• The desired length of your assignment papers could be around 1500 words. This does not mean that i’ll count the exact number. It is a rough value. I’m more keen to understand how you have addressed the innate problem stated in your topic, your sincerity in arriving at your arguments, your originality in writing. You could preferably make your contributions as simple, readable, interesting and relevant as possible.
• Citations: Please make sure that when you quote somebody, you give him/her credit by means of a citation (Sekaran 2001). In this example Sekaran is the second name of ‘Uma Sekaran’, where ‘Uma’ is the First name of the author. At the end of your article or assignment you can have a list of your references as follows:
Sekaran Uma. Organisational Behavior. Chap. 2, 2nd Ed. New Delhi: Tata Mc'Graw Hill, 2002
Some more examples are as Follows:
• Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook. 6th ed. New York: MLA, 2003.
• "Beginner Tip: Presenting Your Page with Style." Webmaster Tips Newsletter.
• July 2000. NetMechanic. 13 Sept. 2004 <http://www.netmechanic.com/ news/vol3/beginner_no7.htm>.
• Collins, Ronald K.L., and David M. Skover. The Trials of Lenny Bruce: The
• Fall and Rise of an American Icon. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, 2002.
• Continelli, Louise. "A Place for Owls to Heal." Buffalo News 12 Jan. 2003: C2.
• "E-Money Slips Quietly into Oblivion." Nikkei Weekly [Tokyo] 22 Jan. 2001: 4.
• Gordin, Michael D. "The Science of Vodka." Letter. New Yorker 13 Jan. 2003: 7.
• "Ho Chi Minh." Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2004. Britannica.com. 15 Sept. 2004 <http://www.britannica.com>.
• King, Stephen. Black House. New York: Random, 2001.
• ---. From a Buick 8: A Novel. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002.
• Law and Order. Prod. Wolf Film in assoc. with Universal Television. NBC Television
• Network. WHEC, Rochester, NY. 13 Mar. 2003.
• Longin, Hellmut. Telephone interview. 11 Jan. 2006.
• Marshall, Leon. "Mandela in Retirement: Peacemaker without Rest." National
• Geographic.com. 9 Feb. 2001. 13 Mar. 2003 <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/02/0209_mandela.html>.
• Microsoft PowerPoint Version 2002 Step by Step. CD-ROM. Redmond, WA: Microsoft, 2001.
• Mitchell, Joni. Both Sides Now. CD. Reprise Records, Time Warner. Dist. Warner Music Canada, Scarborough, ON, 2000.
You gain my respect for both what you say and for what credit you give for people’s ideas. You need to ensure that you use academic writing as an opportunity to credit people for their ideas and what they have written or talked about. If you choose to quote people “put their words in inverted commas” (Anand 2001).
Most importantly for your assignment, use your own words. Despite your citations and bibliography being flawless, your writing looks artificial and untenable if you are not writing what you feel. When you write what you feel about the topic it is lot more useful and appropriate, than just liberally quoting from others, though this is essential sometimes when you need to give credible references for some of your thoughts.
To do a good job at academic writing use the continuum of Reading, thinking, and then writing.
• I would consider plagiarism as a reason to not give you the marks which you deserve. Believe me, it is much worthier attempting to write on your own, than to go round in circles to defend an article which is not your own.
• You could prevent accidental plagiarism by: Using your own words in describing others ideas and identifying the source.
• Using “quotes” to use the same words used by another author. Identify the source. To maintain your originality, try to use quotes sparingly.
• Be in touch with me, if you need any further help on this.
You could use the e-library facility in Loyola. Check proquest or springer verlag though the Loyola intranet, to get access to some of the world’s best collection in scientific and business articles. You are welcome to use this prized opportunity in your assignment. Of course you would equally find much benefit by also googling, using wikepedia, googlebooks, scribd.com etc.
• I plan to sit with you individually between 2-3.30 on two days in the coming week (22-26th September) to help you address writing issues and challenges, related to your assignment.
• Send your draft to my email (jose05@gmail.com) as an email attachment, on 29th September ’11.
• Your final paper can be uploaded on 5th October 11.
• These deadlines are real.
• If you have real difficulty in meeting these deadlines, i will appreciate you keeping me informed at least 1 week in advance, via e-mail.
Wish you all the Best!
I expect a good quality attempt from you. Take Care.....Dr. Francis Jose
