ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

Assessment Essay
Assessment element Research Skills 1 – 010
and code:
Academic Year: 2020/2021
Trimester: 1
Module Title: Skills for Higher Education
Module Code: MOD006960
Level: 3
Module Leader: Mike Raith/ Tanya Parsons
Word Limit: Insert data
This excludes bibliography and other items listed in rule 6.75 of the
Academic Regulations:
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/public/academic_regs.pdf

Assessed Learning e.g. 1 – 3

Outcomes
Submission Deadline : This assignment must be received by no later than 14:00 on
04 December 2020

WRITING YOUR ASSIGNMENT:

 This assignment must be completed individually.

 Your work must indicate the number of words you have used. Written assignments must not
exceed the specified maximum number of words. When a written assignment is marked, the
excessive use of words beyond the word limit is reflected in the academic judgement of the
piece of work which results in a lower mark being awarded for the piece of work (regulation
6.74).
 Assignment submissions are to be made anonymously. Do not write your name anywhere on
your work.
 Write your student ID number at the top of every page.
 Where the assignment comprises more than one task, all tasks must be submitted in a single
document.
 You must number all pages.

SUBMITTING YOUR ASSIGNMENT:

In order to achieve full marks, you must submit your work before the deadline. Work that is
submitted late – up to five working days after the published submission deadline - will be accepted
and marked. However, the element of the module’s assessment to which the work contributes will
be capped with a maximum mark of 40%.

Work cannot be submitted if the period of 5 working days after the deadline has passed (unless
there is an approved extension). Failure to submit within the relevant period will mean that you
have failed the assessment.

Requests for short-term extensions will only be considered in the case of illness or other cause
considered valid by the iCentre Adviser. Please contact iCentre@lca.anglia.ac.uk. A request must
normally be received and agreed by the iCentre Adviser in writing at least 24 hours prior to the
deadline. See rules 6.56-6.65: http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/public/academic_regs.pdf

Mitigation: The deadline for submission of mitigation in relation to this assignment is no later than
five working days after the submission date of this work. Please contact iCentre@lca.anglia.ac.uk
See rules 6.103 – 6.132: http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/public/academic_regs.pdf

ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

You have a reading list of 5 texts describing research into the general topic of ‘digital
technology’. Investigate them and then write a 1500-word essay on the following task.

Task: Write an essay that examines the ways that research into the use of digital
technology can benefit professionals in the workplace and organisations.

Compulsory reading list

1. Sternard, D. 2020. Effective management. [Kortext custom pages 208-214]

2. Cottrell, S. and Morris, N., 2012. Study skills connected. [Kortext custom pages. 1-
60]
3. Evens, N., Cunningham, J. and Hoholm, T., 2019. Technology entrepreneurship.
[Kortext custom pages 1-33]
4. Briken, K., Chillas, S., Krywdzinski, M. and Marks, A., 2017. The new digital
workplace. [Kortext custom pages 1-17]
5. Hatlevik, O.E. and Christophersen, K.A., 2013. Digital competence at the beginning
of upper secondary school: Identifying factors explaining digital inclusion.
Computers & Education, 63, pages. 240-247. [Accessed through ARU Digital Library]

All texts must be used.

Note: pages in the Custom edition texts on Kortext are different from the other
editions. If you do not have access to Kortext and need the original pages, talk to your
teacher.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

This is a skills module. As a result, you will be assessed on how well you have
developed the research and writing skills practiced each week in class and in
homework.

Ensure that you have completed the homework and class activities to prepare you
for the assignment.

Allocation of Marks
Your grade will be based on the quality of your:
 Task response: a direct answer to the task, supported by explanation of
relevant theory
 Structure: organise your writing into clear and well-structured paragraphs
 Use of information from sources in the reading list: including how
evidence is used to support the ideas in your essay, and how accurately you
interpret sources
 Clarity of expression
Guidance
Make sure that you use the texts on the reading list and use no other sources.

