How to succeed with the EIA

assessment and exam

Tutorial presentation

How to write a good assessment

Plan your work carefully think about word limit
overall and how much you will allocate to different
sections (look at the weighting)
Start research, keeping an EXACT note of all your
sources
Be really precise on section 2 with your chosen
impact
Use tables and diagrams (free from word count)
Check all your references are in the text and the
reference section (references also dont count for
word count

Correct citation
Preference is for Harvard system but numbered
references are acceptable
You will benefit hugely from creating your own
reference excel sheet
Check Heriot-Watts policy on plagiarism and
referencing
Bournemouth University has a good how to guide
If you are unsure that you have referenced
something correctly, ask

Frequent problems with assessments

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

The student does not answer the actual question

There is insufficient evidence of reading
The student has plagiarised, often unintentionally
The assessment lacks depth
The assessment lacks structure
There is no thought given to the poor marker!

1, 2, 4 and 5 are often problems with exams as well

Deconstructing an exam question

Ask yourself what does this question want to
know?
Often what you need to demonstrate is in the
verb:

Analyse weigh up the evidence for and against

Discuss build an argument around and against a position
Evaluate compare against a standard

What are the subject parameters?

Essays in exams
Take some time to plan think about what you are
going to say, the examples you could use (write
down details like names)
Introduction sets out your interpretation of the
question and then explains how you will answer it
Body of essay argument, try to use references,
examples, diagrams etc. You can also use
subheadings
Conclusions summarises main points, comes to a
conclusion that answers question
NB I sometimes leave a space and do the
introduction last!