APS 2022/23 Trimester 2 Written Assignment Brief
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ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
| Assessment: | Report |
| Assessment code: | 011 |
| Academic Year: | 2022/2023 |
| Trimester: | 2 |
| Module Title: | Academic and Professional Skills |
| Module Code: | MOD003325 |
| Level: | 4 |
| Module Leader: | Kate Sender |
| Weighting: | 70% |
| Word Limit: | 2000 words This excludes bibliography and other items listed in rule 6.83 of the Academic Regulations |
| Assessed Learning Outcomes: |
1,2,3 & 5 |
| Submission Deadline: |
Please refer to the deadline on the VLE |
WRITING YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
• This assignment must be completed individually.
• You must use the Harvard referencing system.
• Your work must indicate the number of words you have used. Written assignments must
not exceed the specified maximum number of words. When a written assignment is
marked, the excessive use of words beyond the word limit is reflected in the academic
judgement of the piece of work which results in a lower mark being awarded for the piece
of work (regulation 6.74).
• Assignment submissions are to be made anonymously. Do not write your name anywhere
on your work.
• Write your student ID number at the top of every page.
• You must number all pages.
• You must submit a Word doc (a .docx, .doc or .odt file), not a PDF.
APS 2022/23 Trimester 2 Written Assignment Brief
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SUBMITTING YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
• In order to achieve full marks, you must submit your work before the deadline. Work that is
submitted late – if your work is submitted on the same day as the deadline by midnight,
your mark will receive a 10% penalty. If you submit your work up to two working days after
the published submission deadline – it will be accepted and marked. However, the
element of the module’s assessment to which the work contributes will be capped with a
maximum mark of 40%.
• Work cannot be submitted if the period of 2 working days after the deadline has passed
(unless there is an approved extension). Failure to submit within the relevant period will
mean that you have failed the assessment.
• Requests for short-term extensions will only be considered in the case of illness or other
cause considered valid by the Director of Studies Team. Please contact
[email protected]. A request must normally be received and agreed by the Director of
Studies Team in writing at least 24 hours prior to the deadline. See rules 6.64-6.73:
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/public/academic_regs.pdf.
• Exceptional Circumstances: The deadline for submission of Exceptional Circumstances
claims in relation to this assignment is no later than five working days after the submission
date of this work. Please contact the Director of Studies Team – [email protected]. See
6.112 – 6.141: http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/public/academic_regs.pdf.
APS 2022/23 Trimester 2 Written Assignment Brief
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ASSIGNMENT QUESTION (100 marks):
Choose only ONE of the words in italics. Choose the word most relevant to your degree.
You have been hired by a multinational Healthcare/Finance/Legal/Hospitality company to
write a 2000-word report responding to the task in the box below.
READING REQUIREMENT:
• You must use the following source in your answer:
Lang, K. and Kahn-Lang Spitzer, A. (2020) ‘How Discrimination and Bias Shape
Outcomes’, The Future of Children, 30(1), pp. 165–186.
• You must also use at least 5 other sources that you select yourself.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
• You must not focus on just one country or workplace, but you may use specific
countries or workplaces as examples.
• Your report should include the following sections:
Cover Page (not included in the word count).
Executive Summary (not included in the word count).
Contents Page (not included in the word count).
Introduction (suggested: 300 words).
Findings (suggested: 1200 words, split into 4 300-word subsections. The first subsection
should relate to your degree).
Conclusion (suggested: 150 words).
Recommendations (suggested: 350 words. Include 3 recommendations).
Reference List (not included in the word count).
Appendices (optional, not included in the word count).
Further guidance on what should be included in each section is provided in a separate
document on the VLE, “Report Assignment Structure”.
| Identify and analyse causes of discrimination in the workplace. Based on your findings, make recommendations about how discrimination in the workplace can be reduced. |
APS 2022/23 Trimester 2 Written Assignment Brief
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ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Your grade is split into four categories: Task Fulfilment (40% of your grade), Structure, Use of
Sources and Language (each worth 20% of your grade). Each category assesses different
aspects of your work, as explained below:
Task Fulfilment (40%)
• Relevance: Your report should stay on topic. It should not contain any information that does
not help answer the report task.
• Report section function: Each section of the report should fulfil its function by following
report-writing conventions and doing what the reader expects. Your ideas should be in the
appropriate report section (e.g. you should not make recommendations in the Findings).
• Analysis: Your report should be analytical, not just descriptive. For example, you could
consider the consequences and limitations of the ideas you include.
