ASSIGNMENT

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HMEE5043
SEMINAR PAPER IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT
JANUARY 2020 SEMESTER

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION

1. Answer in English or Malay.

2. Number of words: 6000 words excluding references.

3. Submit your assignment ONCE only in a SINGLE file.

4. Submit your assignment ONLINE.

5. Submission date : 6th April 2020

6. This assignment accounts for 100% of the total marks for the course.

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 ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

QUESTION 1 (70%)

SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE

A seminar is a small group of students and teachers. A seminar paper is a record of what
you say to the group about a topic you have studied.

Preparing a seminar paper gives you practice in technical writing which will help you in
your thesis writing.

GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENT

In order to prepare a Seminar Paper, the student has to search for relevant information
from various sources namely dissertations, journal articles, newspapers and books. With
the information collected, the student has to write a Seminar Paper in the length of
roughly 20 pages or 6000 words.

The following explains the important steps involved in preparing a Seminar Paper:

Research Topic

Make sure that your topic for your literature review is the one that you intend to do your
final M.Ed. thesis or is in some way related to the topic of your future Ph D project in
educational management and leadership.

Example of Title:

The title of your seminar paper should state your topic exactly in the smallest possible
number of words.

Example:

“School inspection and leader performance in the high performing secondary schools in
Selangor”

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Abstract

The abstract should state the most important facts and ideas in your paper. It should be
complete in itself. The length of the abstract should be about 200 words. The abstract
should state clearly:

 the purpose of the study

 the problem studied,
 the method used,
 the main conclusions.

Do not put information in the abstract which is not in the main text of your paper. Do not
put references, figures, or tables in the abstract.

Literature Review

Literature review in any research endeavor is the base that gives information support to
the research and its possible claim. In order to write a good seminar paper, the student is
requested to review existing works that are relevant to the study. Ideally, the literature
review should consolidate the entire research and weigh what already exists and how
what is being presented matter in future.

Obviously, insufficient literature does not help your research, on that note, the student
needs to obtain detailed literature from various sources relevant to your research to
legitimize your claim and significantly make your view point stronger. It is rather
scholarly advisable to increase the landscape of your literature review

Problem Statement

A problem statement is a statement that briefly sums up the problems or issues relating
to the study under investigation. Problem statements can be either formal--like a thesis
statement--or they can be informal--usually a sentence that explains how what you are
saying will impact the reader. A carefully crafted problem statement will help you engage
with your audience and help them see why your document is important. A problem
statement needs to be supported by a wall of evidence. This is important as the research
has to be based on real problem, not something imaginary.

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Research Questions

The research questions must be stated and answered clearly and precisely in the paper.
It is important that the main points and the course of the investigation remain clear
throughout the paper.

Theoretical Framework

A theoretical framework consists of concepts with their definitions and reference to

relevant scholarly literature and existing theory that is used for your particular study. The
theoretical framework must demonstrate an understanding of theories and concepts
that are relevant to the topic of your research paper and that relate to the broader areas
of knowledge being considered.

Conceptual Framework

A conceptual framework is used to make conceptual distinctions and organize ideas. It

provides an outline of how you plan to conduct the research for your thesis, but it goes
further than that by also positioning your work within the larger field of research. Writing
a conceptual framework can not only help to guide your thesis to ensure that your
research stays on track, but it also helps to guide fellow researchers or advisers who are
analyzing your thesis.

Research Methodology
The methodological approach in your Seminar Paper should state the following:

(1) Research Method – What Research Method are you applying

(2) Instrumentation
(3) Sample and Sampling Method
(4) Reliability and Validity
(5) Statistical measures and Analysis

Conclude your paper

There are several ways that you can conclude that will be helpful and interesting to your
readers.

 Synthesize what you have discussed and explain what other lessons might be
gained from your argument.

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  Explain why your topic matters to help your readers see why this topic deserve
their attention.
 Revisit that opening discussion and explore how the information you have
gathered implicates that discussion.

