Untitled Notes

ENG1503 Assignment 01 Tutorial Letter 001 (2026)

Important Information

This tutorial letter presents critical details concerning the ENG1503 Assignment 01 for Semester 1.
Note: This is a fully online module and, as such, this document is available exclusively on myUnisa.

Assignment Guidance

Dear student, this section serves to assist you in composing your first assignment. The intention is to deconstruct and elucidate the assignment questions in a way that allows you to utilize these guidelines to select appropriate structures and content for your assignment. By this point, you should have retrieved Tutorial Letter 101 from the "Official study material" section on the main ENG1503-26-S1 Moodle LMS site, which includes important due dates and weightings for the assignments.

Presentation Requirements

It is imperative that your assignment appears formal. As there is no official cover page, please ensure your cover page includes the following information:

Full names and surname
Unique number
Module name/code
Assignment number

Handwritten submissions are prohibited in this module. Typing requirements are:

Font style: Arial
Font size: 12 point
Line spacing: 1.5

Make sure to attach a signed declaration form to your assignment, as it is mandatory. The declaration form can be found at the end of Tutorial Letter 101. If a scanner is unavailable, you may retype the form and insert an electronic signature or type your name in the signature line. You are permitted to upload only one file in your assignment submission link; therefore, your declaration must be included as part of the assignment document.

Your assignment should be saved as a ‘pdf’ document. Ensure you are submitting the intended file to avoid receiving a ‘0’ mark.

Expectations for Assignment Responses

In your responses, evidence is expected of critical reading, skimming and scanning skills, comprehension, reflexive responses, coherence and cohesion, grammatical correctness, paragraphing, and accurate spelling.

Generally, ensure that the paragraphs are well-structured and coherent. Excellent grammar, vocabulary, editing, and proofreading are expected throughout.

Attendance and Participation

Feedback on assignments will be provided throughout the semester. Frequent visits to the Moodle LMS site for ENG1503 on myUnisa are advised, along with active interaction with your lecturers for additional guidance.

Resources for Assignment

A significant and supportive resource for this assignment will be the “ASSIGNMENT 01 PODCAST and VODCAST” along with the “ASSIGNMENT 01 FEEDFORWARD TUTORIAL LETTER.” These materials will be prepared by your lecturers and made available under the “Assignment 01 resources” section on myUnisa. Ensure to download the resources when they are uploaded, and engage with them can improve your understanding and completion of the assignment.

Interactive Sessions

Attend the Microsoft Teams LIVESTREAM SESSION for Assignment 01 that will be announced on the main ENG1503 site. If you cannot attend, a recording will be available for later viewing. Monitor announcements regularly and do not overlook emails from your mylife email account.

Reading Strategies

Effective academic reading strategies are essential and include:

Summarising: Identifying, outlining, and taking notes on the main points or ideas presented in the text. Refer to pages 66 and 67 of your study guide for further guidance.
Paraphrasing: Rewording the ideas of the author in your own words.
Questioning: Formulating questions while reading, such as, "What is the main idea of this paragraph?"
Synthesis: This involves writing a discussion that integrates ideas from multiple sources.

Paragraph Writing

Consult pages 36-39 of your Study Guide for additional information on paragraph construction. Additionally, your prescribed textbook by Gaetz et al. (2018: 83-88) provides comprehensive material on this subject. A well-constructed paragraph should consist of:

A topic sentence: Introduces the central idea of the paragraph, answering the assignment question straight away.
A supporting sentence: Provides explanation, examples, or quotations that reinforce the main idea in the topic sentence.

Important Note: Paragraphs must not include bullet points or numbered lists.

Assignment Questions Overview

Semester 1 Assignment: 1 – Short Paragraph Questions

Unique Number: 185115
Compulsory: Yes
Due Date: 20 March 2026

Purpose of Assignment

This assignment is designed to enhance your ability to critically read an article, engage with its content, and reflect academically by responding to specific questions in well-structured paragraphs of 150 to 200 words. It aims to evaluate your critical thinking ability, content analysis, and clarity in written expression.

In evaluating the assignment, penalties will be applied for poor language expression, which can include mistakes in sentence structure, unclear vocabulary, and issues with spelling or punctuation.

Instruction for Submission

Read the provided text below and answer the following questions in cohesive paragraphs. Your answers should be in complete sentences. Avoid using bullet points, and limit direct quotations from the text unless instructed otherwise. Paraphrasing is encouraged to demonstrate understanding, and personal interpretations should be evident rather than general AI-generated statements. The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools for producing responses is strictly prohibited, and violations will lead to penalties in line with the institution’s academic integrity policy, potentially resulting in failure of the assessment.

Content of the Assessment

The core text introduces the concept that generative AI, particularly tools like ChatGPT, may pose existential threats to universities and the integrity of degrees. It discusses how the availability of AI tools has led to scenarios where students could potentially submit work without understanding or engaging with the material, fundamentally undermining the educational and certification functions of universities.

Assignment Questions

Target Audience Identification:
- In 200 words, identify the target audience(s) of the text and justify your answer with a minimum of three specific examples.
Summarization:
- Summarize the main points of the text in 200 words, showcasing your understanding of the key issues and findings.
Threat Analysis:
- In a 150-word paragraph, identify and explain two ways in which ChatGPT threatens the integrity of university degrees. Provide clear examples from the text.
Personal Reflection:
- Write a 200-word paragraph discussing how ChatGPT might affect your own studies at UNISA, identifying three positive and three negative impacts.
Definition of Academic Integrity:
- In 100 words, define academic integrity as presented in the article and explain its importance to higher education.
Article Submission:
- Find and provide a relevant newspaper article that discusses generative AI topics like ChatGPT.
Practical Suggestions:
- Write a 200-word paragraph with three practical suggestions to curb the unethical usage of ChatGPT at UNISA, detailing how each suggestion could be implemented and its effectiveness.

Marking Criteria for Each Question

Quality of content (identification, justification, and response relevance)
Language clarity and grammatical accuracy
Structural coherence and logical flow

Contact with the University

Students should utilize their myLife email accounts to contact lecturers, as private email accounts will not receive responses.

Conclusion

Additional resources will be uploaded on myUnisa to assist with assignments throughout the semester. It is crucial to check your myLife email consistently to stay informed about communications. Engaging in online tutorial groups and other learning activities is encouraged to enhance your understanding. Should any issues arise regarding the content or other academic aspects, do not hesitate to reach out via email.

Wishing you success in your studies!