Assignment Brief Academic Year 2020-21

Module code Academic Research and Writing Module leader: TBC

and title:

Assignment Written coursework, 1500 words Assessment 100%

No. and type: weighting:

Submission 23rd November 2020 – 2pm Target feedback 3 weeks from the date of final
time and date: time and date: submission

Assignment task

This assignment involves preparing a reflective report on your learning development and preparation of
continuous improvement portfolio of assembled work and reflections.

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your
achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO 1 Reflect on personal achievement and continuous improvement;

LO 2 Prepare a personal development plan;

LO 3 Demonstrate awareness and the use of evidence-based writing to support conclusions and
recommendations;

LO 4 Understand good academic writing and referencing.

Task requirements

OVERVIEW

Prepare a portfolio that applies the academic skills from the module to a business issue, reflects on the
learning that has taken place and also includes a personal development plan.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TASK – WHAT YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO DO?

The portfolio is split into three key parts:

1) The submission of a written report that discusses a business issue using a wide variety of

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research materials (800 words).

2) A reflective piece of writing that summarises the learning from the module and how it will be of
use for both your studies and future plans (500 words).
3) A personal development plan that focuses on academic skills.(200 words)

PART 1 – REPORT (800 WORDS)

Throughout the module we will be examining a variety of current business issues through the use of a
variety of research materials.

You will need to choose one business issue from the list below to base your report on:

1. Adapting to new technology

2. Environmental sustainability
3. Workforce planning

The report must:

a) Give the full Harvard reference within the reference page for each item used, and the correct
Harvard ‘shortened’ reference within the report;

b) Include both direct and indirect citations from a wide variety of sources;

c) Make use of the relevant research items from within the module;

d) Explains and discusses the business issue of your choice by describing what the issue is, and how
companies are reacting – positively or negatively?

A suggested format would be to create one paragraph of 250 words each, within the main section of the
report for each of the questions raised in bullet point (d) i.e what the issue is and how companies are
reacting , ensuring that the conclusion offered recommendations of how a business can solve the issue.
The remaining 300 words need to be used for the introduction and conclusion of this report task.

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PART 2 – REFLECTIVE WRITING (500 WORDS)

Using content from the module (e.g. academic skills) and the work you have produced for Part 1, reflect on
the learning you have taken from the module and how this learning will support your studies and future
career/business development plans.

The reflection needs to explain:

a) What you have learnt from the module - this should be personal to you and not a list of all the
topics covered in the module.

b) Why the learning may be important – what can you achieve with the new knowledge?

c) How is the learning going to be of use to you in your future studies and development plans?

You will need to include direct and indirect citations and a reference page.

A suggested format would be to briefly introduce the reflective piece and create one paragraph for each
point above (approximately 150 words each).

PART 3 - PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (200 WORDS)

Create a personal development plan that focuses on the academic skills from within the module that you
want to further develop and improve.

The plan needs to highlight:

a) Which skills you will focus on;

b) How you plan to develop them.

c) A minimum of three different skills need to be included.

A template has been provided for you to complete – see attached.

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Referencing and research requirements

Please reference your work according to the Harvard style; you can access guidance on this here:
https://libguides.uos.ac.uk/academic/referencing/Harvard

How your work will be assessed

Your work will be assessed on the extent to which it demonstrates your achievement of the stated learning
outcomes for this assignment (see above) and against other key criteria, as defined in the University’s
institutional grading descriptors. If it is appropriate to the format of your assignment and your subject area,
a proportion of your marks will also depend upon your use of academic referencing conventions.

This assignment will be marked according to the grading descriptors for Level 3

Submission details

This assignment should be submitted electronically via Moodle (module tutors will discuss this process with
you during class time).

 Please ensure that your work has been saved in an appropriate file format (Microsoft Word, Excel
or PowerPoint, or PDF are the most widely used; Google Docs is also accepted). Your file must
also contain at least 20 words of text, consist of fewer than 400 pages and be less than 40MB in
size.

