Generally, each unit requires you to complete assignments, totalling 5000 words (this does not include quotations and list of references). There are various ways to meet this requirement. The most important thing is that your assignments should be based upon your interest, personal experiences, and resource availability. Your assignments must relate to the contents of your unit although some units may have overlapping issues.

The maximum marks for all assignments submitted one week late after the due date is at Credit grade (CR) .

There are different assignment categories:

1. Essay: An essay topic is chosen by you in close consultation with your lecturer, approximately 3000 words (70%).
2. Non-Essay: Choose only one of the following three categories (30%).
   1. A review paper, approximately 2000 words on an article or book chapter. Depending on the nature of the unit that you undertake, you should choose an article/chapter for your review paper from interesting books or academic journals ( or our recommended readings). The review should reflect your critical thinking and reading background.
   2. A report on a practical work: A written report on a practical work: approximately 2000 words. This may be based on your observation of a classroom, review of a program, conference that you attended, case study of a child, reflection on a teaching/learning experience, production of computer software or teaching packages etc.
   3. Journal: The journal can be in a diary form which reflects your critical views (thinking and feeling) on various points, issues or topics in a broad field of language education that you personally find interesting in your daily life. For instance, you want to write something (a short paragraph or three pages) on an issue raised in a book, seminar, TV program, newspaper, discussion with an expert, reflection on a personal or public event, short observation of an interaction, joke or advertisement, etc. You don't need to write it in a formal style. The journal therefore is an accumulation of many different things which are meaningful to you and are intellectually stimulating. This assignment allows you to feel free to explore issues which shape (y)our learning and living and which mean a great deal to you as a teacher or learner. It also gives you a chance to be involved in narrative construction and narrative analysis.
      
      Due to the free nature of a journal which is different from formal writing (such as essay, review, and report), the length of the journal should be 6 to 10 pages (font 12, single space). The journal should not be just a series of past events or stories. It should include deep reflection on your personal experiences in relation to language, communication, culture, society, teaching and learning.  You don’t need to include references as you do for an academic essay or report.