When you think that communicating effectively is part of this course, you would have thought that the OU would have spelt out clearly the word count for each of the sections of the ECA. 
The fact that there has been so many queries indicates the lack of clarity in the assignment. It looks like it has been composed by a committee - like the Dome!
The number of words indicates the depth of answer that is required. 
(77 words)!

Pamela Rogerson writes:
When you think that communicating effectively is part of this course, you would have thought that tithe OU would have spelt out clearly the word count for each of the sections of the ECA. - Oh but they have spelt it out clearly [IMHO] - as did Sarah in a recent posting, and as I, and many others have pointed out over the last 2 weeks.
The fact that there has been so many queries indicates the lack of clarity - the lack of reading the details laid out in the "details" of the ECA [IMHO]- in the assignment. It looks like it has been composed by a committee - like the Dome!
The number of words indicates the depth of answer that is required. 
(77 words)!
Try reading http://t171.open.ac.uk/eca/4-b.cfm
IMHO there's been a fair amount of "moaning" by peers on this course who don't appear to have read the "Details of the End of Course Assessment" which clearly set out what's expected in the ECA or else the many "queries" would not perhaps have been necessary, which leads me to the thought:
"Does a computer based course encourage students to stop reading with any accuracy?"
On a related, but separate note, in defence of Tutors, our tutor has been at great pains to point out the "details" [e.g. use the website instructions, not the template], but even in our tutor group peers have read the messages and apparently ignored the content.
All very interesting IMHO

Del

Del uses the 'quoting' principal where he answers each part of the previous message which he includes in his. He also uses the term: 'IMO' (in my opinion) and 'IMHO' (in my humble opinion) which is PCP3 in the 'Netiquette' article.

Del - Oooooo! Dear - I have struck a chord! I have read the ECA instructions very thoroughly and they are not IMHO clear. I have seen all the various "interpretations" by students, but not these are not definitive. My tutor has also given me some guidelines which I shall follow. My point is not that people do not read, but that with so many students querying this means it is not clear. (IMHO) (:~)

PCP3 used here as well as an 'emoticon'.

Pamela Rogerson writes:
Del - Oooooo! Dear - I have struck a chord! I have read the ECA instructions very thoroughly and they are not IMHO clear. I have seen all the various "interpretations" by students, but not these are not definitive. My tutor has also given me some guidelines which I shall follow. My point is not that people do not read, but that with so many students querying this means it is not clear. (IMHO) (:~)

Pamela just to re-iterate the bit you (or any other fellow students still confused) need to read is entitled:
'Details of the End of Course Assessment'
and I think what Del was pointing out was that perhaps a lot of students hadn't read this particular document as this (IMHO) gives more details including the word counts which are less ambiguous and easily understood.
HTH

Toni 

Here, another student tries to explain to Pamela what Del had meant. It also uses the 'quoting' principal.

Toni Walton writes:
Pamela just to re-iterate the bit you (or any other fellow students still confused) need to read is entitled:
'Details of the End of Course Assessment'
and I think what Del was pointing out was that perhaps a lot of students hadn't read this particular document as this (IMHO) gives more details including the word counts which are less ambiguous and easily understood.
Toni - IMHO I should think everyone has read the End of Course Instructions by now. I have copied them into a Word Document and highlighted in a different colour all the key parts and in another colour the word count. I am sorry if I was misunderstood. I am guilty of not making myself clear!!!!!!!
Again my point was that with so many people querying this means that the instructions could have been explained clearer. 
Cheers. (:~)

Pamela apologises for not being clear which is a good way of avoiding 'flaming spirals'.

Toni Walton writes:
I think what Del was pointing out was that perhaps a lot of students hadn't read this particular document as this (IMHO) gives more details including the word counts which are less ambiguous and easily understood.
HTH

Thanks Toni

<<<<Self-doubt creeps in>>>>

I'm sorry, but I've read and re-read the details of the ECA page and I really don't see how the word count could be any clearer or more specific.

I agree we all need reassurance sometimes, including myself, and the many queries about the count has had me doubting my own eyes, but it's there, in black and white.

Many early queries seemed to result from peers following the incorrect template, not the website [this was pointed out by the OU quite some time ago], and some seemed to result because some peers had only read the front page of the ECA.

Never mind, IMHO it just shows the complexity of the human mind and how we interpret things differently, and how easy it is for misunderstandings to occur.
Good luck y-all with the ECA

Dmeth Blagg :O))

Delboy :O))

Here, Del still disagrees with Pamela's point: "so many people querying this means that the instructions could have been explained clearer". But he seems to attempt to end the discussion with his comment about the human mind (above paragraph) and his good luck comment. This does not encourage any more contributions in my opinion.
He adds 'emoticons' to show that there are no hard feelings with this disagreement.

Del Carter writes:
IMHO it just shows the complexity of the human mind and how we interpret things differently, and how easy it is for misunderstandings to occur.

I think it also shows a need for reassurance. Many of the questions (once we ignore the unfortunate uploading of last year's ECA earlier in the course) are really saying "have I got this right?". I do keep trying to get over the fact that the ECA is marked by real people who desperately want to give you marks, but there's a bit of a reluctance to believe that! When I mark exams, I am constantly looking for reasons to give people marks, and the other markers are the same. I really hate to have to give a mark that I know will probably fail someone, but love seeing performances that should get a distinction.

Regards,

John

A contribution to the discussion from a tutor with his opinion which seems to support Pamela's. 'Quoting' used again here.

This has turned out to be an interesting discussion. I am sure markers want to give students credit. Thank you Del for giving another point of view and also John as always very helpful to everyone.
Cheers. ):~) Pam

PCP1  is used in this message which also shows very good netiquette skills.