government
(de Bettignies, Ip, Bai, Habisch, & Lenssen, 2011
In contrast to Fayol’s pragmatism, Confucianism is a
philosophical and ethical approach to the maintenance of social
stability (de Bettignies, Ip, Bai, Habisch, & Lenssen, 2011).
My note
My sentence
You can be creative when you write from your notes – as long
as you keep to the ‘spirit’ of the original.
Example 1

55. Example 2
Junzi = exemplary individual – committed to behaving
ethically (Ip, 2011)
My note
Their credibility is strengthened by a commitment
to continual self-improvement, with the aim of
achieving the status of junzi, or person of
exemplary moral character (Ip, 2009).
My sentence

56. • For a free download and more information about EndNote see
tinyurl.com/masseyendnote
• For help with EndNote, contact the library at Library@massey.ac.nz
or go to tinyurl.com/masseylibraryquestions
• For upcoming library sessions on EndNote see
tinyurl.com/masseylibraryworkshops
• You can find other free referencing applications at onenote.com,
zotero.com and mendeley.com
Referencing software

57. Write the list normally – with each reference ‘left-aligned’ like this:
Silverblatt, A. (2004). Media as a social institution. American Behavioral Scientist,
48(1), 35-42.
Select the whole list.
Click on the ‘paragraph’ tab and on ‘special’.
Select ‘hanging’.
Click on ‘OK’. The references change to this:
Silverblatt, A. (2004). Media as a social institution. American Behavioral Scientist,
48(1), 35-42.
Smile – it’s over!
How to indent a reference list (PC)

58. © 2017
This PowerPoint Presentation and the accompanying handouts are
copyrighted by Centre for Teaching and Learning, Massey
University and may not be used, except for personal study,
without written permission from the copyright owner. Please
note that examples are provided for illustration of writing
principles only and no reliance should be placed on any of the
ideas referred to in the texts.
Martin McMorrow, Centre for Teaching and Learning
09 441 8143 ctlalb@massey.ac.nz
These slides can be viewed at: tinyurl.com/152200essays