Level 5, Unit 1 - Developing Professional Practice

hi Rebecca
I have also just completed the Level 5 and to be honest the biggest difference between the Level 3 and the Level 5 is the style of writing.
The Level 3 is rather casual in comparison with little need for research and the writing style was more simply spitting out what you read and what you know.
The Level 5 is a Foundation Degree level with the need for academic writing style. I found that in my class, I was one of the lucky ones who had completed an Undergrad Joint Honours and a Post Grad which really helped me when it came to writing.

Some key things to help you structure:

1- Use the bullet pointed parts in the assignment brief. CIPD assignments are word limited but the questions are fluffy and not to the point! Some of them ask you to go over the same things several times in one assignment! Be concise with your answers while answering the question.

2- To answer your questions, use key authors/texts etc from HR theorists and well known researchers such as Marchington et al - I found this to be a significant one as well as Herzberg, Maslow to name a few others. Don't use third party website type blogs eg businessballs or wiki links. Look for the actual authors and dig a bit deeper.

3- In Level 5 assignments, it's important to be comparative and reflective to show wider reading and reference a range of texts to show that you can be analytical. If you don't analyse, you're not writing at Level 5. To make reference to your initial question about describing professionalism, try starting with "the Oxford English Dictionary describes professionalism as..." and then take a look at what HR theorists look for as well as what CIPD quotes on their factsheets as well as the HR map. Comparing a few gets you going. Don't forget to reference as you go along :)

4- Language used should also be objective, not subjective, unless it asks you for your own experience.

5 - The Developing Professional Practice one can't actually be completed fully until the end. It asks for CPD which needs reflected on at the end of the academic year as you need to show the development and what professional activities and research you undertook.

6 - The biggest tip I have is just start writing. Ideas will flow. Maybe some things you will write will be absolute rubbish but these are vocational assignments and the more you read as you go along, the more ideas you will have and you can chop it and change it. Start with one point and go from there.

Hope this helps - and good luck!

Nicola

Hi Nicola
I am doing CIPD HR level 5 and my big problem is to write on my own words. I can search for the answers with references but all I can do copy and paste. is the way will make pass level 5 or what I should do?

if anyone can help me this my email :
mai-salama@live.com

many thanks
Mai

I'm currently half way through Level 5 and struggled with this. What I do now is read an article, paper, or page in a book etc, summarise it in my head and then get it down on paper as if I'm explaining to it a friend, colleague etc. If you are quoting something (because you simply can't put it any other way) then you can copy and paste but reference it accordingly. HTH.

thanks a lot :)

Dear Stacey, this sounds as a good advice and really easy to follow.Is it enough in terms that a student is not expected more than simply write as summarized...I am just starting with DVP and a bit confused, trying to see am I on the right track at all...

Dear Stacey, this sounds as a good advice and really easy to follow.Is it enough in terms that a student is not expected more than simply write as summarized...I am just starting with DVP and a bit confused, trying to see am I on the right track at all...