Assessment Brief

Assessment Brief
*This document is for CU Group students for their own use in completing their assessed work for this
module and should not be passed to third parties or posted on any website. Any infringements of
this rule should be reported to [email protected]

Submission Time:
18:00









Demonstrate an ability to work independently whilst demonstrating good time
management skills in the development of the dissertation.
Demonstrate a critical awareness of research methodologies and theoretical
perspectives.
Critically examine current research from the UK and internationally into health and
social determinants within your chosen topic.
Develop personal research skills in use of academic literature, data collection, data
analysis, critical thinking and academic writing in order to plan, carry out and write up
an undergraduate degree dissertation
AssignmentTutorOnline

Guidance notes and considerations
Late Submission
If you are not able to complete your coursework on time due to extenuating circumstances, the ONLY
way to receive an extension (up to 5 working days) or a deferral (anything longer than 5 working days)
is to contact a Registry team member located at your specific CU site.
CU Coventry – [email protected]
CU London – [email protected]
CU Scarborough – [email protected]
* Extenuating circumstances are defined by CU as ‘genuine circumstances beyond your control or
ability to foresee, and which seriously impair your assessed work’.
* Please note that you will need to provide third party evidence to support your reasoning for requiring
an extension or deferral.
* Your course tutor is NOT able to approve an extension or a deferral, if you have not completed the
official forms and had your request approved your work will count as not submitted and receive a zero
mark.
Plagiarism and Malpractice
* You are encouraged to check the originality of your work by using the draft Turnitin links on your
Moodle Web.
* Collusion between students (where sections of your work are similar to the work submitted by other
students in this or previous module cohorts) is taken extremely seriously and will be reported to the
academic conduct panel. This applies to all coursework and exam answers.
* A marked difference between your writing style, knowledge and skill level demonstrated in class
discussion, any test conditions and that demonstrated in a coursework assignment may result in you
having to undertake a Viva Voce in order to prove the coursework assignment is entirely your own
work.
* If you make use of the services of a proof reader in your work you must keep your original version
and make it available as a demonstration of your written efforts.
* You must not submit work for assessment that you have already submitted (partially or in full), either
for your current course or for another qualification of this university, unless this is specifically provided
for in your assignment brief or specific course or module information.
Where earlier work by you is citable, ie. it has already been published/submitted, you must reference
it clearly. Identical pieces of work submitted concurrently will also be considered to be self-plagiarism.
Submission Guidelines
There should be a title page which clearly identifies the following;
* Student number * Name of the module
* Title of the Assessment * Assessment number
* Word count
The word count identified includes quotations, but excludes the bibliography and unless specifically
stated, encompasses a discrepancy of + or – 10%.

Exceptional knowledge
base exploring, critically
analysing and evaluating
the discipline and its
theory with extraordinary
originality and autonomy.
Demonstrates an exceptional
command of relevant critical
analytical and/or evaluative
techniques, and the ability to apply
these to new and/or abstract
information and situations. Shows
an exceptional appreciation of the
limits and/or appropriate uses of
particular analytical approaches,
where relevant. Knowledge and
understanding of theory, where
relevant, is of an exceptional detail.
High level of appreciation of the
limits of theory demonstrated
throughout the work, where
relevant Approach to assessment
task is clearly, appropriately and
consistently theoretically informed
across all relevant learning
outcomes.
Exceptional exploration of wider
academic sources with a high
degree of independent learning
which exceeds the assessment
brief. Sources have been
accurately interpreted and
integrated with flawless
synthesis, leading to innovative
and interesting ideas.
Exceptional answer with coherent
and logical presentation of ideas.
The answer exhibits a clear
argument/line of reasoning with flair
and originality. Discipline specific
vocabulary used with precision and
academic style applied well
throughout. No language errors
present and referencing in the CU
version of Harvard has been
employed in an accurate manner.

Outstanding knowledge
base exploring, critically
analysing and evaluating
the discipline and its
theory with clear
originality and autonomy
Demonstrates an outstanding
command of relevant critical
and/or evaluative analytical
techniques, and the ability to apply
these to new and/or abstract
information and situations. Shows
an outstanding appreciation of the
limits and/or appropriate uses of
particular analytical approaches.
Knowledge and understanding of
theory, where relevant, is of an
outstanding detail. Appreciation of
the limits of theory demonstrated
throughout the work. Approach to
assessment task is clearly,
appropriately and consistently
theoretically informed across all
relevant learning outcomes.
Outstanding exploration of
wider academic sources with a
high degree of independent
learning which exceeds the
assignment brief. Sources have
been accurately interpreted and
integrated with a high degree of
synthesis, leading to innovative
and interesting ideas.
Outstanding answer with coherent
and logical presentation of ideas.
The answer exhibits a clear
argument/line of reasoning with flair
and originality. Discipline specific
vocabulary used with precision and
academic style applied well
throughout. No language errors
present. Referencing in the CU
version of Harvard has been
employed in an accurate manner.
Excellent knowledge base
that supports critical
analysis and/or
evaluation and problem
solving in theory and/or
practice within the
discipline, with
considerable originality
Makes excellent use of a range of
relevant critical analysis and/or
evaluative techniques, and applies
these to new and/or abstract
information and situations. Shows
well developed ability to compare
alternative theories and apply
them to the context of the
assessment task and all learning
outcomes. Demonstrates a
detailed, accurate, systematic
theoretical understanding.
Excellent exploration of wider
academic sources with evidence
of independent learning which
may exceed the assignment
brief. Sources have been
accurately interpreted and
integrated, with accurate
synthesis of research leading to
original and interesting ideas.
Excellent answer with coherent and
logical presentation of ideas. The
answer exhibits a clear
argument/line of reasoning with flair
and originality. The answer is
entirely relevant and focused.
Discipline specific vocabulary used
with precision and academic style
applied well throughout. No
language errors present. Referencing
in the CU version of Harvard has

