Activity and participation
Marking Criteria and Guidance:
500 word assignments:
– Definition (20%)
– Supporting papers (10% – including marks for quality of sources as well as correct referencing)
– Critical papers (10% – including marks for quality of sources as well as correct referencing)
– Conclusions – (40% – including critical evaluation and linkage between different papers; better answers will also include more references than the 4 listed in Qs 2 & 3)
– Reflection (20%- better answers will include more specific reflections and action planning to improve on future assessments/future activities)
The assignment will be considered against these general criteria:
Category
Specific Element In order to pass, an answer should… An excellent answer should…
Content Relevance to topic …be relevant to the topic and largely relevant to the specific question set. …clearly address the question set, making it evident to the reader just how the material presented relates to the specific topic.
Coverage of literature …include appropriate literature, although this may be with reference to textbooks and lecture notes. …cover a wide range of appropriate literature (theory and evidence), with reference to predominantly primary sources of information
…should go beyond reading lists to demonstrate evidence of independent literature searching.
Structure Introduction …introduce the topic to the reader. …give a clear indication to the reader of the main points of the argument and how these will be addressed in the rest of the essay.
Development of argument …have a basic argument which relates to the topic and which explains the use of the evidence presented. …provide a consistent argument that both runs through the course of the work and provides a “skeleton” on which appropriate evidence can be placed. This argument should demonstrate a high level of logical coherence and hence literature used must be appropriate to the argument presented.
Organisation of material …have a basic level of organisation, which enables the reader to follow the argument. …have a clear logical structure and flow of ideas and information. Material presented will be well linked and will help the reader to see the way the argument develops.
Conclusion …summarise the ideas presented in the essay. …give a clear summary of the ideas presented in the coursework and provide an overall judgement which is directly related to the main question.
Analysis Comparing the work of others …identify some strengths and weaknesses of the material presented. …compare and evaluate different approaches and sources of evidence, including identifying appropriate strengths and weaknesses of the material presented.
Developing personal critique …include some evidence of personal critical thinking. …present clear evidence of independent critical analysis. This may include resolving contradictions between research findings and/or ideas and the critical appraisal of “established” critiques of the work.
Originality …not necessarily be original but should still include some evaluative elements as detailed above. …develop the writer’s own ideas within the context of the evidence presented. Excellent answers will provide a direction for the development of the topic area and show evidence of novel ideas.
Style Accuracy of citation …provide largely accurate citations within the text itself. …provide accurate and comprehensive citations in APA format within the text itself.
Accuracy of references …provide a largely accurate references list in APA format. …provide full and accurate references in APA format as a section at the end of the document. An excellent answer should have a references section which corresponds with the citations in the text.
Clarity …be written in a generally clear manner, so that the reader can make sense of what is being said. …be written in a clear manner, with correct spelling and grammar and should enable the reader to make sense of what is being said.
Supplementary Guidance:
These are provided in the supporting document for each PBL cycle – the ones for this assessment are reproduced here:
Template for 500 word piece – Activity Participation & Well-Being
Title
(1) Definition of XX
Provide the following (in this order): a definition of XX; a reference or references to its creators; a brief description of the relevance of XX. Write only in the third person and do not use quotations. You have a strict word limit of no more than 100 words (excluding references). Value: 20 points.
In this section I expect you to give me a definition of your chosen activity (and why you have chosen it), define your choice of outcome measure (e.g. well-being, self-esteem, resilience, mental health) and explain why you have chosen it.
(2) References for 2 papers supporting XX – In this section we are JUST looking for the references. Not a discussion of the references; this will appear in Section (4)
These references MUST be written in APA or Harvard format. Value: 10 points. These points will be based on correctness of referencing and choice of sources – highly relevant, recent primary sources are better and will give you higher points.
(3) References for 2 papers critical of XX – In this section we are JUST looking for the references. Not a discussion of the references; this will appear in Section (4)
These references MUST be written in APA or Harvard format. Value: 10 points. These points will be based on correctness of referencing and choice of sources – highly relevant, recent primary sources are better and will give you higher points.
For these two questions there are several ways you can tackle it and any of these are fine:
Option For Question 2 For Question 3
1 Select 2 papers which support the idea that your chosen activity can make a positive difference to your outcome measure Select 2 papers which contradict the idea that your chosen activity can make a positive outcome:
-For example you can use papers which show ANOTHER activity is more effective, than your chosen one, which show that there is NO effect of any activity on your chosen outcome measure or which show that your chosen activity can be HARMFUL to the achievement of the outcome
2 Select 2 papers which support the idea that your chosen activity can make a positive difference to your outcome measure Select 2 papers which support the idea that your chosen activity can make a positive difference to OTHER related outcome measures as well as the one you’ve chosen
3 Select 2 papers which support the idea that your chosen activity can make a positive difference to your outcome measure Select 2 papers which support the idea that other activities can make a positive difference to your outcome measure AS WELL AS the one you have picked for your primary focus.
(4) Conclusions
What conclusions can be drawn about XX? Critically discuss the subject using the references you have used in answers (2) and (3), plus further reading (include references to these additional readings in APA/Harvard format at the end of your assignment). In the final section/paragraph, state an overall conclusion. Write only in the third person and do not use quotations. You have a strict word limit of no more than 300 words (excluding references). Value: 40 points.
As before you need to discuss the articles you’ve mentioned – just as you did in the previous one (which you’ll receive feedback on before you submit this one). Try to link the articles together when presenting your discussion.
(5) Personal reflection
What are the main skills that you have learned or extended during this task? How will you improve further in the next task? You may write in the first person. You have a strict word limit of no more than 50 words. Value: 20 points.