Workshop Essay Assessment Criteria and Structure

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Workshop - Essay Assessment Criteria and Structure

• Thriné Hely

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Agenda

• Structure
• What is an essay
• Main principles
• Layout
• Getting started
• Assessment Criteria

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Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this session you should be well on
  your way to achieving the following learning
  outcome
• Write an essay

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Structure

• What is an essay?
• Discussion
• Specific topic or area
• Identify key issues
• Views and opinions
• From a variety of sources - journals, texts, main
  theorists

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What is an essay?

• Critical evaluation
• Must relate this to the original question
• Scope for original thought
• Persuasive, convincing
• Constraints
• Limited by the question itself
• Number of words
• Time
• Summing up
• Conclusion based on what has been discussed - do
  not introduce new issues
• Though provoking and challenging

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Main principles

• Research - already discussed last week
• Interpretation and discussion
• Do I understand it
• Developing critical ability
• You do not have to agree with everything you have
  read
• Have you any evidence to support this?

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Main principles

• Referencing and construction of bibliography
• Foundation of the essay
• Academic credibility
• Hierarchy of material
• Spelling and syntax
• Use spell check
• Does it read well?

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Layout

• Introduction
• An outline of what is to be discussed
• Importance and relevance of topic
• Main points to be discussed
• Main theorists
• Main body
• Expand on the above
• Critically analyse and discuss the material
• Logical flow of thoughts and ideas

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Layout

• Conclusion
• Drawing together of ideas/material
• Re-emphasis of main arguments
• Final conclusive statement
• DOES NOT introduce new material
• References and citations
• Preferred referencing convention HARVARD
• See handout
• Full bibliography
• Includes ALL texts and journals used

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Getting Started

• Read question
• Do I understand it?
• What is being asked?
• Make notes
• On the areas and issues concerned
• Try to link these (chronologically, by issue or
  topic area)

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Getting started

• Read around topic
• Spend time in the library - make notes
• Do not rely on two or three texts
• Most reliable and up to date info may be in
  journals
• Plan
• How will you approach your essay?
• The logical structure
• Main theorists

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Getting Started

• Do not waffle
• Stick to the point
• Read it through properly
• Make sure that it flows well
• Make sure your arguments are supported
• Do not generalise eg
• Many managers believe that
• It is a well known fact that

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Assessment Criteria

• Structure
• Purpose, aim and objectives identified
• Introduction demonstrates a flow of information
• Evidence of knowledge and research
• Demonstrates a clear understanding of key issues
• Shows you have researched across a broad range of
  material
• Analysis and evaluation
• What does the material mean
• Is it reliable

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Criteria for assessment

• Communication and presentation
• Use of appropriate language
• Clear and concise
• Records all references
• Bibliography correctly laid out

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Criteria for assessment

• Discussion and debate
• Well developed and logical
• Independent thought
• Arguments and discussions supported by refereed
  material
• Us of theories and concepts as a framework