References

You must give references to all the information that you obtain from books, papers in
journals, and other sources.

For a journal paper give:

1. the names of the authors,

2. the year of publication,
3. the title of the paper,
4. the title of the journal,
5. the volume number of the journal,
6. the first and last page numbers of the paper.

For a book give:

1. the author,
2. the year of publication,
3. the title, and the edition number if there is one,
4. the name of the publisher,
5. the page numbers for your reference.

For an internet reference give:

1. the author of the web page,

2. the date of the web page,
3. the title of the web page,
4. the complete URL.

Every reference in your main text must appear in the list at the end of your paper, and
every reference in the list must be mentioned in your main text.

Tables

Tables must have a number and a caption above the table. The reader should be able to
understand the table by reading the caption without looking at the main text. Every table
must be mentioned in the main text.

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Figures

Figures must have a number and a caption below the figure. The reader should be able to
understand the figure by reading the caption without looking at the main text. Every
figure must be mentioned in the main text.

General Guidelines of the Seminar Paper

1. Write your title first. This will define your topic clearly and focus your mind on
exactly what you want the paper to contain.
2. Search the literature and select the references on which the contents of your
paper will be based. Write your list of references.
3. Make a list of your section headings and subheadings. This list will define the
organization of the contents of your paper. The sections and subsections will
contain not only material collected from other sources but also accounts of new
work you have done: your observations, analysis of data, and conclusions.
4. Write the sections and subsections one by one in a simple clear style. Remember
that the reader does not know in advance any of the details of the work you have
done, so your account must be complete and easy to understand.
5. Write the abstract last by picking out the main points in your paper.

At the of the writing process, the student is required to come out with a Seminar Paper
which comprises of the following sub components as depicted in Table 1:

Table 1: Sub Components of a Seminar Paper

1 Abstract
2 Introduction
3 Problem Statement
4 Research Questions
5 Theoretical Framework
6 Conceptual Framework
7 Research Method
8 Conclusion

The overall formal structure of a seminar paper is stated as below:

(1) Title
(2) Cover page
(3) Table of contents
(4) Table of figures and tables (when applicable)
(5) Text (refer to Table 1 above)
(6) References
(7) Appendix (Research Instrument / Articles)

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Title page and Table of Contents
A title and writers are centred in the middle of the title page.

 On the centre bottom, set one below another a course code, a course name,
Department, University, a date.
 The second page is for a Table of Contents.
 No page numbers on these pages.

Body text
 Times New Roman, 12 pt
 Line spacing 1.5
 Page margins: left 3.5 cm, right 2.5 cm, top 3.5 cm, bottom 3.0 cm.
 Set the text in full justification and turn on hyphenation.
 Page numbers are set on the centre bottom corner and they start from the
second body text page.
 Indentation 1.0 cm in the first line of a new paragraph. However, no indentation
after titles, figures, tables, lists or in the first line of a new page. No empty lines
between the paragraphs.

Figures, tables and appendices

 Consecutively numbered.
 Tables’ text in smaller font and in smaller line spacing.
 Set legends below the figures, captions above the tables and appendices.
 Legends and captions are in boldface, in font size 11 pt and in line spacing 1.0.

Citation and References

Within the text, references are made by giving in the parentheses the last name of the
author, the year of publication, colon and the page or pages referred to. If the reference
is to the whole work, page numbers are left out. An example: (Campbell 2002: 46-48).

Citation should be in line with the guidelines by the American Psychological Association
(APA). If a sentence contains an indirect citation, the citation is part of the sentence and
the sentence ends after the citation with a punctuation mark. If you quote several
sentences or an entire paragraph indirectly, the reference follows after the punctuation

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mark. The respective paragraph is to be demarcated clearly (e.g. using circuits). The same
applies to direct citations. If the content of an entire section is taken from a single
reference you have to indicate that in the heading of the section (however, you are
advised to use more than one reference for each section).

Notes

1. The assignment should be submitted according to the due date.

2. You are to submit a softcopy and a hardcopy of your assignment to your
facilitator. Plagiarised assignment will be rejected.

