Essey

Criterion

Fail

Refer

40-49

50-59

60-69

70+

Final

Background

Not present/overly simplistic

Simplistic with some mention of problems in context

General comments about background with at least one significant problem highlighted

Indicates both an interest in the research and a rational for investigating it

As for 50-59, with discussion of major approaches to this topic

Concise, with personal interest, but emphasis placed on need for this research and what has been done to date

Aims and objectives

Not present/too many

Poorly defined and unrealistic in scope

One or two Aims, 2-5 objectives

As for 40-49, but with decent reasoning linked to Background

Clear aims and objectives, that are realistic for work at UG level

As for 60-69, but also related to current issues in topic area

Literature review

Overly brief, poorly chosen, limited sources

A ‘laundry list’ of easy to find support, with little sense of meta themes in topic area

Presentation of ‘expected’ sources’ in list fashion

Expected sources, organised to potential areas of research

Select sources, which inform a conceptual framework

A conceptual framework which links both to the background, research questions, and method

Methods

Limited or not present

Present but unlikely to support objectives or ignorant of advice on researching this topic

Presented in a simple fashion, possibly over ambitious, but useful for objectives set

Useful and grounded in ‘normal’ methods for topic

Useful, grounded, and selected for specifics of context. Some mention of analysis of data

Sensitive to the topic area, background, meta arguments in literature and including ideas for the analysis of the data

Limitations

Little/No mention of limitations

Limits perceived as unimportant… ignorant of Ethical implications

Some reasonable consideration of limits and Ethics

Explains limits in own words and is unlikely to take unethical actions

Limits sound and situated in context.  

Weighs the significance of the limits given scope of project and topic

Contribution

Little/no mention of contribution

Contribution is unrealistic or poorly related to aims and objectives

Some reasonable outcomes, perhaps more for business than theory

Lists potential contribution to both theory and practice

As for 50-59 with sense of scope of UG work as replicating/testing knowledge rather than creating new knowledge

As for 60-69, with ideas for future contributions/use in workplace