Details of task:
For this task, you are required to write a 900 word article for a popular magazine on an academic research topic. You will write the article from the perspective of a journalist working for the magazine. The research topic must be taken from one of the academic articles listed in the assessment block in Moodle, although you will need to choose an appropriate magazine for the story.
In addition to the article, you are required to write a 600 word analysis, in which you will explain your choice of magazine, the target audience, and the writing style. Your arguments must be based on the unit readings, and consequently will include in-text citation and a reference list in the Harvard style. This analysis should be written in the specialist style (see Marsen) and all in-text citation requires page numbers.
The aim of the analysis is to present the findings of the academic article in a way that can be understood by a non-specialist reader. You cannot simply summarise the article, for it has to be rewritten in a way that will engage your chosen magazine’s readership. In other words, frame the research in terms of topics and issues of interest to the prospective readers. The writing (paraphrasing, referencing and style) should also suit the magazine. As with most popular magazines, you will not use many direct quotes, but if you do, quotation marks are required.
In writing the task, make sure that you focus on the following aspects:
The prose and structure should reflect the purpose of each component of the task.
The writing should properly address the intended audience.
The style must accurately represent the style of the magazine, by using an appropriate register and following the general principles of concision, accuracy and clarity.
The document should display technical accuracy in all aspects of writing: grammar, syntax, spelling, and capitalisation.
For a breakdown of the marking criteria, see the rubric below.
Referencing Requirements:
Use Harvard Referencing and include page numbers for both paraphrasing and direct citation. The following library website provides details on the style:
http://guides.lib.monash.edu/citing-referencing/harvard
