Coursework Assignment 2021-22

Brief
MA English and Literary Media Level 7

Faculty of Media Unit Title: Publishing Cultures and Materialities: from Cuneiform to Kindle
and Communication
This assignment is a formal
Title of Brief: Assignment 1 element of coursework worth
100% of the overall unit mark
(Each piece of coursework may vary
according to the unit)

THE BRIEF

Assignment 1 is an individual piece of work.

Students are required to submit a critical research essay on any topic or theme relating to
textual production and to textual materialities and cultures that is directly relevant to the unit. It
is a requirement that the essay focus on the material and institutional instantiation of a
selected text or body of texts, and explain fully how that material and institutional
instantiation affects the possible meanings of the text(s). Each student’s individual
research question will be developed in class, and in individual discussion with the unit head,
and a provisional title agreed upon with the unit head, prior to submission.
It is intended that bespoke assessment will allow students to focus on career-relevant
interests.

All students are required to develop their research question and primary research methods as
part of a consistent and regular dialogue with the class and unit head.

The critical essay will comprise 3000 words.

Further advice and briefing information will be given during the unit
Covers MAELM ILOS 1-4; provided in Unit Guide

Marking Criteria

Clarity of research topic

 Insightfulness and ambition of research
 Rationale to support the value of study
 Clarity of conceptual framework as basis of study
 Clear definition of the field, supported by wide reading into the field.

Research
 Demonstrates a clear relationship between the issues explored in the critical document
 Clarity and cogency of research question
 Identification and understanding of theory relevant to the study, and extent to which this
informs the study
 Breadth and/or originality of sources used
 How well the appropriate research literature and other sources have been used
 The extent to which the sources and evidence used have been critically evaluated
 How the research contributes to extant research on the materiality of published literature.

Quality of arguments and conclusions

 Arguments supported by evidence
  Complexity and sophistication of arguments
 Understanding of key concepts and issues covered in the study
 Level of understanding of relevant theory
 Appropriateness of examples relative to the chosen issue
 Degree of originality and insight offered by the examples
 Quality of conclusion

Structure and presentation of work

 Clarity and coherence of structure.
 Extent of systematic development of ideas and issues in logical order.
 Sign-posting of key issues and extent to which work is easy to follow.
 Location of research within a broader framework of academic enquiry
 Use of academic writing style, clear and complete abstract, appropriate use of appendices, and
correct spelling and grammar.
 Use of reference and citations procedures using the Harvard referencing system.

Further extensive Marking criteria provided in Unit Guide

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Word limit: 3000 words (excluding bibliography)

This critical essay should be submitted electronically via TURNITIN.
For Turnitin submission:
Submit via the assignment submission link in the navigation bar in the appropriate unit on Brightspace.
Please be aware of the following restrictions.
 File must be less than 40 MB and must have at least 20 words of text.
 The maximum paper length is 400 pages.
 File types allowed: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, WordPerfect, PostScript, PDF, HTML, RTF,
OpenOffice (ODT), Hangul (HWP), Google Docs (submitted via the Google Drive submission option),
and plain text.
 Please note that if you submit more than one file only the most recent file will be visible to the
marker. New submissions after the deadline will therefore be treated as LATE even if you
submitted a previous version on time.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are submitting to the correct submission box in the correct unit on
Brightspace. You should check and retain your receipt for all submissions.

DEADLINE

deadline – 20 May 2022, 12pm online via Brightspace/turnitin

Please note that this is the final time you can submit – not the time to submit!
Your feedback and mark for this assignment will be provided on 20 June 2022 online. If you fail your
assignment or need further clarification on your feedback please make an appointment to see
your tutor.

HELP AND SUPPORT

There will be seminars and workshops dedicated to the assignment and run by the unit lead,
throughout the semester, where you will be able to discuss any related issues.
 Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism: You must acknowledge your source every time you refer to others’ work or work that you
have previously submitted and been assessed on, using the Harvard Referencing system (Author/Date method). Failure
to do so amounts to plagiarism or self-plagiarism which is against University regulations.
Please refer to http://libguides.bournemouth.ac.uk/study-skills-referencing-plagiarism for further details of this and to
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/discover/library/using-library/how-guides/how-cite-references for the University’s guide
 to citation in the Harvard style.
Students must ensure that they do not commit any type of Academic Offence. For further information please see:
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/discover/library/using-library/how-guides/how-avoid-academic-offences
 Plagiarism regulations extend to audio visual materials and work in other media. Archive or other material not generated
by yourself or crew must be appropriately captioned when on screen and an acknowledgement to the source of the
material included in the end credits or equivalent part of any online material. Failure to do so amounts to plagiarism or
self-plagiarism, which is against University regulations.
 Students with Additional Learning Needs may contact Learning Support on
http://studentportal.bournemouth.ac.uk/learning/als/index.html
 General academic support is available via the Study Skills community on Brightspace.
 Additional support for Faculty of Media and Communication students only is provided by a small team of Learning
Development Tutors. Please contact FMCLearningDevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk to make an appointment.
 If you have any valid exceptional circumstances that mean you cannot meet an assignment submission deadline and
you wish to request an extension, you will need to complete and submit the Exceptional Circumstances Form for
consideration to your Administrator together with appropriate supporting evidence (e.g., GP note) normally before the
coursework deadline. Further details on the procedure and the exceptional circumstances form can be found at
https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/help-advice/looking-support/exceptional-circumstances Please make sure you
read these documents carefully before submitting anything for consideration.
 Please be mindful that certain actions carry risk which should be adequately assessed before undertaking the activity.
Please refer to University/Faculty guidance for clarification.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this assignment brief is correct at time of publication. In the Version: 2
unlikely event that any changes are deemed necessary, they will be communicated clearly via e-mail and (Updated July
via the VLE and a new version of this assignment brief will be circulated. 2019)