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[Right] Yet that alone is not enough. Your argument may be logically sound, but is it 
practically so? For that, you need examples, from Q27 real-life, to illustrate your points 
or sub-points. 
Eric: I’ve got lots of examples from my course readings. I suppose I could use them. 
Ms Harris: But remember, whenever you use an example, or facts or figures that are not 
commonly known, you must give a reference. That’s an academic Q28 necessity, without 
which your writing will automatically fail. 
Eric: So, it’s necessary to give these. Right. 
Ms Harris: Absolutely—and with that, your essay will be fine, but always ensure that you 
format it clearly. 
Eric: What do you mean? 
Ms Harris: I mean the practical considerations, as written in the university Q29 style 
guide, such as leaving appropriate margins, using double spacing, Arial font, and so on. 
You see, your writing must look good, as well as be good. 
Eric: I can certainly do that. 
Ms Harris: And, finally, related to the previous point, you need to respect the number of 
words required. Your individual lecturers will give you a word-count figure, so follow 
what they say, making your essay neither too long, nor too short—perhaps Q30 10% 
either way should be acceptable. 15% was common when I was younger, but it’s a lot 
stricter now, and 20% would be pushing the boundaries just a little too far. 
Eric: I guess I can do all that. Thanks for your advice. 
SECTION 4 
You will hear a lecturer discussing the history of people’s beliefs regarding whether the 
sun, or the Earth, is at the centre of the solar system. 
In the night sky, the stars appear to revolve around the Earth, rising in the east, and 
disappearing in the west. The Earth itself seems solid, fixed, and stable, and such 
common sense perception suggests that the Earth is the centre of the universe. This is 
known as ‘geo’ ‘centrism’, with geo meaning Earth, and Q31 all pre-modern 
civilisations drew this conclusion. We now know, of course, that the Earth revolves 

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