5.1 Written Assignments and Research Essays at IU — Detailed Study Notes

Purpose and Overview

  • Written assignments and research essays are common forms of academic work in almost every study program. They help prepare students for the bachelor thesis (IU, 2020).
  • The content and style can vary by discipline, but the main points are similar across subjects.
  • Key purpose: learn independent scientific work, which involves:
    • Choosing a scientific topic.
    • Defining a research question.
    • Searching for and evaluating relevant literature.
    • Presenting and supporting your own ideas and findings.

Typical Structure and Section Roles

  • Overall structure: Introduction, Body, Conclusion (and any variations in section headings).
  • Section Purpose (approx. % of work):
    • Introduction: 20%20\%
    • Body: 70%70\%
    • Conclusion: 10%10\%
  • Section titles can vary; the body may have a different heading. Logical transitions between sections are important to guide the reader. The body is the core; introduction and conclusion frame it.
  • Formal components of a written assignment/research essay:
    • Title page
    • Table of contents
    • List of figures/tables (if needed)
    • List of abbreviations (if needed)
    • Text (introduction, body, conclusion)
    • Bibliography
    • Appendices and supporting materials (if needed)
  • Reference: IU (2020).

Formal Formatting and Layout Details

  • Element specifications:
    • Length: 7–107\text{--}10 pages of text
    • Paper size: DIN-A4
    • Margins: Top & bottom: 2 cm2\text{ cm}; Left: 2 cm2\text{ cm}; Right: 2 cm2\text{ cm}
    • Font: General text Arial 11 ptArial\ 11\ pt; Headings 12 pt12\ pt, justified
    • Line spacing: 1.51.5
    • Sentence structure: justified, hyphens for word separation
    • Footnotes: Arial 10 ptArial\ 10\ pt, justified
    • Paragraph distance after line break: 6 pt6\ pt
    • Section/subsection levels: Maximum three levels: 1. Main heading, 1.1 Section, 1.1.1 Subheading
    • Numbering: Only individual chapters numbered consecutively; lists of figures/bibliography not numbered
    • Formatting notes: Avoid underline; use italics sparingly to emphasize passages
  • Submission: All written assignments and research essays must be submitted through the Turnitin online portal. Email submission is not allowed. Instructions on how to submit and check your evaluation on Turnitin are available in the myCampus manual (IU, 2020).
  • Affidavit: Before submitting your work, you must upload an affidavit electronically via myCampus. Without this, submission is not possible.

Submission Process and Roles of Support

  • Turnitin submission required; no email submissions.
  • Pre-submission affidavit via myCampus is mandatory.
  • Support and guidance:
    • Written assignments and research essays differ in purpose and rules.
    • Tutors can help with technical questions and general guidance about the process but do not need to approve outlines or drafts.
    • The main goal is to demonstrate independent work, which factors into the overall grade.
  • General tips and instructions are provided to help you get started (IU, 2020).

Distinctions: Written Assignments vs Research Essays

  • Written assignments: used for courses that rely on a course book.
  • Research essays: required for courses without a course book.
  • Detailed requirements for each type are explained in the course materials (IU, 2020).
  • Topic and Task distinctions and instructions:
    • You may be given a specific task or can choose from several options.
    • It is important to understand the task and ensure your work matches the requirements.
    • Do not rely solely on the course book; use other reliable sources, such as online library databases.
  • Tutor support for both types works the same way; the main goal remains independent work.

Topic Selection and Task of the Written Assignment / Research Essay

  • Topic and Task explanations (two pathways):
    • Pick one of the given questions.
    • Or develop your own idea within the subject area.
  • If you create your own question, it must be approved by the tutor first.
  • Developing your own question is good practice for later writing a thesis.
  • Each subject area provides some starting literature, but students are expected to find and include additional sources.
  • The main focus of a research essay is the theoretical approach and the literature review.
  • Tutor support for research essays works the same way as for written assignments.
  • Evaluation of a Written Assignment and Evaluation of a Research Essay are guided by the same overarching criteria (IU, 2020).

Evaluation Criteria (General and Specific)

  • Criterion explanations (as presented):
    • Introduction: clearly explain the topic and goals of the work.
    • Structure: organize logically and show the development of the project or argument.
    • Theory: use literature well — analyze sources, apply definitions, and refer to previous studies; quality of sources matters. (cite: IU, 2020)\text{(cite: IU, 2020)}
    • Methodology: explain chosen methods clearly, justify them, and show how theory and practice are applied.
    • Reasoning: make logical and clear arguments; connect theory with practice; critically assess results; provide your own interpretation.
    • Conclusion: summarize findings and give recommendations.
    • Presentation: keep the work neat and well-formatted.
    • Accuracy: check spelling and punctuation.
    • Language: use clear and correct language.
    • Literature: include proper references and a complete literature list.
  • Note: The demands of a research essay are higher than those of a written assignment, specifically with regard to level of personal contribution and the scientific structure.
  • Simple restatements (for quick reference) emphasize the same points in a more accessible form.

Support, Independence, and Best Practices

  • You can choose between tasks or questions; ensure alignment with requirements.
  • Do not rely solely on the course book; integrate additional sources.
  • Tutor support focuses on process guidance and technical questions, not on approving outlines or drafts.
  • The main goal is to demonstrate independent work; this is reflected in the assessment criteria and overall grading.

Key Concepts and Real-World Relevance

  • Turnitin-based submission as barrier to prevent plagiarism; reflects emphasis on originality.
  • MyCampus as the ecosystem for submission, tracking, and affidavit submission.
  • Distinction between course-book-based coursework vs literature-driven essays mirrors real-world academic practice: some courses provide a fixed framework, others require independent literature reviews.
  • The structure (Introduction/Body/Conclusion) mirrors standard scholarly writing and is foundational for thesis work and research projects.

Quick Reference: Numerical and Formatting Details (LaTeX)

  • Section weights: 20%,20\%, 70%,70\%, 10%10\% for Introduction, Body, and Conclusion respectively.
  • Length: 7–10 pages7\text{--}10\text{ pages} of text.
  • Margins: top/bottom 2 cm2\text{ cm}; left 2 cm2\text{ cm}; right 2 cm2\text{ cm}.
  • Font and sizes: general text Arial 11 pt\text{Arial} \ 11\text{ pt}; headings 12 pt12\text{ pt}.
  • Line spacing: 1.51.5.
  • Paragraph spacing: 6 pt6\text{ pt} after line breaks.
  • Section levels: maximum three levels; numbering of chapters only; lists of figures/bibliography not numbered.
  • Footnotes: Arial 10 pt\text{Arial} \ 10\text{ pt}; justified.
  • Paper size: DIN-A4\text{DIN-A4}.

Things to Remember

  • Always verify your task and ensure alignment with course materials.
  • Use a mix of starting literature and additional sources.
  • Ensure independence and avoid over-reliance on a single source.
  • Follow the prescribed formatting meticulously to meet evaluator expectations.
  • For any questions about structure or content, consult the tutor early and reference IU guidance (IU, 2020).