OUMH1203 English For Written Communication Assignment 2026 | OUM

OUMH1203 Assignment May Semester 2026

Specific Instruction

1. Answer in
2. Number of words: *approximately 2500 – 3000 words excluding references and outline.
3. Present your responses to the task in a SINGLE
4. Submit your assignment
5. Submission date: 30 June
6. This assignment accounts for 50% of the total marks for the course.
7. Assignments that show heavy reliance on or substantial use of AI-generated content, without appropriate critical engagement, verification, or proper attribution, will be penalised accordingly.

Assignment Question

This assignment consists of TWO parts: Part I (comprised of THREE (3) stages) and Part II.

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to prepare students to go through the complete process of written communication: from pre-writing and outlining, to collecting relevant data, and producing a fully developed essay. It is designed to foster the ability to apply effective writing techniques and skills in diverse communication contexts while building confidence to produce well-structured and organised written work.

Part I: The Process Of Writing A Basic Essay (40%)

[ In recent years, concerns have been raised about issues such as bullying, lack of empathy, declining discipline, and poor ethical decision-making among students in Malaysia. In response, the Ministry of Education is considering introducing a compulsory character-building module under the 2027 School Curriculum, across primary and secondary schools. This module would focus on values such as integrity, responsibility, respect, and emotional intelligence through structured lessons and assessments.

This proposal has generated ongoing debate among educators, parents, and policymakers regarding the most effective way to develop students’ character within the education system. ]

Based on your reading of the above scenario, write an essay on this question:

Do you think that the Malaysian education system should introduce a compulsory character-building module at all levels of schooling?

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this proposal.

Your essay in Stage 3 must present a balanced discussion, which means you have to address both sides fairly.

The process of writing your basic essay is divided into THREE (3) stages:

Stage 1 – Pre-Writing and Outlining (5%)

The initial stage of writing an essay is the Pre-Writing stage, where you brainstorm, list your ideas and create an outline for your essay.

To begin the writing process, prepare an outline based on the following requirements.

1. Write an outline with a clear thesis statement. You should use the Sample Outline Format provided below.
2. The thesis statement in the introduction must include the main focus of the essay and the main points that will be discussed in the body paragraphs.
3. The outline should follow the standard essay structure: introduction, body and conclusion.
4. The outline must list the THREE (3) points that address the question given. These points must be arranged in a logical and coherent order to demonstrate a clear flow of ideas.

[Total: 5 Marks]

Stage 2 – Collecting Relevant Data (10%)

To support your essay, a questionnaire entitled ‘Students’ and Public Perceptions on Character-Building Education in Malaysia’ on the introduction of a compulsory character-building module in the Malaysian education system will be carried out. You will use this questionnaire to collect relevant data for your essay in Stage 3. Refer to Topic 4.4 in your module to further understand types of evidence.

Task Requirement:

i. Distribute the open- and closed-ended questionnaire to at least SIX (6) respondents. Your target group may include secondary school students, teachers, university students, or parents.

ii. Record all responses neatly in tables/graphs/charts for both closed- and open-ended items.

iii. Analyse your findings by:

• summarising the results in a paragraph by highlighting key themes and interesting points, numbers and percentages from respondents’ comments related to cyberbullying awareness, prevention, digital responsibility, and parental/school roles.

iv. Attach the completed questionnaires as an Appendix.

v. At least THREE (3) findings from Stage 2 must be used as supporting evidence in the Stage 3 essay, with a clear explanation of how the data strengthen your discussion.

[Total: 10 Marks]

Stage 3 – Producing a Fully Developed Essay (25%)

In this stage, you are required to write a fully developed, balanced discussion essay of 2,000–2,500 words on the following topic:

“Should Cyberbullying Awareness be Formally Taught as Part of School Programme, or Should it Remain Primarily a Parental Responsibility?”

Task Requirements:

1. The essay must follow the outline prepared in Stage 1.

2. Present a balanced discussion that gives fair consideration to both:

• arguments supporting school-based cyberbullying education, and
• arguments supporting parental responsibility as the primary approach.

3. Include a conclusion that synthesises both perspectives and presents a clear, well-reasoned position.

4. Support your essay with:

• at least THREE (3) findings from Stage 2, and
• at least FOUR (4) credible references (2020–2025) from different source types (journals, books, websites, magazines, newspapers).

5. Use APA style for in-text citations and the reference list.

6. Avoid plagiarism. Marks will be deducted if an assignment is found to be heavily influenced by or predominantly written using AI tools rather than the student’s own understanding and expression.

7. Refer to Topics 3, 4, and 5 of the OUMH1203 module.

[Total: 40 Marks]

Part II: Online Class Participation (10%)

Discuss the following topic(s) in the forum and submit proof of your participation in the online discussions:

1. What strategies do you typically employ to overcome writer’s block when composing an essay? Discuss their effectiveness, with relevant examples from your own writing experience.

2. Read the comic strip below and discuss what adjustments or additions you would suggest to improve the existing essay grading rubrics.

[Total: 10 Marks]

[TOTAL: 50 MARKS]

Instructions On How To Submit Proof Of Online Class Participation (10%)

Do the following:

1. The e-forum discussion will be set up by your e-tutor. The question topics should be the same ones in this assignment brief. You are highly encouraged to answer both questions for more posts.

2. Select the BEST FIVE (5) posts and take screenshots of these posts to be attached to your assignment as IMAGES.

3. The screenshots should be in an image file (either JPG or PNG format). See the screenshot example below

4. The screenshots should CLEARLY display: Name, Discussion Title, Day, Date, and Time.

5. Label the screenshots accordingly for easy reference.

6. The selection of postings should show active participation in the semester (different dates, times, content)