Coursework

Coursework may take many forms: essays, projects, practical worksheets, translations, quizzes, presentations. It can also be either summative (‘assessed’) or formative (‘unassessed’). While formative assessment may not count towards your final module mark, this is designed to help you improve your assessed work. Any mark and feedback received on formative assessments will also help you to gauge your progress.

Assessed coursework can count for anything up to 100% of your final mark for a module.

If you require an extension on your coursework deadline, due to illness or other unexpected circumstance, you need to submit a claim for extenuating circumstances to request an extension. See the chapter on extenuating circumstances in this handbook.

 

Presentation

Please ensure that your coursework is typed and double-spaced, and follows the conventions laid out in the School’s writing and referencing guide. It is particularly important to observe academic codes of conduct concerning direct quotation and the full acknowledgement of sources.

You should also include the School coversheet with every piece of coursework, which confirms that you are the author of your work and that it has not been plagiarised.

 

Word Limits

Word limits on all assessed work must be stringently observed: writing to a word limit is an important aspect academic skill to develop. Word limits typically include quotations and footnotes but not the bibliography (check assignment instructions for any deviations). An accurate word count must be indicated on your essay coversheet.

Department of English Only -- Policy on Overlength Work

Writing to a word limit is an important aspect of the academic skills you are developing. 

The Policy on word limits for students submitting coursework in the Department of English is as follows:
    • Word limits include quotations and footnotes but not the bibliography.
    • The first 50 words over the word limit will be allowed (condoned) without penalty. Assignments longer than that will be penalised by 2 percentage points per 100 words or part thereof in relation to the stated word count (see below for examples).
    • Penalties will be applied by markers and explained to students in feedback.
    • Under-length essays are not penalised in relation to the word count.  There is no standard penalty for every 100 words you write under the word limit. However, an assignment that is substantially under length may not address the assignment’s objectives in sufficient detail for a higher grade.

Examples. An assignment has been set with a 2000 word limit. 
    • A student submits an essay 2027 words long, and incurs no penalty.
    • Another student submits an essay of 2087 words, and is penalised 2% for going over the word limit by 87 words.
    • A student submits an essay of 2110 words, and is penalised 4 percentage points for going over the word limit by 110 words (that is, 2 percentage points per 100 words or part thereof)
    • A student submits an essay of 2356 words, which is 356 words beyond the limit. The mark for the assignment will be penalised by 8 percentage points: deducting 2 percentage points for each additional 100 words or part thereof.

Language of assessment

For language modules, the assessment instructions will indicate which language to write in.

 

Submission

Submission of assessed coursework is via QMplus only, and hard (paper) copies are not required. Only electronic submission through QMplus can be accepted.

The module organiser will set out in the module outline instructions about the format required for submitting each piece of coursework. Some module organisers may require particular file formats (e.g. Word, PDF files). You must include the completed STA coversheet as the first page of every piece of coursework.

Submission deadlines for all coursework in the School will be at 1pm on a weekday, which may be different from the day your class takes place on (check QMplus for exact dates). You must ensure that you keep a copy of each piece of work you submit. Please ensure that you upload the correct document before the deadline when you submit coursework. Uploading the incorrect document by mistake or failing to upload correctly is NOT considered as extenuating circumstances and if it leads to your submission being late, it will incur the usual late penalty.

Late submission will be penalised unless you have obtained permission for an extension to the deadline. Extensions must be requested before the deadline. Permission for an extension for assessed coursework can be granted ONLY via an extenuating circumstances claim (see extensions to assessed coursework deadlines under extenuating circumstances).

 

Provisional marks and feedback

For all assessments other than exams, projects and dissertations, you can normally expect to receive a provisional mark and feedback within 15 working days of the assessment date or deadline. Please note that any mark remains provisional until it is confirmed by the examination board at the end of the academic year. Feedback and provisional marks for exams, projects and dissertations will be released after the end of the examination period.