Structure (20%)
• Order of ideas: Your ideas should be in a logical order, and the same idea should not be
repeated multiple times (although you may refer to ideas you have previously discussed).
• Paragraph structure: Your paragraphs should follow the structure discussed in your APS
lectures. Each paragraph should have only one main idea, which should be made clear in its
topic sentence. This idea should be well supported (e.g. with explanation or examples).
• Cohesive devices: You should use cohesive devices (e.g. “therefore”, “however”) to show
the links between your ideas. You should make logical choices about when to do this and
which cohesive devices to use.
Use of Sources (20%)
• Choice and use of sources: You should use a large range of sources. Your sources should
be complex, thorough, academic and reliable. It should be clear how your source evidence
supports your ideas and links to the report task.
• Use of paraphrase/summary: Your paraphrases and summaries should be frequent and
easy to understand. You should use your own words. The meaning of the original source
should remain clear. You may include direct quotations, but only when appropriate.
• Use of Harvard referencing: You should reference all information from sources accurately.
Your citations and reference list should follow the conventions of Harvard referencing, as
explained here: https://www.citethemrightonline.com.
Language (20%)
• Range: Your vocabulary should be varied and relevant to the report topic. You should use a
wide range of grammatical structures.
• Accuracy: Your language use should be accurate and natural, with as few errors as
possible. Your writing should be easy to understand and should not cause strain (confusion)
for the reader.
• Academic style: Your writing should follow the conventions of academic style, as explained
in your APS sessions. You should avoid personal language, idioms, emotional language,
informal language, rhetorical questions and contractions. Your writing should be precise.
APS 2022/23 Trimester 2 Written Assignment Brief
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APS WRITTEN REPORT MARKING CRITERIA:
| Grade | Task Fulfilment (40%) |
Structure (20%) | Use of Sources (20%) | Language (20%) |
| Relevance • Report Section Function • Analysis |
Order of Ideas • Paragraph Structure • Cohesive Devices |
Choice and Use of Sources • Paraphrase/Summary • Harvard Referencing |
Range • Accuracy • Academic Style |
|
| 90-100% Exceptional TF: 36-40 S/UoS/L: 18-20 |
• Completely on topic and succinct without digression. • Report sections thoroughly fulfil their functions in an effective and clear way. • Analysis is very frequent, innovative and exceptionally effective. |
• Order of ideas within sections is exceptionally logical. • Paragraphs show exceptional structure and have very clear main ideas. • Choice of cohesive devices is completely logical. They are used at all appropriate points. |
• An exceptional range of complex, reliable, academic sources have been used. They support points exceptionally well. • Use of paraphrase/summary shows exceptional ability to manipulate language. Quotes are only used if appropriate and necessary. • Flawless use of Harvard referencing. |
• Exceptional range of vocabulary and grammar which is formal and appropriate. • Language use is exceptionally accurate, with no errors. • Exceptional, completely consistent academic style. |
| 80-89% Outstanding TF: 32-35 S/UoS/L: 16-17 |
• On topic and succinct without digression. • Report sections fulfil their functions very effectively. • Analysis is frequent and effective. |
• Order of ideas within sections is very logical. • Paragraphs show outstanding structure and have clear main ideas. • Choice of cohesive devices is very logical. They are used at almost all appropriate points. |
• Many complex, academic and reliable sources have been used. They support points outstandingly well. • Use of paraphrase/summary is outstanding and clear. Quotes are only used if appropriate. • Near flawless use of Harvard referencing (there may be very minor errors e.g. punctuation). |
• Outstanding range of vocabulary and grammar which is formal and appropriate. • Language use is outstandingly accurate, with a few very minor errors. • Outstanding, highly consistent academic style. |
| 70 – 79% Excellent TF: 28-31 S/UoS/L: 14-15 |
• Report stays on topic (there may be extremely minimal digression). • Report sections fulfil their functions. • Analysis is fairly frequent and usually effective. |
• Order of ideas within sections is logical. • Paragraphs tend to show excellent structure and are very likely to have clear main ideas. • Choice of cohesive devices is logical. They are used at most appropriate points. |
• Many academic and reliable sources have been used. They often support points in an excellent way. • Use of paraphrase/summary is excellent and usually clear. Quotes may be used, usually when appropriate. • Excellent use of Harvard referencing (there may be minor errors). |
• Excellent range of vocabulary and grammar which is generally formal and appropriate. • Language use is excellent, with errors causing no strain. • Excellent, consistent academic style. |
