Assessment

Student

Title

Adherence to Completion Rules

a

Essays must be original and produced by the candidate who submits it.

b

All essays must be submitted by the last week of this term (summer term).

c

Essays must be 2000-3000 words, typed with double spacing with bibliography and end/footnotes. Font size 12 in Times New Roman or another standard type

d

Essays must have the title and competitors name written clearly, with pages stapled together.

University

award

Guide to first year undergraduate marking

LES equivalent grade.

1^st

(81% plus)

Outstanding in every respect. Work that is at the upper limit of performance and is well beyond the level expected of a competent student at their level of study.

A*

2:1

(70-80%)

Very good/good in most respects. The normal range for first class work. A first class essay shows a clear command of material, arguments and sources. It will show a clear understanding of underlying principles and a use of those principles in answering the question. If it is in an empirically oriented subject it will show control of empirical material, sound use of that material, its relation to appropriate theoretical and conceptual frameworks and development of argument. If it is in a theoretical subject it will show control of theoretical material, sound use of that material and development of argument. Where appropriate it will utilise empirical material to illustrate theoretical points. The essay will show independence of judgement.

A

2:2

(60-69%)

Good in most respects. An upper second class essay shows a good knowledge of material, arguments and original and secondary sources. If it is in an empirically oriented subject it will show some relation between those material and appropriate theoretical and conceptual frameworks. If it is in a theoretical subject it will show some grasp of principles and development of argument. Where appropriate it will utilise empirical material. The essay will make a clear point or points and show some critical acumen.

B

3^rd

(50-59%)

Sound in most respects.. A lower second class (or third) essay shows a basic, clear and generally correct knowledge of material, arguments and sources, particularly original sources. It will correctly summarise empirical or theoretical material, show some understanding of the material and its importance and draw reasonably appropriate conclusions.

C

Pass

(40-49%)

Third class work. A third class essay shows some knowledge of basic material. The use of material is only just adequate, or it might be otherwise adequate but ill judged or even mistaken in some significant way(s). There are no clear conclusions drawn from the material, none that could be drawn from the material or where drawn they are significantly flawed or irrelevant.

D

Fail

(1-39%)

Fail or unclassified. Work fails to meet the minimum requirement for demonstrating the relevant learning outcome. Marks in this range are usually given when either the use of basic material is absent, flawed, fundamentally mistaken, the essay fails to address a set or otherwise defined question or the use of language is so poor as to make the essay incomprehensible.

F

General comments/feedback

Grade