Student Handbook 2024/25 (Cert IP / Cert Trade Mark Law and Practice AND MSc Management of IP)

27.3. Essay Questions

Essay questions require the student to evaluate, compare, explain or comment on a specific topic or issue.  As this is a postgraduate programme, students are expected to critically engage with the subject matter of the module in responding to the question, and not simply describe the law without further comment.

The question may be deliberately ambiguous, in which case the answer should explain the nature of the ambiguity.  Alternatively, it may appear to take a position, in which case the answer can agree with the statement, disagree or analyse the statement without taking a position.  In all cases, however, students are expected to address the question asked and not simply write down everything they know about the topic, in the hope that the examiner will be able to pick out the relevant analysis or be impressed by the discussion of irrelevant points.  Thus, generally speaking the answer should avoid long introductions, excessive historical background, and lengthy descriptions of statutes, regulations and cases.

The questions may specify the jurisdiction to which the answer should relate (e.g., ʻunder UK lawʼ) or ask for a comparison of two or more jurisdictions.  Where the question contains no express or implied jurisdictional link, students may refer to any relevant jurisdiction of which they have knowledge.

In general, the introduction should briefly set out the issues and the approach the answer will take.  The answer should then proceed to address the question posed point by point, in a logical and critical fashion.  The answer should remain focused on the question asked and not get trapped in irrelevant details.  The conclusion should sum up the argument.  It should follow logically from what has gone before and can also reflect on developments going forward.

The answer should

•   Address the question asked – all parts of the question but only the question.
•   Be analytical, evaluative and critical.
•   Discuss any relevant controversial issues surrounding a topic.
•   Be structured in a logical and comprehensible manner.  It may be helpful to briefly outline the answer before starting to write.