| 60 – 69% Good TF: 24-27 St/S/L: 12- 13 |
• Report is mostly on topic with only minor digression. • Report sections usually fulfil their functions, with some minor issues. • There is a good attempt at analysis, which is sometimes effective. |
• Order of ideas within sections is mostly logical. Occasionally ideas may be repeated or their placement may cause confusion. • Paragraphs tend to show good structure. There may be some issues e.g. inappropriate sentence functions/multiple ideas in one paragraph. • Choice of cohesive devices is mostly logical. They are used at many appropriate points. |
• Some academic and reliable sources have been used. They support points in a good way, which may be inconsistent. • Use of paraphrase/summary and is good and generally clear. Quotes may be overused. • Good use of Harvard referencing (there may be some errors e.g. with secondary citations). |
• Good range of vocabulary and grammar (there may be occasional informal or inappropriate language). • Language use is good (but at points may cause minor strain). • Good academic style which is mostly consistent. |
| 50 – 59% Sound TF: 20-23 S/UoS/L: 10-11 |
• Report is often on topic, with some digression. • Most/all report sections at least partially fulfil their functions. • Report is often descriptive but there is a sound attempt at analysis (which may not always be successful). |
• Order of ideas within sections is often logical. Sometimes ideas may be repeated or their placement may cause confusion. • Paragraphs tend to show sound structure. There may be frequent issues e.g. unclear main ideas/repetitive sentence functions. • Choice of cohesive devices is sometimes logical. They are used at some appropriate points. |
• Some sources may be non academic and/or unreliable. There is a sound attempt to use sources to support points (some source evidence may be lacking/not be fully relevant). • Use of paraphrase/summary is sound and may be unclear. Quotes may be overused. • Sound use of Harvard referencing (there may be some errors e.g. with citation placement). |
• Sound range of vocabulary and grammar (there may be some informal/inappropriat e language). • Language use is sound (but at points may cause strain). • Sound academic style, which may be inconsistent. |
APS 2022/23 Trimester 2 Written Assignment Brief
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| Grade | Task Fulfilment (40%) |
Structure (20%) | Use of Sources (20%) | Language (20%) |
| 40 – 49% Adequate TF: 16-19 S/UoS/L: 8-9 |
• Report is partly on topic with frequent digression. • Some report sections partially fulfil their functions. • Report is largely descriptive, with little to no attempt at analysis. |
• Order of ideas within sections is sometimes logical but may cause some confusion. • Paragraphs tend to show adequate organisation. There may be very frequent issues e.g. very long/short paragraphs. • Choice of cohesive devices is often illogical. They may sometimes be used at appropriate points. |
• Sources are likely to be non academic and/or unreliable. They support points in an adequate way (e.g. tend to be sparse/only tangentially relevant/vague). • Use of paraphrase/summary is frequently unclear. Quotes are likely to be overused. • Adequate use of Harvard referencing (there may be frequent errors e.g. inaccurate citation format). |
• Adequate range of vocabulary and grammar (there may be frequent informal/inappropriat e language). • Language use is adequate and likely to cause strain. • Some sporadic attempts to use academic style. |
| 30 – 39% Limited TF: 12-15 S/UoS/L: 6-7 |
• Unsuccessful attempt to stay on topic, with very frequent digression. • There may be an attempt to make report sections fulfil their functions, but it is unsuccessful. • Report is descriptive, with no clear attempt at analysis. |
• Order of ideas within sections is rarely logical and often causes confusion. • Paragraph organisation is limited, with frequent issues which severely disrupt flow. • Choice of cohesive devices is usually illogical. They are usually used at inappropriate points. |
• Unsuitable sources, which support points in a limited way (e.g. very sparse/extremely vague/irrelevant). • Paraphrase, summary and/or quotes are used in a limited way (there may be major plagiarism). • Limited use of Harvard referencing, with frequent, significant errors (which could cause accusations of plagiarism). |
• Limited range of vocabulary and grammar (language is likely to be informal and inappropriate). • Language use is limited and causes significant strain. • Limited attempt to use academic style. |
| 1-30% No or deficient or little information base TF: 0-11 S/UoS/L: 0-5 |
• Little to no content is on topic. • There is little to no evidence that report sections fulfil their functions. • Little to no analysis is evident. |
• Little to no attempt to organise ideas within sections. • Little to no attempt to structure paragraphs. • Little to no use of cohesive devices. |
• Little to no attempt to use sources. • Little to no attempt to paraphrase, summarise or quote. • Little to no attempt to use Harvard referencing. |
