English for academic purposes answers to exercises – Features of academic writing

 
4 
2.1 
– Understanding assessment tasks 
Exercise 1 
a)
 
In which criteria will your use of SED structure be graded? 
SED will be graded as part of the Structure criteria. 
b)
 
For ‘Structure’, what is the difference between a distinction and a merit? 
Logical connection of paragraphs (perhaps through the use of concluding sentences). SED 
used for every idea in the essay. 
c)
 
If you scored 55% for ‘Use of evidence’, what could you have done to raise the score to a merit? 
Use less quotations (try to paraphrase or summaries evidence). Provide at least one counter-
argument in every paragraph. 
d)
 
For ‘Spelling and grammar’, what is the difference between a pass and a fail? 
Both state there are many errors, but a passing essay would still be understandable to some 
extent. A failing essay would be very difficult to understand, requiring the reader to do a lot of 
guessing. 
Exercise 2 
Social media
 has become an essential communication tool for most major 
companies
. However, its use can 
be both beneficial and detrimental. 
Evaluate
the consequences 
companies
may face by holding a 
social 
media
 presence. 
 
 
▪
‘Social media’ and ‘companies’ are the subject / focus words. 
▪
‘Evaluate’ is the task word – which requires you to look at both the positive and negative 
aspects of companies using social media. Then reach an informed decision on whether 
companies should be encouraged to use social media or not. 

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