[Total: 70 marks]

QUESTION 2 (30%)

SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE

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The PowerPoint should be developed professionally to showcase the student’s
proficiency in synthesizing academic literature and making connections with practice in
educational institutions of his or her topic of research. The purpose of Seminar Paper
Presentation concentrates on teaching something to the audience. A good
presentation means that the audience understood the message. The student has to
understand that a good PowerPoint should be brief, concise, and attractive to the
audiences to deliver the information effectively.

Presentations, whether made with PowerPoint or another tool, are a great way to

support a talk, visualize complicated circumstances or focus attention on the subject.
In this assignment, the student is requested to prepare a PowerPoint Presentation based
on the content in Assignment 1.

GUIDELINES FOR POWERPOINT ASSIGNMENT

Students will be given around 10 to 20 minutes to present the slides and 5 minutes for Q
& A. In this oral presentation, students should demonstrate good oral presentation skills
and also good understanding of educational management concepts in their own Seminar
Paper. The goals of professional speaking are to entertain, inform, inspire, and to get the
audience to take action. The truth is, in order for your presentation or speech to have its
greatest effect you need to be able to entertain and wow your audience. In the seminar,
you are encouraged to speak from the outline notes. But bring both sets of notes and
your original paper to the seminar. Look at your audience when you are speaking and
make a strong ending. Evaluation will be based on the effectiveness of the delivery of the
oral presentation, Q & A session and the content of the PowerPoint.

The PowerPoint slides should not exceed 20 slides. Suggested PowerPoint slides are as
follow:

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  Title & Writer’s Particulars (1 slide)
 Introduction (1 slide)
 Background of the Study / Problem Statement (1 slide)
 Research Objectives and Questions (1 slide)
 Theoretical Framework (2-3 slides)
 Conceptual Framework (1-2 slides)
 Research Method (1-2 slides)
 Conclusion (1 slide)
 References (1 slide)

PowerPoint General Guidelines

Apply a 6-6 Rule. Quite simply, this “Rule” says that each PowerPoint slide should have
one main idea, a maximum of six bullet points, and a maximum of six words per bullet
point.

Presentation Guidelines
There are seven steps to guide you to become an effective presenter:

1. Say something that connects to the audience

2. Connect with emotions
3. Tell the audience how good they are
4. Link back to your opening during your speech
5. Relate to audience self’s interests
6. Always give a synthesis or conclusion
7. Answer questions thoroughly and thoughtfully

Notes

3. Assignment should be submitted according to the due date.

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4. You are to submit a softcopy and a hardcopy of your assignment to your
facilitator.
5. Plagiarism is prohibited.

[Total: 30 marks]

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 ATTACHMENT
ASSIGNMENT RUBRICS
QUESTION 1 (70%)
HMEE5043 SEMINAR PAPER IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT / JANUARY 2020
Criteria Excellent Good Fair Poor Unsatisfactory Max
*QN CLO Weight
4 3 2 1 0 Marks
1 1 Title 0.5 The title very clearly The title clearly The title reflects the The title hardly There is no title 2
reflects the focus of reflects the focus of focus of the study, reflects the focus of available.
the study, revealing the study, revealing revealing some the study, revealing
adequate information fairly adequate information about little information
about research information about research variables, about research
variables, subjects & research variables, subjects & setting of variables, subjects &
setting of the study. subjects & setting of the study. setting of the study.
the study.
1 Abstract 1 The abstract captures The abstract captures The abstract captures The abstract hardly The abstract is not 4
all the relevant and most of the relevant some of the relevant captures the done.
essential points of the and essential points and essential points relevant and
seminar paper. of the seminar paper. of the seminar paper. essential points of
the seminar paper.

