AESCoursework1AssessmentBrief_IFYJAN2020-21.docx

Academic English Skills Coursework 1 Assessment Brief (UG)

What

Coursework 1:

In this assessment, you will:
– select an essay title related to your subject of study.
– be given a source to start your reading for the essay.
– find five additional reliable sources related to your essay and add them to a reference list using an appropriate referencing format.
– outline how three sources are relevant to your essay and detail how you found the source (eg. via Google Scholar, the University library, from a reading list, following up on a reference in another article) and determined it was useful.
– complete the table for two sources, outlining how you have identified each source as reliable.
– identify three main points which are useful from each of the two sources, and the supporting evidence provided.
– note the part of the essay for which the points are useful.
– note the conclusions you have drawn from your reading of the five texts on the topic.

This coursework is the first stage of your coursework portfolio. You will be required to present and answer questions on your research in CW 2, and write a research-based essay of 1500 words in CW 3. There is no word limit for CW 1. You can write in note-form, as you are not marked for the accuracy of your language, but you must use your own words. You cannot demonstrate your understanding of the sources you have read if you copy from the text.

Why

CW 1 tests your ability to research and plan an extended research essay by:
– analysing an essay title and answering it with relevant points and ideas.
– finding useful, credible academic sources to inform your ideas in answering the question.
– reading and identifying relevant information for your essay.
– identifying the main points and supporting evidence in sources.
– draw conclusions from your reading.
– integrating your own ideas with ideas from your sources.
– discussing your conclusions in a tutorial.
This assessment counts for 40% of your final mark for reading.

When

Stage 1) w/b 12th April: Complete the CW 1 planning document and show it to your tutor for approval. This ensures you have understood the requirements of the essay question correctly, and that your choice of sources is appropriate before you go any further.

Stage 2) w/b 26th April: Go through the CW 1 Checklist to make sure you have completed the assessment fully and correctly, and submit the draft of your source report.

Stage 3) w/b 10th May: Your tutor will provide feedback on your draft in a tutorial. Make notes of your tutor’s comments. Your tutor will advise you on whether your submission is acceptable as a piece of academic work, or if further work is needed. You will also be asked in the tutorial to talk through your research so far and show the sources you have found.

Stage 4) w/b 24th May: Submit your CW 1.

How

Your work is submitted and marked electronically. Your tutor will give you the marking criteria and samples of student submissions so that you can see how the assessment is marked.
Your work will automatically be checked by similarity software (Turnitin) to make sure you have submitted work in your own words. You may be able to submit your work ahead of the submission deadline in order to check the similarity score.

What if…

I don’t choose relevant or reliable sources?

– Your tutor will check your sources before you write your first draft. Make sure you have used the best source of information (if you find some interesting data reported in a newspaper, follow up on the original source, rather than just citing the newspaper).
– Use the sources you are given as a starting point; follow up on references mentioned in the texts, consult reading lists for your subject and ask in the library for help finding relevant material.

my similarity score on Turnitin is high?

First, check your similarity report. Any wording on the template will be picked up as plagiarism, so your tutor will not count that. Check whether chunks of your writing have been highlighted in the report; this indicates you have not paraphrased effectively. Poor paraphrasing is a form of plagiarism, and will result in your work being reported for academic misconduct. You should therefore revise your work and resubmit it before the assessment deadline. This assessment requires you to identify and summarise key points from the text in your own words; you should not just use direct quotations from sources in this assessment.
You can find further information on the Academic Misconduct process in your Student Handbook.

I submit the coursework late?

If you submit an assessment late, a penalty will be applied to your final mark. The penalties for late submission are outlined in your Student Handbook.

I don’t pass CW 1?

You must submit a draft of CW 1 so that your tutor can provide you with feedback to improve your work before you submit it. Failure to submit a draft will result in 10% penalty at the final submission stage.
You will need a minimum score for your overall reading mark in order to meet your progression requirements. If you score below 40% on CW 1, you may be required to resubmit at the end of the module. If you are awarded zero due to Academic Misconduct (ie. you have submitted work which is not your own), you may be given a new essay title to research and plan.

I don’t submit CW 1?

You should complete all three components of the module in order to demonstrate that you have met all the learning outcomes. Your final mark may be withheld if your assessments are incomplete. You can still pass the reading component even if you failed CW1 (below 40%) as long as the average between CW1 and the reading exam is above the progression requirement for your pathway. If you are unable to submit CW 1 by the deadline, you will need to apply for mitigating circumstances. Further information on mitigating circumstances can be found in your student handbook. You will have a chance to resit CW1 at the end of the programme.

I miss part of CW 1?

If you only submit part of CW 1 (you complete the first two annotated references, but not the source evaluation part, for example) your work will be penalised according to the marking criteria. In this example, you would be awarded zero for Source Evaluation and Use of Sources, and Processing Text and a low score for demonstrating your knowledge.

Can I…

choose the same title as someone else in my class?

Yes. You can choose the same title as other students, but you must not work together, as this is collusion, a form of academic misconduct. The work you submit must be your own.

use sources that I am reading for my subject?

Yes. You should not submit the same assessment for two modules, as this is academic misconduct, but you are able to use material you are reading in your subject module in the AES Coursework.

not use the source I am given?

Yes. You do not have to use the source you are given; but it is recommended as a starting point on the topic. If you find better sources of information for the purposes of your essay, use those. You will, however, have to do more work if you don’t use the given source.

How to complete the CW 1 Planning document

You need to complete the planning document to show your tutor like this:

:

Title:

Approach verbs

Ideas to be explored

Discuss

How are animals affected by living in zoos? What are the benefits and drawbacks? Does it make a difference if animals are born in captivity?

To what extent

How far are the claims that zoos do not prioritise animal welfare and conservation valid?