• Extremely limited range of vocabulary and grammar, which is informal and inappropriate. • Language use causes severe strain. • Little to no attempt to use academic style. |
APS 2022/23 Trimester 2 Written Assignment Brief
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ARU GENERIC ASSESSMENT CRITERIA AND MARKING STANDARDS: LEVEL 4 – the Transition stage
| Level 4 introduces students to HE. Students are expected to demonstrate relevant skills and competencies; to be articulate in expressing ideas orally; and to be coherent and structured in terms of written or other media. Forms of expression at this level may be descriptive or imitative, but students are expected to demonstrate an increasing understanding of the theoretical background of their study and the analytic competence to explore it, as well as its relationship, where appropriate, to particular skills. Students are expected to develop an awareness of strengths and weaknesses in their skill sets |
|||
| Mark Bands |
Outcome | Characteristics of Student Achievement by Marking Band for ARU’s Generic Learning Outcomes (Academic Regulations, Section 2) |
|
| Knowledge & Understanding | Intellectual (thinking), Practical, Affective and Transferable Skills |
||
| 90- 100% |
Achieves module outcome(s) |
Exceptional information base exploring and analysing the discipline, its theory and ethical issues with extraordinary originality. |
Exceptional management of learning resources, complemented by assured self-direction/exploration. Exceptional structure/accurate expression. Demonstrates intellectual originality and imagination. Exceptional practical/professional skills. |
| 80- 89% |
Outstanding information base exploring and analysing the discipline, its theory and ethical issues with clear originality |
Outstanding management of learning resources, complemented by assured self-direction/exploration. An exemplar of structured/accurate expression. Demonstrates intellectual originality and imagination. Outstanding practical/professional skills |
|
| 70- 79% |
Excellent information base, exploring and analysing the discipline, its theory and ethical issues with considerable originality. |
Excellent management of learning resources, complemented by self-direction/exploration. Structured/ accurate expression. Excellent academic/intellectual and team/practical/ professional skills |
|
| 60- 69% |
Good information base; explores and analyses the discipline, its theory and ethical issues with some originality |
Good management of learning resources with some self direction. Structured and mainly accurate expression. Good academic/intellectual skills and team/practical/ professional skills |
|
| 50- 59% |
Sound information base that begins to explore and analyse the discipline and its ethical issues but is still mainly imitative |
Sound use of learning resources and input to teamwork. Some lack of structure/accuracy in expression. Acceptable academic/intellectual skills and sound practical/ professional skills |
APS 2022/23 Trimester 2 Written Assignment Brief
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| 40- 49% |
A marginal pass in module outcome(s) |
Adequate information base; omissions in understanding of major/ethical issues. Largely imitative |
Adequate use of learning resources with no self-direction. Some input to teamwork. Some difficulty with structure and accuracy in expression. Some difficulties with academic/intellectual skills and developing practical/ professional skills |
| 30- 39% |
A marginal fail in module outcome(s). Satisfies default qualifying mark |
Limited information base; limited understanding of discipline and its ethical dimension |
Limited use of learning resources. No self-direction, little input to teamwork and difficulty with structure/accuracy in expression. Weak academic/intellectual skills. Practical/professional skills are not yet secure |
| 20- 29% |
Fails to achieve module outcome(s). Qualifying mark not satisfied |
Little evidence of an information base. Little evidence of understanding of discipline and its ethical dimension. |
Little evidence of use of learning resources. No self direction, with little evidence of contribution to teamwork. Very weak academic/intellectual skills and significant difficulties with structure/expression. Little evidence of practical/professional skills |
| 10- 19% |
Deficient information base. Deficient understanding of discipline and its ethical dimension. |
Deficient use of learning resources. No attempt at self direction with inadequate contribution to teamwork. Deficient academic/intellectual skills and major difficulty with structure/expression. Deficient practical/professional skills |
|
| 1- 9% |
No evidence of any information base. No understanding of discipline and its ethical dimension. |
No evidence of use of learning resources nor understanding of self-direction; no evidence of contribution to teamwork. No evidence academic/ intellectual skills and incoherent structure/ expression. No evidence of practical/ professional skills |
|
| 0% | Awarded for: (i) non-submission; (ii) dangerous practice and; (iii) in situations where the student fails to address the assignment brief (e.g.: answers the wrong question) and/or related learning outcomes |