DIPLOMA OF
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
APCOMS B – TUTORIAL WEEK 2
Your pathway to Curtin. On campus. On track. [Link]
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Week 2
Confirming Assessment 1 & 2 Topic
Identifying the main argument and supporting
points
Research skills in practise
WARMER:
Design thinking
What is the point of design? Brainstorm a few points with your partner/s.
Now:
Watch the podcast by Tim Brown
[Link]
What does Tim suggest is the point of design?
Has your view point changed?
Research and critical reflection according to Tim Brown are crucial to being a
designer. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
BY NOW YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR TOPIC
Assessment 1 Formula:
The role of the [discipline professional or relevant issue] in [an
aspect of your discipline].
E.g. My discipline is Education so I might choose:
The role of the teacher in classroom engagement.
E.g. Your discipline is The Built Environment, you might choose:
The role of the architect in inner city development.
It is advisable that you choose a job or issue that you are passionate about (perhaps want to
work as/ with) in your future BE career.
SO… WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO DO?
Research Assignment (USE THE TEMPLATE ON MOODLE)
1. Find five scholarly texts to help you explore your chosen topic.
2. Reference your five scholarly texts as a list of references according to the Chicago 17 th B referencing
style.
3. Copy these five scholarly references. Underneath each one, write and complete the following in your
own words:
• The main argument of this text is: ...
• The following 3 or 4 related ideas support this argument: …
Then add 3 or 4 dot points in which you state the related ideas in full sentences.
Please use your own words to outline the argument and the supporting ideas- your assessment
will be submitted to Turnitin and checked for plagiarism.
* PAST EXAMPLES ARE AVAILABLE ON MOODLE
IDENTIFYING THE MAIN ARGUMENT
Step 3 of the assessment:
• The main argument of this text is: ...
• The following 3 or 4 related ideas support this argument: …Then
add 3 or 4 dot points in which you state the related ideas in full
sentences.
HOW DO YOU DO THIS?
HOW TO IDENTIFY AN ARGUMENT
1. Read the abstract, introduction and conclusion.
2. Highlight the argument (thesis statement) – it will be in one of
the above.
3. Highlight the topic sentences in the paragraph and skim for
ideas/ examples that support the argument (thesis statement)
If you can’t find an argument – the text may not be useful for your Research Assignment.
Don’t use Case Studies for the Research Assignment (but keep them as they may provide
good examples for the Essay ).
SO WHAT’S A THESIS STATEMENT?
A thesis statement tells the reader what the text is about.
It is:
• 1 or 2 sentences in length
• Discusses the topic of the article/ essay.
• Usually found as the last sentence of an essay introduction (but may
be found in the abstract. It should also be paraphrased in the
conclusion.)
• A basic thesis statement might use the following formula:
This TEXT TYPE will discuss TOPIC .
e.g. article e.g. issue
e.g. essay e.g. research
THESIS FOR AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
We recommend you create a working thesis that follows this pattern:
Although there are alternative points of view, the role
of [discipline professional or relevant issue] in
[aspect of your discipline] is to point #1, point #2 and
point #3.
IDENTIFYING AN ARGUMENT - PRACTISE
Let’s practise!
Look at the example text.
Is it scholarly? Is it recent? Can you use it for Assessment 1?
[Link]
Kim, Soomi and Hyun-ah Kwon. 2018. “ Urban Sustainability through Public Architecture.” Sustainability 10: 1249. doi:10.3390/su10041249
If the answer is yes…
1. Read the abstract, introduction and conclusion.
2. Highlight the argument (thesis statement) – it will be in one of the above.
3. Highlight the topic sentences in the paragraph and skim for ideas/
examples that support the argument (thesis statement)
COLLATE ANSWERS
Think/ Pair/ Share
Share your results with the person sitting next to you.
Do you have the same results?
As a class collate your answers on the board.
- What is the thesis statement?
- What sentences support this argument?
REVISION!: SJA’S – HOW TO SPOT THEM?
They usually have the following elements:
- Author/s NAMES are clearly stated with their ACADEMIC
CREDENTIALS.
- The article has an ABSTRACT or SUMMARY or HEADNOTE
paragraph at the beginning of the text, outlining the main points.
- The article uses ACADEMIC LANGUAGE.
- There is a long LIST OF REFERENCES at the end of the article/ text.
BREAK
30 minute break
Please do not be late returning to class!
WHAT’S NEXT?
1. Now that you have your topic idea it is time to do some
research to see if there is appropriate, recent, scholarly
information available for you to complete your assessments.
(Many of you will have done this for homework.)
2. You will then need to read the articles, identify the argument
and take notes into the Assessment 1 Template. (Available
on Moodle).
3. Please take out your laptops and independently start to
research your Assessment Topic.
REVISION: HOW DO YOU FIND A SCHOLARLY TEXT?
You can search on the library ProQuest Database or you can use Google Scholar.
To search on Pro-Quest go to the Curtin Library Website.
1) Log in with your student number (include any letters before the number) and
your birthdate. (DD/ MM/YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY).
2) Go to the tab – ‘Find books and resources’, then select ‘databases’ from the
drop down menu.
3) On the right hand column there will be a list of popular databases. Select
ProQuest.
4) Then go to the Advanced Search Tab.
5) Type in your keyword/s. You can also use the ‘and’ and ‘or’ to change the
search range.
6) Tick ‘full text’ and tick ‘peer reviewed’.
7) Hit ‘search’
TIME TO CONFIRM YOUR TOPIC
While you are working I will be confirming your Assessment
topics with you.
Please write your name, student number and your chosen
Assessment 1/2 topic on the template.
If you have any questions, please ask them while I am
circulating the room.
LAST POINTS
Time Management
Time Management is a critical element to succeeding at University (and in
Professional Life) but we understand it can be a difficult skill to master.
Here are two organisational schedules to help you plan for success. (Available to print/ save off Moodle)
1) A Trimester deadline planner
2) A weekly planner (which you can photocopy for each of the 12 weeks of classes) to
help you schedule in study and reading hours. (As well as all your other work/ social
commitments.
This is for your individual use and we highly recommend that you take the time to fill in a schedule and
stick to it. The more organised you are the more time you’ll have for fun!
(And the less stressed you should feel!)
HOMEWORK
Things to complete before next lesson:
- Read the associated book chapters for this week. (Ch. 3 & 4)
(You should have completed last weeks Ch. 1, 2, &7. The
readings are listed in your Unit Outline on the back page timeline)
- Continue to research Assessment 1.
- Start to fill in the Assessment 1 template with your research results.
- Please bring a laptop or iPad to each class.