[JAPA20212: Religion in Japan ]

Unit-specific Guidance on Open Book Exams in SALC

Instructions and Format of Exam

The exam forms 50% of the overall unit mark for this course unit and will be
delivered as an open book exam to be submitted via Turnitin. As this is an open
book exam, you can use your lecture notes, readings etc. during the exam. The
assessment is structured as follows:

Answer TWO questions. Each question is worth 50% of the total marks for the
examination.

All work should be formatted according to these standards:

Font Size: 12 Point

Font Type: Arial or equivalent

Line Spacing: 1.5

Left and right hand margins: 2.5 cm/ 1”

Top and bottom margins: 2.5 cm/ 1”

Note that these margins are generally the default in word-processing programs, so
you probably will not have to alter them.
Duration
Although you have 48 hours within which to submit your answers, you are expected
to spend no more than 6 hours on this exam (three times the original duration of the
closed-book equivalent). This duration is an absolute maximum and not a target; you
should be able to complete your answers in 2 hours (the original exam duration).

How to submit your answers

Use standard word processing software and submit your answers as a Word
Document (PDF if absolutely necessary) to Turnitin. The submission inbox will be
found in the ‘Assessment’ area on the course Blackboard page. The inbox will only
accept one single submission. If your exam includes different questions, ensure that
you provide question numbers for each of your responses and you submit one single
document. You can re-submit your work as many times as needed up until the
submission deadline.

Word limit
For essay-type answers, the standard maximum word limit per question is 1000
words. Therefore, for this exam where you are required to answer 2 essay-style
questions, you are expected to write a maximum of 2000 words. Where there are
multiple parts to questions, the word limit for each component question will be shown
alongside that question.

Rather than applying a penalty to work that exceeds the word-limit, markers will use
a “guillotine” system. Under this system, markers will impose a cut-off, and not take
into account anything you write after the word limit has been passed. For example, if
the question requires a 1000-word answer, anything you write after the 1000-word
mark has been passed may be ignored. It is therefore advisable that you aim for
concision.

You will not be penalised for answers that are shorter than the limit: answers will be
given credit for being comprehensive, rather than for being a certain length.
However, answers significantly below the word limit usually do not meet the learning
objectives of the assignment and markers may be able mark down very short
answers using the SALC Grade Descriptors.

Submission Deadlines
Your answers must be submitted no more than 48 hours from the time that the
exam question paper is released. For this unit, your submission deadline will be
2pm BST on June 10 2022. We have ensured that all submission deadlines fall on a
weekday should you require any support. In case of technical issues, please contact
your Programme Administrator:

UG: https://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/student-intranet/undergraduate/contact-us/
Failure to submit the correct file by the submission deadline will be treated as
absence from the examination, and work will be given a zero mark (i.e. there is
no sliding scale of penalties). You are able to submit multiple times up until the
deadline and you are encouraged to make use of this safety net.

Note that the deadline represents the latest time that a piece of work can be
submitted, and not a target. You are advised to plan ahead and submit work well in
advance of the deadline to ensure that any last-minute delays do not result in late
submission. This includes taking into account that the system may run more slowly
at times of high demand, such as close to deadlines.

DASS Adjustments
This assessment has been designed so you can take extra time and rest breaks as
needed (no additional time will be added to the 7-day or 48-hour window).

If you have any disability-related concerns about accessing the assessment on

Blackboard or submitting work via Turnitin, please contact your School
(DC.SALC@manchester.ac.uk) to arrange appropriate support.

If you need advice directly from DASS, you can contact them here:

DASS Tel: 0161 275 7512

DASS Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Exam Queries
Questions that might be directed at an invigilator in a regular exam may be
addressed to your UG Programme Administrator/ and will then be passed to an
appropriate member of staff. Responses will be provided only to those questions that
could be answered in an exam setting. Please note that while questions will be
answered as quickly as possible, responses will not be immediate.

Please do NOT send questions to teaching staff.

