Academic Writing, Assignments and Turnitin: A Guide for Youth Worker Apprentices

A degree apprenticeship combines academic study with professional practice. As a Level 6 Youth Worker Degree Apprentice, you'll complete academic assignments alongside your workplace learning and professional development.

Your assignments are an opportunity to explore youth work theory, research and evidence, and apply what you're learning to your own professional context.

Before you start writing

Before starting an assignment, make sure you understand:

• The assignment question
• The assessment criteria
• The required learning outcomes
• The expected word count
• The submission deadline
• The relevant apprenticeship standards
• The required referencing style

Read the question carefully and identify exactly what you're being asked to do. If you're unsure about the requirements, speak to your Professional Learning Mentor.

Developing your academic writing

Academic writing should demonstrate your ability to:

• Use relevant evidence
• Understand academic theories and concepts
• Evaluate different perspectives
• Develop a reasoned argument
• Apply theory to practice
• Draw informed conclusions
• Reflect critically on your learning

Try to avoid simply describing what happened. At degree level, you'll be expected to analyse, evaluate and explain.

Ask yourself:

Why did this happen?

What does the evidence tell me?

Are there alternative explanations?

What are the strengths and limitations of this approach?

How does this relate to my youth work practice?

Assignment presentation

Always follow the most recent assessment guidance provided for your programme and module.

The current handbook specifies:

• 12-point font
• 1.5-line spacing
• Numbered pages
• Clear headings
• A completed assignment front sheet
• One complete document including appendices where required

Always check the latest guidance available through Aptem, as submission requirements may change.

Turnitin

Your written assignments are submitted through Turnitin.

Turnitin generates a similarity report that can help identify areas where sources may not have been appropriately cited or where wording is too close to existing material.

Read Understanding the Turnitin Similarity Report for further guidance.

A similarity report does not automatically mean that plagiarism has occurred. However, you should always review your work carefully and make sure that sources are correctly acknowledged.

If you're unsure about referencing or academic writing, speak to your Professional Learning Mentor for guidance.

Academic integrity

Your submitted work must represent your own learning and work.

Academic misconduct can include:

• Plagiarism
• Copying another person's work
• Submitting work written by someone else
• Falsifying evidence or data
• Presenting another person's ideas as your own

Make sure you understand the academic integrity requirements for your programme and seek support if you're unsure how to use a source correctly.

Keep your work

Keep an electronic copy of your submitted assignments throughout your apprenticeship.

Once you receive feedback and your assessment has been marked, follow the required process for uploading relevant evidence to your apprenticeship portfolio.

Your Professional Learning Mentor can support you if you're unsure what to upload or where it should go.