Requirements for Written Work.

The most important requirements for the assessment tasks are:

• You must acknowledge through precise referencing the sources that you quote, summarise, refer to or mention in passing. Providing references serves the pragmatic purpose of allowing a reader to follow up your sources to check them, to contextualise the material, or simply to pursue something that interests them. You need to provide sufficient information to allow the reader to find the passage that you are using-including the page number. You will lose marks for inadequate referencing.
• Assemble an argument. This means asserting a proposition, providing evidence to support that proposition, and leading the reader through that material in a way that is logical and convincing. You will lose marks if you do not establish a clear argument.
• Plan your arguments by breaking your assignment into sections. Work up your topic sentences that will head up each section and each paragraph. Work out what evidence you need to present to the reader, and in which order. Consider how best to present that evidence. Consider whether the evidence you have presented sufficiently supports your propositions. Consider how to build a mass of evidence to make your argument convincing. You will lose marks for poor essay organisation.
• Write clearly. Do not try to write in a manner that you think is ‘academic’. Write simple declarative sentences that express one idea and link your sentences together in a logical way. Use sub-headings where appropriate. Always read your work out loud to check that it makes sense. Remember the reader, and imagine that you are trying to engage with that reader as you write. Your main obligation as a writer is to explain something about which you have developed an understanding to someone who may not share that understanding. Help them to move towards your understanding. You will lose marks for lack of clarity, poor grammar and confusing syntax.
• Make sure that you re-read your essays and analyses carefully. You will lose marks if you have too many easily correctable errors in formatting, spelling and punctuation.

Assessment Criteria for Written Work.

• High Distinction (85%+): Work of exceptional standard.

Written work demonstrates initiative and ingenuity in research and reading, pointed and critical analysis of material, innovative interpretation of evidence, develops abstract or theoretical arguments on the strength of detailed research and interpretation. Properly documented; writing characterised by creativity, style, and precision.

• Distinction (75-84%): Work of a superior standard.

Written work demonstrates initiative in research and reading, complex understanding and original analysis of subject matter and its context; makes good attempt to ‘get behind’ the evidence and engage with its underlying assumptions, shows critical understanding of the principles and values underlying the unit of study. Properly documented; writing characterised by style, clarity, and some creativity.

• High Credit (70-74%): Highly competent work.

Evidence of extensive reading and initiative in research, sound grasp of subject matter and appreciation of key issues and context. Engages critically and creatively with evidence, and attempts an analytical evaluation of material. Some evidence of ability to think theoretically as well as empirically. Well written and documented.

• Low Credit (65-69%): Competent work.

Written work contains evidence of comprehensive reading, offers synthesis and critical evaluation of material on its own terms, takes a position in relation to various interpretations. In addition, it shows some extra spark of insight or analysis. Demonstrates a coherent and sustainable argument, some evidence of independent thought.

• High Pass (60-64%): Work has considerable merit.

Written work contains evidence of a broad and reasonably accurate command of the subject matter and some sense of its broader significance, offers synthesis and some evaluation of material, demonstrates an effort to go beyond the essential reading, contains clear focus on the principal issues, understanding of relevant arguments and diverse interpretations, and a coherent argument grounded in relevant evidence, though there may be some weaknesses of clarity or structure. Articulate, properly documented.

• Medium Pass (55-59%): Work of a satisfactory standard.

Written work meets basic requirements in terms of reading and research, and demonstrates a reasonable understanding of subject matter. Offers a synthesis of relevant material and shows a genuine effort to avoid paraphrasing, has a logical and comprehensible structure and acceptable documentation, and attempts to present an argument.

• Low Pass (50-54%): Work of an acceptable standard.

Written work contains evidence of minimal reading and some understanding of subject matter, offers descriptive summary of material; makes an attempt to organise material logically and comprehensibly and to provide scholarly documentation. There may be gaps in some areas.

• Fail (50% and Below): Work not of an acceptable standard.

Work may fail for any or all of the following reasons: unacceptable levels of paraphrasing and quotation; irrelevance of content; presentation, grammar or structure so sloppy it cannot be understood; submitted very late without extension.