PART 2
5
, 2.1 Reflection on formative assessment
Reflection on learning in Assignment 01
Write a clear and logical description of:
A. Errors that you have made, areas of content that you experienced difficulty
with and areas that were pointed out that could be improved.
One of the areas that I struggled with and fared badly in the first literature
assignment related to how to appropriately reference sources in-text using
the APA style. I could not differentiate between APA and Harvard and at
times tended to mix the two referencing styles. But after the feedback it
became clear that these in-text referencing styles are quite different. I also
learned that there is a distinction between an in-text direct quotation and an
in-text indirect quotation. In direct quotations, the page number of the
source must be referred to whilst in indirect citation; the writer paraphrases
the author or authors’ work. Because of incorrect and poor in text citation I
fared badly on this aspect of academic writing and I want to improve it in my
future scholarly work and learning to adhere to the referencing style strictly
and to the point.
B. Clearly indicate what you have learnt from the feedback and how you used
the feedback in your learning. Specifically mention what you did to address
the feedback or correct errors that you have made and indicate which
specific module resources helped you to review the work that needed
attention as pointed out by the feedback. Also indicate how you will
approach things differently in future as a result of this learning.
I learnt how to write a captivating introduction that should reflect the key
contents of the assignment and should highlight the research problem and
the topic to be discussed. I initially thought that the introduction should
6
, consist of a summary of the key issues to be discussed in the essay but that
is not to be the case. With regard to the literature review I thought it was a
summary of the scholarly articles but I also learnt that it should include
different scholarly perspectives outlining point or points of agreements and
disagreements between the different literature sources. What is paramount
in the literature review is an in depth academic rigour that shows
contradictory as well as corresponding academic perspectives. In writing the
problem statement I was of the opinion that gaps in the literature must be
foregrounded, but it emerged from the feedback that the problem
statement must explain the research question, the motivation of the study
and must coherently link with existing body of knowledge as outlined in the
literature reviewed.
Thus in future and in subsequent writing I have learnt how to write an
appealing introduction and engage with literature that is informed by
different and similar scholarly perspective. I have also learnt how to write a
succinct and coherent problem statement that justifies the study
foregrounds the key question and connect with the existing body of
knowledge.
In compiling the reference list using the APA referencing system the
examiner made me to be cognizant that Journal articles that are retrieved
online should have a Web address (a URL) of the journal. This was something
I had not considered in all the academic sources that I sourced from Google
Scholar. Our basic research textbook (Bekwa, Grobler, Olivier, Sadiki & van
Niekerk, 2019) also described some of the sources for academic publications
and I am quite grateful and intent to use such search engines as I progress
with my future studies.
7
5
, 2.1 Reflection on formative assessment
Reflection on learning in Assignment 01
Write a clear and logical description of:
A. Errors that you have made, areas of content that you experienced difficulty
with and areas that were pointed out that could be improved.
One of the areas that I struggled with and fared badly in the first literature
assignment related to how to appropriately reference sources in-text using
the APA style. I could not differentiate between APA and Harvard and at
times tended to mix the two referencing styles. But after the feedback it
became clear that these in-text referencing styles are quite different. I also
learned that there is a distinction between an in-text direct quotation and an
in-text indirect quotation. In direct quotations, the page number of the
source must be referred to whilst in indirect citation; the writer paraphrases
the author or authors’ work. Because of incorrect and poor in text citation I
fared badly on this aspect of academic writing and I want to improve it in my
future scholarly work and learning to adhere to the referencing style strictly
and to the point.
B. Clearly indicate what you have learnt from the feedback and how you used
the feedback in your learning. Specifically mention what you did to address
the feedback or correct errors that you have made and indicate which
specific module resources helped you to review the work that needed
attention as pointed out by the feedback. Also indicate how you will
approach things differently in future as a result of this learning.
I learnt how to write a captivating introduction that should reflect the key
contents of the assignment and should highlight the research problem and
the topic to be discussed. I initially thought that the introduction should
6
, consist of a summary of the key issues to be discussed in the essay but that
is not to be the case. With regard to the literature review I thought it was a
summary of the scholarly articles but I also learnt that it should include
different scholarly perspectives outlining point or points of agreements and
disagreements between the different literature sources. What is paramount
in the literature review is an in depth academic rigour that shows
contradictory as well as corresponding academic perspectives. In writing the
problem statement I was of the opinion that gaps in the literature must be
foregrounded, but it emerged from the feedback that the problem
statement must explain the research question, the motivation of the study
and must coherently link with existing body of knowledge as outlined in the
literature reviewed.
Thus in future and in subsequent writing I have learnt how to write an
appealing introduction and engage with literature that is informed by
different and similar scholarly perspective. I have also learnt how to write a
succinct and coherent problem statement that justifies the study
foregrounds the key question and connect with the existing body of
knowledge.
In compiling the reference list using the APA referencing system the
examiner made me to be cognizant that Journal articles that are retrieved
online should have a Web address (a URL) of the journal. This was something
I had not considered in all the academic sources that I sourced from Google
Scholar. Our basic research textbook (Bekwa, Grobler, Olivier, Sadiki & van
Niekerk, 2019) also described some of the sources for academic publications
and I am quite grateful and intent to use such search engines as I progress
with my future studies.
7
