Why is an organised communication always more effective than an unorganised one? Identify and discuss the advantages of organisation and planning in effective communication. STRUCTURE Include a title page at the front of the essay (include name and student number, course name and number, coordinator's or lecturer's name, assessment title and name, word length and due date). The introduction is approximately 10 percent of the overall word count. In your introduction you should include the aim of the essay; the key points you will be discussing in the essay, and a thesis statement or argument. Remember that your conclusion will also need to connect and summarise whatever issues are raised in the introduction. The body/discussion. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence followed by information relating to that topic (do not have one and two sentence paragraphs as in journalistic style of writing as these do not allow you to expand on an argument). References must be used in the body/discussion to back up your points/arguments and you can include examples from a variety of sources. Use communication and business communication sources and access the library databases for sources such as journal articles. The textbook has several useful sections on communication in its various aspects. Do not use Wikipedia and only use web pages that are authoritative - follow the CARS checklist below: C = is the website/source CREDIBLE? Does it make sense? Is it a place that usually provides unbiased/impartial information? A = is the website/source ACCURATE? Is it up to date? Are the statistics/data recent or relatively 'fresh'? R = is the website/source RELIABLE? Is it a place you can always count on to be correct and trustworthy? S = is the website/source SUBSTANTIATED? Do you know who wrote/designed/hosts it? Do you have a name you can check up on? Access the Harvard Referencing Guide, which you can find on the Moodle site, on how to reference in the body and in the reference list and also have a look at some sample paragraphs. The conclusion is approximately 10 percent of the overall word count. In your conclusion you summarise the main points you have made in both your introduction and in the body of the essay - avoid new references or new information in the conclusion. Include a reference list of sources cited in your essay. Only put in the reference list those sources that have been cited in your essay. Remember, if you use any information from outside sources it must be referenced in the body of the essay and cited in the reference list. Access the Harvard Referencing Guide for help with referencing. FORMAT AND STYLE Size 11 or 12 point font size depending on your choice of font which should be clear and unfussy. 1.5 line spacing. Extra line space between paragraphs. Page numbering begins on first page after title page. Titles of books, journals and films are in italics. Headings are not used in essays. Use third person (do not use I, you, us, we, our). Say instead: 'This essay will discuss ... It has been suggested that ... it may be argued that ...' Do not use colloquial terms - slang words or informal expression; this is a formal piece of academic writing and needs to be treated as such. Do not use abbreviations or contractions (say for example, not e.g.; say 'it will not' rather than 'it won't'). Dictionary Australian English or British English (Macquarie or Oxford Australian or OED).