HBEDSSC/201/0/2019
Schools and society
HBEDSSC
Year Module
Department Educational Foundations
,3. COMMENTS ON ESSAY-TYPE ASSIGNMENTS 02, 03, 04 & 05
3.1Comments on Assignment 02 (compulsory)
SOCIO-EDUCATION AS A SCIENCE
SECTION A (Theoretical component) (Sub total: 100)
o In this section you had to present arguments in favour of the socio-educational concepts by
describing and explaining the theoretical foundations of these concepts. You will then start
to understand the importance of the actualisation of each of the key concepts in the social
development of a child/learmer. It is important that you realise that adequate socialisation is
totally dependent on successful realisation of all the socio-educational concepts.
o You had to summarise the theoretical explanation of each of the ten concepts in your own
words and then explain why each of these concepts are necessary elements in the
socialisation process of the child. Between 60 and 70 percent of students copied directly
from Pretorius (2011 - 2014) (Sections 1.5: 1.5.1-1.5.10) without proper referencing in
each paragraph or per statement proposed. This is highly unacceptable on Honours
level. Some students even copied from another student. In cases like these, the marks
obtained will be divided in half, e.g. 60% for assignments ÷ 2 = 30% for each assignment.
o It is very important in any essay-type assignment to properly cite all the academic sources
you have quoted from in the text according to the Augmented Harvard Method as explained
in TL101/2019. If you have not done so, you were penalised.
o Although Section A appears to be easy to answer, most students’ level of academic writing
lacked quality. To repeat: Pages and pages were copied from mainly the prescribed
textbook without any recognition of the source. NB: You cannot cite a source without
acknowledging the source. This is called PLAGIARISM and the University views this
as a serious academic offence. See Unisa’s Policy on Plagiarism in this regard. The
Copyright Act, no 98 of 1978 regulates copyright issues found in all walks of life in South
Africa, with academic writing mentioned specifically.
5
, o There was also hardly any indication that students can integrate different
sources/viewpoints and display their acquired research skills. The lack of these skills led to
students obtaining low marks for this section. The irony is that this is not a difficult skill to
master. So, why not focus on the requirements presented in Tutorial Letter
HBEDSSC/101/2019.
SECTION B (Research Component) (Sub total: 100)
o In this section you had to interview the headmasters of two of the local schools, two
teachers, two pairs of parents/caretakers and four Grade 11 learners (two boys and two
girls) in your community on the following seven questions:
1) Why is it so that some learners and teachers are more successful in schools than others?
2) Do you think that teachers are generally satisfied and happy in their teaching task?
3) Why do teachers often receive little respect as professionals?
4) Do you think parents are satisfied with government schools nowadays?
5) In what ways do parents/caretakers support children towards positive self-concept
formation?
6) Why are learners so unwilling to accept the authority of their educators (parents, teachers
and community leaders)?
7) Why is there such an increase in drug abuse amongst learners today?
o Then you had to write a research report on your findings by outlining the separate
responses of the four groups of respondents under different headings (Principals, teachers,
parents, learners) related to each question. You had to follow the steps of report writing
indicated in the Research Module (HBEDTRD). Whether you structured your report
according to the questions posed or the groups of respondents you interviewed, the
outcome was the same.
o Finally, you had to conclude with a paragraph that illustrates your personal opinion.
Interesting comments from students indicated that you are aware of the problems in the
school environment concerning the questions posed and that there is much more to be
done to improve the situation.
o Most students performed much better in this section and some went to considerable trouble
to interview the respondents and record very good responses. They received good marks
for this section, ranging from 60 - 85%. Thank you to these students for their effort.
o Unfortunately, it was also clear that some students were not serious about their studies and
fabricated the responses. They received poor marks ranging from 20 – 50% for this section.
o Some students also did not complete the Section B of the assignment. Therefore, the mark
for Section A was divided into two.
6
Schools and society
HBEDSSC
Year Module
Department Educational Foundations
,3. COMMENTS ON ESSAY-TYPE ASSIGNMENTS 02, 03, 04 & 05
3.1Comments on Assignment 02 (compulsory)
SOCIO-EDUCATION AS A SCIENCE
SECTION A (Theoretical component) (Sub total: 100)
o In this section you had to present arguments in favour of the socio-educational concepts by
describing and explaining the theoretical foundations of these concepts. You will then start
to understand the importance of the actualisation of each of the key concepts in the social
development of a child/learmer. It is important that you realise that adequate socialisation is
totally dependent on successful realisation of all the socio-educational concepts.
o You had to summarise the theoretical explanation of each of the ten concepts in your own
words and then explain why each of these concepts are necessary elements in the
socialisation process of the child. Between 60 and 70 percent of students copied directly
from Pretorius (2011 - 2014) (Sections 1.5: 1.5.1-1.5.10) without proper referencing in
each paragraph or per statement proposed. This is highly unacceptable on Honours
level. Some students even copied from another student. In cases like these, the marks
obtained will be divided in half, e.g. 60% for assignments ÷ 2 = 30% for each assignment.
o It is very important in any essay-type assignment to properly cite all the academic sources
you have quoted from in the text according to the Augmented Harvard Method as explained
in TL101/2019. If you have not done so, you were penalised.
o Although Section A appears to be easy to answer, most students’ level of academic writing
lacked quality. To repeat: Pages and pages were copied from mainly the prescribed
textbook without any recognition of the source. NB: You cannot cite a source without
acknowledging the source. This is called PLAGIARISM and the University views this
as a serious academic offence. See Unisa’s Policy on Plagiarism in this regard. The
Copyright Act, no 98 of 1978 regulates copyright issues found in all walks of life in South
Africa, with academic writing mentioned specifically.
5
, o There was also hardly any indication that students can integrate different
sources/viewpoints and display their acquired research skills. The lack of these skills led to
students obtaining low marks for this section. The irony is that this is not a difficult skill to
master. So, why not focus on the requirements presented in Tutorial Letter
HBEDSSC/101/2019.
SECTION B (Research Component) (Sub total: 100)
o In this section you had to interview the headmasters of two of the local schools, two
teachers, two pairs of parents/caretakers and four Grade 11 learners (two boys and two
girls) in your community on the following seven questions:
1) Why is it so that some learners and teachers are more successful in schools than others?
2) Do you think that teachers are generally satisfied and happy in their teaching task?
3) Why do teachers often receive little respect as professionals?
4) Do you think parents are satisfied with government schools nowadays?
5) In what ways do parents/caretakers support children towards positive self-concept
formation?
6) Why are learners so unwilling to accept the authority of their educators (parents, teachers
and community leaders)?
7) Why is there such an increase in drug abuse amongst learners today?
o Then you had to write a research report on your findings by outlining the separate
responses of the four groups of respondents under different headings (Principals, teachers,
parents, learners) related to each question. You had to follow the steps of report writing
indicated in the Research Module (HBEDTRD). Whether you structured your report
according to the questions posed or the groups of respondents you interviewed, the
outcome was the same.
o Finally, you had to conclude with a paragraph that illustrates your personal opinion.
Interesting comments from students indicated that you are aware of the problems in the
school environment concerning the questions posed and that there is much more to be
done to improve the situation.
o Most students performed much better in this section and some went to considerable trouble
to interview the respondents and record very good responses. They received good marks
for this section, ranging from 60 - 85%. Thank you to these students for their effort.
o Unfortunately, it was also clear that some students were not serious about their studies and
fabricated the responses. They received poor marks ranging from 20 – 50% for this section.
o Some students also did not complete the Section B of the assignment. Therefore, the mark
for Section A was divided into two.
6