Before you start writing

Recognise that this is a research and writing skills test. It is not about showing a
general understanding of the topic. You need to pay close attention to your
lecturers.

The first step in your research should be to recognise that the topic of ‘digital
technology’ is quite general. Then, start identifying specific factors related to the
general topic.

Then, start considering how the different factors and concepts from the topic can
benefit individuals and how they can benefit organisations. Try to create a list, so
that you have something that can guide your essay.

When you start writing

Focus on organising your ideas into paragraphs.

In most paragraphs, you should demonstrate that you can

 Identify relevant factors from the topic that can benefit either individuals or
organisations
 Identify evidence from the reading list to support your ideas. (It is expected
that you will demonstrate the ability to quote correctly from the texts)
 Interpret the evidence
 Justify your idea with clear explanation in a way that convinces the reader

On the VLE, you will find guidance on the key writing skills from the module
 Writing in a clear and formal style
 Paragraph structure (using the P.E.E.L. structure)
 Breaking down general topics into specific factors
 Selecting relevant and reliable evidence from texts
 Using evidence from texts to support ideas in writing
 Interpreting sources in your own words
 Explaining ideas
Student Facing Marking Criteria
Grading Criteria
80% + Achieving a grade of 80% is rare and truly outstanding.

The quality of the examination of the ideas goes above and beyond expectations
of a level 3 student, creating a document that might be suitable for
disseminating among the workplace. This might involve considering how the
benefits might apply to different kinds of professionals and different kinds of
organisations and some criticality may be included.

Note: you still need to demonstrate the skills present in an essay with 70%. A
student that fails to organise their points in a way that clearly answers the task
in well- structured paragraphs complete with convincing justification cannot
achieve 80% even if they have attempted to be critical.
70% + A grade of over 70% is considered an excellent grade. The quality and the clarity
of the paragraphs really stand out here.

In almost all paragraphs, the student demonstrates that they can apply the skills
taught on the module.

Ideas are typically specific and well-chosen. The explanation puts in effort to
convincingly justify the point within the specific context of the task, not just
describes the factor from research. Essentially, the student did everything they
were taught to do in classes, demonstrating that they practiced every week.
60-69% A grade of over 60% is considered a good grade.

To achieve a good grade, most paragraphs need to be making points that are
specific to the task set and developing them.

The essay should be structured in a way that is generally logical, with

 An introduction paragraph
 At least 60% of main paragraphs structured the way you have been
taught in class
 An attempt to organise the paragraphs into a logical order, but it may
not be consistently successful
 A closing paragraph

There may be errors in English grammar or syntax, but in most cases, they do
not impede the reader’s understanding.

50-59% This grade is considered ‘satisfactory’. There are some fundamental principles
of research and writing taught on the unit. In order to achieve this grade, you
need to demonstrate that you have understood these principles and can apply
them in writing. But you may struggle to apply them consistently across a
sustained 1500-word essay.

There is a clear attempt to structure the essay with

 An introduction paragraph
 Most main paragraphs structured the way you have been taught in class
 A closing paragraph

The writing is clear and easy to follow. There may be errors in English grammar
or syntax, but in most cases, they do not significantly impede the reader’s
understanding.

40-49% This grade is considered a ‘marginal pass’ with the submission being ‘below
satisfactory’, but still meeting the assessment criteria at a basic level.
In order to achieve a marginal pass, students need to have at least
demonstrated that effort was made to understand the information in the texts
at a basic level and to organise the essay into basic paragraphs that answer the
task.

There needs to be a demonstration of a basic awareness of what classes taught

about paragraph structure.

There may only be a basic level of success in organising the essay with around
40% of the paragraphs structured around a clear idea. The ideas may be overly
general, but they should at least be clear and consistent.

The writing can be generally understood, but expression may be barely

adequate for the task, and may cause strain for the reader.