MDIA2091 Mobile Cultures
MDIA2091 Assessment One: Essay
Assessment & Weighting Length Due date Feedback
Essay (40%) 1500-2000 words 10/07/2023 11:59
PM (week 7)
Rubric and comments
via Moodle Grademark
Question
Writing this essay involves an analysis phase (1) and a writing phase (2):
1. Analysis phase:
 Use the App Walkthrough Method to analyse a mobile app of your choice.
 You should use the worksheet you were provided with in Tutorial 2 to document
your walkthrough.
 As you undertake your walkthrough, track the data the app collects about you as
a user.
 Think about how it may be using this data to create a model of you and your
attributes (e.g., your preferences and behaviours).
 Consider the types of data the app collects, its data privacy practices, and the
impact of these practices on user autonomy and control.
2. Writing phase:
Using specific examples from your walkthrough analysis, answer the following question:
Mobile apps make assumptions about who you are as a user. Reflecting on this, what are
the broader social and ethical implications in the user model and structure of your chosen
app that provide evidence of this assumed user identity?
Remember, these issues will be different depending on the kind of app you have chosen
and its domain (e.g., health, entertainment, social connection, work etc.). Draw on
relevant scholarly literature to support your claims about what they key social and ethical
issues are in the particular domain.
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MDIA2091 Mobile Cultures
Suggested essay structure
To structure your essay effectively, consider the following general outline. Remember, this is only
a guideline—you do not need to follow this specifically, this is just to help you with organising your
thoughts and argument.
1. Introduction:
 Clearly state the purpose of the essay and your thesis statement, which should
highlight the social and ethical implications of the user model created by the
chosen app.
2. Walkthrough Findings:
 Briefly introduce the mobile app you selected for analysis and explain why you
find it relevant and interesting.
 Provide an overview of the data collected by the app and how it is used to create
a user model.
 Present your walkthrough findings and observations, using specific examples and
evidence from the worksheet you used during the analysis phase.
 Discuss the insights you gained regarding the user model created by the app and
its implications on your preferences, behaviours, and personal attributes.
3. Domain-specific Considerations:
 Tailor your discussion to the specific domain of the app you chose (e.g., health,
entertainment, social connection, work etc.).
 Analyse how the user model and its implications intersect with the unique
characteristics and ethical considerations of that domain.
 Consider any specific legal, social, or cultural aspects that are relevant to the app
and its impact on users.
4. Social and Ethical Implications:
 Explore the broader social and ethical implications of the user model generated
by the app.
 Discuss the potential risks, benefits, and concerns associated with the app's data
collection practices and user modelling techniques.
 Consider issues such as privacy, consent, transparency, algorithmic biases, and
the potential impact on individual autonomy and control.
 Provide well-reasoned arguments supported by evidence from your walkthrough
analysis.
5. Conclusion:
 Summarise the main points discussed in your essay, emphasising the social and
ethical implications of the user model created by the app.
 Reflect on the significance of your findings and their broader implications for
individuals, society, and the design and use of mobile apps.
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MDIA2091 Mobile Cultures
How to include a screen capture or diagram in your essay
In order to explain your analysis you will need to include diagrams and/or screen captures from
your walkthrough in your essay. You should present these as figures with captions as follows:
Figure 1: An example of a screen capture of the Paprika recipe management app recipe page.
Depending on what you are explaining to the reader, you may like to annotate the screen capture
(e.g. with arrows and labels).
Use figures only when you are making a substantial point in your essay. You should limit figures to
3-4 in the body of the essay. If more are needed they should be included in an appendix.
Referencing
You should cite external sources using Harvard referencing:
https://student.unsw.edu.au/harvard-referencing
Submission
Submit your assignment via Turn-it-in on Moodle by the due date (see table on first page).
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MDIA2091 Mobile Cultures
Marking criteria
The table below is the qualitative rubric used as a guide in marking your essay:
F P C D HD
Expression:
The extent to
which your
writing is
fluent, concise,
and coherent
Incoherent and
poorly written.
Highly
problematic in
writing
style and/or
grammar and
structure.
Obtrusive
errors. Likely to
be
well outside the
word count -
either
too short, or
longwinded.
Poorly
presented.
Weaker writing
of patchy
quality with
some obvious
errors in
referencing
style, and/or
grammar
and/or
structure. Close
to or within
word
count.
Sound writing
style. Adequate
structure. Some
(less obtrusive)
errors in
style, grammar,
and structure.
Within
word count.
Mature and
generally
assured
academic style
of writing that
is well
structured and
that poses few
problems for
readers.
Few errors in
style, and
grammar.
Within word
count.
Well edited.
Exceptionally
well- written.
Characterised
by a
sophisticated
academic voice
with very few
(or
no) errors in
style, grammar,
and structure.
Within
word count.
Skilfully
edited.
Beautifully
presented.
Argument:
The extent to
which your
argument is
clear, logical,
and directly
answers the
question.
A poorly
discussed
argument is
likely to be
seriously
stunted,
fragmented,
and/or
incoherent.
Little to no
sense of a
logical
connection to
the question.
A weak
argument with
a limited logical
connection to
the question.
Displays some
significant gaps
in
understanding.
A relatively
thoughtful
discussion of a
partially
developed
argument that
is marked by
some
oversights.
Some
worthwhile
connections
made to the
question.
A well-
reasoned
argument that
displays few
gaps in
thinking.
Directly
answers the
question.
An exquisitely
developed,
thoroughly
defended, and
fully coherent
argument that
directly
answers the
question.
Concepts:
The extent to
which you
demonstrated
a grasp of key
concepts and
used them to
answer the
question.
Demonstrates a
poor
understanding
of the key
concepts in the
question.
Demonstrates
an
understanding
of the key
concepts in the
question but
makes some
conceptual
errors.
Demonstrates a
good
understanding
of the key
concepts in the
question.
Demonstrates
an excellent
understanding
of the key
concepts in the
question
Demonstrates a
highly
sophisticated
understanding
of the key
concepts in the
question
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MDIA2091 Mobile Cultures
FAQs
1. Do I need to cite sources in the essay?
Yes, you should cite sources and include a full bibliography. Please use Harvard
referencing: https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/citing-different-sources
2. Is my bibliography include in the word count?
No, your bibliography is not included in the word count.
3. Can I write within +/- 10% of the word count?
It is a good idea to stick as closely to the word count as you can out of respect for your tutor's
time. However within +/- 10% is an acceptable margin
4. Do you require a certain number of references, ideas, or other phenomena?
If we require a certain number of anything, that will always be in the question. So if we do not
specify a number for something, then we will not penalise you if you don't do a certain
number of instances of that thing. We are always assessing you on the extent to which you
demonstrate that you understand the material, rather than on arbitrary things like whether
you did a certain thing X number of times.
5. Do I need to cite the lectures in the essay?
No, this would become untenable in a written essay so you are only required to cite the
author whose idea you are using in your response. You don't need to cite the lecture in which
I taught you about this particular author's ideas. You also don't need to cite the particular
lecture I mentioned general key concepts as this would be very repetitive.
6. Do I attach my walkthrough worksheet to the essay?
No, this would likely make a file that is too big to upload. The worksheet just serves as your
systematic data collection tool.
NB: Check the Moodle Essay FAQ section nearer to the due date as I may update it if there are
other questions that are asked that I haven't thought of here!