1 Introduction 1.5 Introduction provides Introduction provides The Introduction Introduction does No introduction is 6
very clear information clear information provides some not provide any offered.
from general to from general to information from information from
specific. specific. general to specific.
general to specific.
4 Problem Statement 2.5 Issue and problems Issue and problems Issue and problems Issue and problems There is no 10
are very relevant and are relevant and are fairly relevant but
are hardly relevant presentation of
provide provide a clear lead- does not provide a and does not either issue or
a very clear lead-in to in to research clear lead-in to the
provide a clear lead- problem.
the research problem. research problem. in to the research
problem. problem.
3 Research Objectives / Questions 2.5 Research objectives & Research objectives & Research objectives & Research objectives No research 10
questions are highly questions are questions are fairly & questions are objectives or
focused and clear. focussed and clear. focussed and clear. hardly questions
focussed and clear. formulated
3 Theoretical Framework 2.5 Literature reviewed is Literature reviewed is Literature reviewed is Literature reviewed There is no literature 10
very relevant to the very relevant to the fairly relevant to the is hardly relevant to reviewed.
study. The study. The study. The the study. The

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 explanation is very explanation is explanation is fairly explanation is
detailed and clear. detailed and clear. detailed and clear. sketchy and vague.
3 Conceptual Framework 2.5 The explanation is The explanation is The explanation is The explanation is No explanation 10
very detailed and detailed and clear. fairly detailed and sketchy and vague. found at all.
clear. clear.
2 Research Method 2.5 The research method The research method The research method The research There is no 10
is very appropriate. is appropriate. The is fairly appropriate.
method is hardly explanation on
The explanation is explanation is clear The explanation is appropriate. The research method.
very clear with with quite adequate fairly clear with some explanation is rather
adequate relevant relevant justification. relevant justification.
vague with minimal
justification. or no relevant
justification.
3 Conclusion 1 Introduction provides Introduction provides The Introduction Conclusion does not There is no 4
very clear information clear information of provides some provide any conclusion evident.
of reflections and reflections and information of information of
suggestions. suggestions. reflections and reflections and
suggestions. suggestions.
2 References 1 The references are The references are The references are The references are There are no 4
very relevant and relevant and current fairly relevant and hardly relevant and references used in
current to the area of to the area of study. current to the area of current to the area the writing.
study. The citation The citation method study. The citation of study. The
method is very is accurate according method is fairly citation method is
accurate according to to APA style. accurate according to not accurate
APA style. APA style. according to APA
style.
Total 17.5 70
*QN = Question Number

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 ATTACHMENT
ASSIGNMENT RUBRICS
QUESTION 2 (30%)
HMEE5043 SEMINAR PAPER IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT / JANUARY 2020
Criteria Excellent Good Fair Poor Unsatisfactory Max
*QN CLO Weight
4 3 2 1 0 Marks
2 2 Quality of the PowerPoint slides 1.5 The PowerPoint slides The PowerPoint slides The PowerPoint slides The PowerPoint PowerPoint slides 6
are very attractive to are attractive to the are fairly attractive to slides are hardly are not prepared.
the audience audience the audience attractive to the
audience
Ability to explain the theoretical 1.5 Literature presented Literature presented Literature presented Literature presented No explanation on 6
framework/ is very relevant to the is very relevant to the is fairly relevant to is hardly relevant to the framework.
conceptual framework study. The study. The the study. The the study. The
explanation is very explanation is explanation is fairly explanation is
detailed and clear detailed and clear detailed and clear sketchy and vague
Ability to explain the research design 1.5 The explanation is The explanation is The explanation is The explanation is No explanation on 6
very detailed and detailed and clear. fairly detailed and sketchy and vague. the research design.
clear. clear
Ability to answer questions appropriately 1.5 The answer provided The answer provided The answer provided The answer provided Questions posed are 6
to the question asked to the question asked to the question asked to the question not answered.
is very relevant is relevant is fairly relevant asked is not relevant
Overall presentation 1.5 The presentation The presentation The presentation The presentation There is hardly any 6
reflects the focus of reflects the focus of fairly reflects the hardly reflects the relevance to the
the study very well. the study. focus of the study. focus of the study. presentation.
Total 7.5 30
*QN = Question Number

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