Avoiding Technical Difficulties

Please ensure you have the necessary hardware to complete your examinations. If
you face difficulties accessing online learning (e.g. technical/ hardware access) you
can seek advice and support for online learning and assessment contacting
helpmegetonline@manchester.ac.uk or ringing +44 (0) 161 306 6199.

Internet Explorer (all versions) is no longer supported by Blackboard. Please only

use one of the following supported browsers:
• Chrome
• Edge
• Firefox
Wifi performance is the most likely issue you may face. Connectivity issues are
generally temporary and can normally be resolved by:
• Using a hardwired (as opposed to wireless WiFi) connection.
• Avoiding peak times and seeking locations with a strong signal and sufficient
broadband.
• Limiting the number of applications open and running simultaneously at a
given time.
In the unlikely event that you experience technical issues, email your UG
Programme Administrator/PGT Programme Administrator before the deadline,
attaching your work.

Support outside of office hours:

• Students experiencing IT issues outside office hours should contact IT
Services via the Support Portal, who provide telephone support around the
clock.
• Students experiencing Blackboard or Turnitin specific issues that prevent
them from completing their exam submission outside of service hours, should
re-attempt submission during office hours and contact the eLearning Team if
issues persist.

During office hours (9am-5pm GMT or BST as appropriate):

• Students experiencing IT issues during office hours should contact the IT
Services via the Support Portal.
• Students experiencing Blackboard or Turnitin specific issues that prevent
them from completing their exam submission should contact their UG
Programme Administrator/PGT Programme Administrator either by email or
Instant Chat.
• For urgent support during the exam period, the eLearning team will provide
technical support to students Monday to Friday 9-5pm (GMT) via instant
messaging (Live Chat).

Referencing
Direct and indirect quotations must be acknowledged by means of a simple in-text
reference, in line with what we would expect in a conventional closed-book exam. At
the minimum, this will name the author of books or articles being quoted. For
example “As Smith (2010) argues…”; [CUD’s can insert subject specific referencing
formats here]

Any direct quotations must be clearly shown as such through the proper use
of quotation marks. You should always include a bibliography at the end of
your exam. Your bibliography will not count towards the maximum word
length.
Failure to acknowledge sources may be treated as poor practice or for more severe
cases, malpractice. If in doubt, students should include a reference.

University Policy on Cheating, Plagiarism and Collusion

Like coursework, open book exam submissions will be reviewed and checked for
plagiarism. All assessments will be checked for plagiarism and/or collusion using
Turnitin and other existing methods to detect malpractice. Academic malpractice is a
disciplinary offence and can lead to significant penalties.

During the examination, you must work under examination conditions. This means
that although you can access readings or use your notes:

• you must complete the assessment task on your own and without help or
assistance from academic staff or other students.
• you must not impersonate another candidate or allow yourself to be
impersonated
• you must not pass off the work of someone else as your own and fully
reference your sources.
All students are asked to complete the Academic Malpractice Awareness Course on
Blackboard to help avoid unintentional malpractice:

First Year Students:

https://online.manchester.ac.uk/webapps/blackboard/execute/courseMain?course_id
=_68680_1&sc=
Second and Final Year Students:
https://online.manchester.ac.uk/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher?type=Course
&id=_46544_1&url=

PGT Students:
https://online.manchester.ac.uk/webapps/blackboard/execute/courseMain?course_id
=_68676_1&sc=

Please be aware that if there is suspicion of collusion or contract cheating (the

practice of students engaging a third-party to complete assignments such as an
essay mill or having someone complete the exam for you), students may be invited
to a viva voce panel (an oral assessment). This is to validate the authenticity of a
student’s answers. Please see Guidance to students on plagiarism and other forms
of academic malpractice for further advice and always contact your Academic
Advisor and/or Course Unit Director if in doubt.

Further Guidance:
• SALC online exam guidance
• COVID19: Student Guidance on Open Book Examinations off-campus