Appropriately selected theoretical
knowledge is integrated into the
overall assessment task and all
learning outcomes.
been employed in an accurate
manner.
Very good knowledge
base that supports critical
analysis and/or
evaluation and problem
solving in theory and/or
practice within the
discipline, with some
originality displayed.
Makes good use of established
techniques of critical analysis
and/or evaluation, relevant to the
discipline. Shows a developing
ability to compare alternative
theories and/or analytical
approaches, where relevant. Shows
a systematic and accurate
understanding of key theories,
where relevant, which are
appropriately applied within the
context of the assessment task and
learning outcomes.
Very good evidence of wider
academic reading and
independent learning. Sources
have been accurately
interpreted, integrated, with
evidence of synthesis leading to
original ideas.
Very good answer with coherent and
logical presentation of ideas. The
answer is relevant and focused with
a clear argument/line of reasoning.
Discipline specific vocabulary is used
well and academic style applied
throughout. Minor language errors
may be present but do not impact
on clarity of expression. Referencing
in the CU version of Harvard is
accurate.
Good knowledge base
that supports some
critical analysis and/or
evaluation and problem
solving in theory and/or
practice within the
discipline.
Good use of established techniques
of critical analysis and/or
evaluation, relevant to the
discipline. Sound descriptive
knowledge of key theories, where
relevant, with some appropriate
application
Good evidence of wider
academic reading and
independent learning. Sources
have been interpreted and
integrated, with some attempt
at synthesis
Good answer with coherent and
logical presentation. The answer is
largely relevant but lacks focus at
points. Evidence of an argument/line
of reasoning. Discipline specific
vocabulary is used and academic
style applied throughout. Minimal
language errors are present but does
not impact on clarity. Referencing in

the CU version of Harvard is mostly
accurate.
Satisfactory knowledge
base demonstrating
comprehension and
formulation of basic
knowledge with some
omissions at the level of
theoretical
understanding.
Limited ability to discuss
theory and solve
problems within the
discipline.
Makes satisfactory but limited use
of established techniques of critical
analysis and/or evaluation,
relevant to the discipline. Selection
of theory, where relevant, is
satisfactory but application and/or
understanding is limited.
Satisfactory evidence of wider
academic reading, but with
minimal attempt to move
beyond the recommended
texts. Interpretation of sources
is acceptable, but there may be
some instances of
misunderstanding. Poor
synthesis of theories and
concepts within the discipline.
Satisfactory answer with some
attempt at coherence and logical
presentation. The answer contains
some irrelevant material and lacks
focus at points. Some discipline
specific vocabulary is used and an
attempt at academic writing style is
made. There is an attempt at an
argument/ line of reasoning. Some
language errors may be present
which impacts on clarity at times.
Referencing in the CU version of
Harvard is mostly accurate but with
some errors.

Outcomes not or partially
met. Restricted
knowledge base. Limited
understanding of
discipline and ethical
issues. Difficulty with
linking theory and
Attempts at critical analysis and/or
evaluation are ineffective and/or
uninformed by the discipline.
Knowledge of theory inaccurate
and/or incomplete, where
relevant. Choice of theory
inappropriate. Application and/or
understanding is very limited.
Limited evidence of wider
reading at an academic level.
Sources used may be
inappropriate and interpreted
poorly. Little evidence of
integration or synthesis of
discipline specific theories and
concepts.
Answer is limited and lacks
coherence and logical presentation.
The answer contains irrelevant
material and lacks focus throughout
with no argument/line of reasoning.
Language errors are present and
impact on clarity of expression. No
attempt at using discipline specific
vocabulary and inconsistent

problem solving in
discipline.
application of academic writing style.
Referencing in the CU version of
Harvard is inconsistent.
Little or no evidence of
knowledge base. Little
evidence of
understanding of
discipline. Significant
difficulty with theory and
problem solving in
discipline.
Lacks any critical analysis and/or
evaluation. Absence of relevant
theoretical content and/or use of
theory, where relevant.
Inadequate or no evidence of
reading at an academic level
with poor application of sources
and ideas. Answer is likely to
include inappropriate
references which are
misunderstood and not
integrated. Possibility of
plagiarism OR no evidence of
academic research. Answer may
not be research based.
Answer is inadequate with serious
flaws in coherence and presentation.
Poorly structured with multiple
language errors which impact on
clarity. No attempt at subject
specific vocabulary or inaccurately
used. No evidence of academic
writing style. Weak application of CU
version of Harvard referencing style.