 You can submit your work as many times as you like before the submission date. If you do submit
your work more than once, your earlier submission will be replaced by the most recent version.

 Once you have submitted your work, you will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission, which
will be sent to your forwarded e-mail address (provided you have set this up). Please keep this
receipt for future reference, along with the original electronic copy of your assignment

 You are reminded of the University’s regulations on academic misconduct, which can be viewed on
the University website: https://www.uos.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Academic-Misconduct-Policy.pdf. In
submitting your assignment, you are acknowledging that you have read and understood these

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regulations

Submission date and time

This assignment should be submitted before 2pm on Monday 23rd November 2020.

You should submit all work for summative assessments by the above deadline. Work submitted up to three
working days after the deadline will be accepted and marked, but the mark will be capped at the pass mark
(40%) unless there is a valid reason for the late submission (i.e. having been granted an extension to the
deadline or a deferral under the terms of the Extenuating Circumstances Policy).

Work submitted more than three working days after the deadline without a valid reason will not be
accepted and will be recorded as 0% RN (refer, no work submitted).

For more information please refer to:

http://studenthandbook.uos.ac.uk/index.php/student-guides/assessment-the-basics-undergraduate

Feedback and marks for this assignment will be available in three weeks from the dead line.

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Academic Skill Action Future

Implications
(Identify topics of learning from Detail how you plan on improving the skill e.g. Once the skill has been developed, how do you hope to use
module) reading more on the topic, attending a separate the skill both in your academic and career plans.
training course etc.

Instructions to students:
Before final submission – please delete the light blue coloured row with instructions.
200 WORDS.

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University of Suffolk

Marking Criteria for Foundation Level Programmes (FHEQ Level 3)

Provision at Level 3 (often forming part of a Foundation Year course) is designed to prepare students for higher education. At the end of Level 3, students will
be expected to demonstrate the acquisition of foundation level skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to embark on a higher education programme of
study at Level 4. In accordance with the national Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), this includes the ability to identify and use relevant
understanding, methods and skills to complete tasks and address problems that, while well defined, have a measure of complexity. It includes taking
responsibility for initiating and completing tasks and procedures as well as exercising autonomy and judgement within limited parameters. It also reflects
awareness of different perspectives or approaches within an area of study or work.
A pass mark (40% or above) demonstrates achievement of all learning outcomes associated with the module assessment
Assessment category
Introductory knowledge Cognitive and intellectual Reading and referencing Presentation, style and
and understanding of the skills structure
basic underlying Work that significantly exceeds
concepts and principles the specified word limit may be
of the subject(s) penalized

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Excellent work showing Insightful and accurate Insightful and effective use of a Exemplary presentation of work that
flawless understanding of the interpretation and evaluation of carefully selected range of relevant is fluent and flawless throughout.
basic underlying concepts information and ideas, based on reading. Consistently accurate
90%-100%

and principles of the an excellent application of the application of referencing.

subject(s), resulting in most appropriate skills, methods
students being fully prepared and procedures. Work shows full
for study at Level 4. awareness of the nature of the
area of study and different
perspectives or approaches
within it
High quality work showing Excellent interpretation and Consistent and balanced Highly effective presentation of work
fluent understanding of the evaluation of information and engagement with a refined selection that is coherently structured and
Pass Mark

basic underlying concepts ideas, employing highly of many types of relevant reading. clearly expressed throughout.
80%-89%

and principles of the appropriate skills, methods and Consistently accurate application of
subject(s), resulting in procedures. Work shows strong referencing.
students being fully prepared awareness of the nature of the
for study at Level 4. area of study and different
perspectives or approaches
within it
Commendable work showing Effective interpretation and Consistent engagement with a wide Well-formed presentation of work
detailed understanding of the evaluation of information and range of relevant reading. that is coherently structured and
basic underlying concepts ideas, showing effective use of Consistently accurate application of clearly expressed throughout.
70% – 79%

and principles of the appropriate skills, methods and referencing.

subject(s), resulting in procedures. Work shows well
students being highly established awareness of the
prepared for study at Level 4. nature of the area of study and
different perspectives or
approaches within it.

