Essay Preparation Task | UQ Assessment Ideas Factory

There are five components to this preparatory assessment:

1) Complete a Library 'Scavenger Hunt' - Students must go to high use area in the HaSS library, locate a pre-designated book, and evidence their successful search by taking a photo/photocopy of the book. This task is designed to familiarise students with the library and the process of locating sources.

2) Choose and summarise a research topic – Once students have chosen a research topic they must develop a search strategy (E.g. identify keywords, synonyms) and identify key discipline specific databases. This task provides students with and understanding of online library search functions and introduces them to pertinent journals and databases.

3&4) Locate 1st and 2nd quality sources – Students create a bibliography of 1st and 2nd quality sources and demonstrate their relevance using the 'C.R.A.A.P test', (Currency, Relevance, Accuracy, Authority, and Purpose).

5) Create an argument map - Using an argument mapping tool (E.g. CMap, Inspiration, MindMup), students construct an argument map of their developed argument in response to their topic question. Argument Maps must be uploaded as a pdf to the Blackboard learning module. This task allows students to understand the structure of an argument and develop the structure of their major assessment item.

Advantages

This five part assessment task (presented in a Blackboard learning module) is designed to build foundational research skills , provide meaningful engagement with library resources, and prepare students for a major assessment item.

Challenges

First year students can become easily overwhelmed by multiple assessments so it is important to be mindful of avoiding 'cognitive (over)load'.

Tips for implementation

In the case of PHIL1002, there was some initial pushback from students who said these tasks amounted to too much work for too little credit (particularly for time-poor students). As a result of this feedback the weighting of these tasks was increased to 10%.

How it supports academic integrity

Tasks are scaffolds and students are able to prepare early for their major assessment. As a result students may be less likely to feel last minute pressure that leads to instances of academic misconduct.

PLEASE NOTE: The academic integrity information displayed on this page is currently under review. Some examples and descriptions were developed before the widespread availability of generative AI tools and may not reflect current approaches to assessment security. When adapting an assessment idea, staff should consider how the design supports authorship, verifies student achievement of learning outcomes, and mitigates inappropriate use of AI and other forms of academic misconduct.

Details

CLASS SIZE: 100-500
YEAR LEVEL: First year
ASSESSMENT SECURITY: Open
SUPERVISION STATUS: Not supervised
SUBMISSION MEDIUM: Digital product, Text
ASSESSMENT DELIVERY MODE: Digital task
AUTHENTICITY CONTEXT: Reflective / Professional identity, Research‑based / Inquiry / Problem-based
GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES: Courageous thinkers, Respectful leaders
CONDITIONS: Sequence
TAGS: essay preparation task, research skills

Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Essay Preparation Task

Advantages

Challenges

Tips for implementation

How it supports academic integrity

Details