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Work of solid quality showing Good interpretation and Engagement with a wide range of Competent presentation of work in
competent and consistent evaluation of information and relevant reading. Sound application terms of structure and clarity of
understanding of the basic ideas, using appropriate skills, of referencing, with no inaccuracies expression.
60% – 69%

underlying concepts and methods and procedures. Work or inconsistencies.

principles of the subject(s), shows sound awareness of the
resulting in students being nature of the area of study and
well prepared for study at different perspectives or
Level 4. approaches within it.

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Academic Research and Writing
 Introductory knowledge Cognitive and intellectual Reading and referencing Presentation, style and
Level 3 skills structure

Adequate work showing Adequate interpretation and Engagement with an appropriate Work is structured in a largely
understanding of the basic evaluation of information and range of reading beyond essential coherent manner and is for the most
underlying concepts and ideas, largely using appropriate texts. Referencing may show minor part clearly expressed.

50% – 59%
principles of the subject(s), skills, methods and procedures. inaccuracies or inconsistencies.
resulting in students being Work shows awareness of the
prepared for study at Level 4, nature of the area of study and an
but lacking depth and breadth. emerging awareness of different
Assignment Brief perspectives or approachesAcademic
within Year 2020-21
it.
Pass mark

Simple factual approach A limited interpretation and Evidence of reading, largely confined Ordered presentation in which
showing understanding of the evaluation of information and to essential texts, but mainly reliant relevant ideas / concepts are
basic underlying concepts and ideas, showing emerging on taught elements. Referencing may reasonably expressed.
principles of the subject(s), awareness of the nature of the show inaccuracies and/or
40% – 49%

resulting in students being area of study and different inconsistencies.

largely prepared for study at perspectives or approaches within
Level 4. Narrow or misguided it, although not always logical or
selection of material, with coherent and with inaccuracies.
elements missing or
inaccurate.

Work shows limited but Weak and at times flawed Poor engagement with essential texts Work is loosely, and at times
fragmentary understanding of interpretation and evaluation of and no evidence of wider reading. incoherently, structured, with
the basic underlying concepts information and ideas, resulting in Heavily reliant on taught elements. information and ideas often poorly
Marginal fail

35% – 39%

and principles of the largely descriptive work that Inconsistent and weak use of expressed.
subject(s), for example shows lack of awareness of the referencing.
through inaccuracies, inclusion nature of the area of study and
of irrelevant material and/or different perspectives or
absence of appropriate approaches within it.
information.
Unsatisfactory work showing Very weak interpretation and Limited evidence of reading and/or Work is poorly presented in a
weak and flawed evaluation of information and reliance on inappropriate sources. disjointed and incoherent manner.
understanding of the basic ideas, resulting in descriptive work Limited engagement with taught Information and ideas are very poorly
20% – 34%

underlying concepts and that is often illogical, invalid or elements. Very poor use of expressed, with weak English and/or
principles of the subject(s), for irrelevant. Little awareness of the referencing. inappropriate style.
example through serious nature of the area of study and no
inaccuracies, inclusion of a appreciation of different
significant amount of irrelevant perspectives or approaches within
material and/or absence of it.
appropriate information.
Fail

Highly unsatisfactory work Work is largely irrelevant or No evidence of reading or Work is extremely disorganised, with
showing major gaps in inaccurate, characterised by engagement with taught elements. much of the content confusingly 11
understanding of the basic descriptive text and Absent or incoherent referencing. expressed. Very poor English and/or
Academic Research and Writing
underlying concepts and unsubstantiated generalisations. very inappropriate style.
< 20%

principles of the subject(s). Minimal or no use of evidence to

Inclusion of largely irrelevant back up views, showing complete