• Grading Criteria in the form of a rubric is available on iLearn.
• Assignments must be submitted with coversheet in the appropriate box in W6A.
• Late penalty of 5% per day applies to late work that is not accompanied by appropriate documentation.

Essay Assessment Criteria and Grades

In MAS 302 three sets of criteria are assessed in essays: reading and research; argument and analysis; and writing and structure. Within each of these sets, markers are looking for the following:

Reading and research: evidence of critical engagement with set course materials; evidence of independent reading of appropriate academic material; evidence of thorough research (books, journals, Internet, media resources and archives). Argument and analysis: well-articulated and well-supported argument; evidence of critical thinking (through taking a position in relation to key ideas from the course, and supporting this position); evidence of relational thinking (through making connections between key ideas from the course and wider literature, and supporting these connections). Writing and structure: clear, logical and coherent structure; clarity of expression; adequate referencing.

Below you will find the relationships between these criteria and grades. These should be taken as indicative rather than prescriptive. Grades are defined in the Macquarie Handbook of Undergraduate Studies.

Pass essays Macquarie University defines the Pass standard as denoting performance which "satisfies unit objectives" the majority of essays submitted are likely to be of Pass standard. Pass essays will be solid, satisfactory pieces of work which clearly meet good standards in all three of the assessment categories. However, generally speaking, Pass essays will probably have substantial room for improvement in at least two of the three assessment categories. The following are some examples of common problems in Pass essays: Pass essays often rely overly on description and summary at the expense of argument. Theysometimes demonstrate an understanding of the need to be analytical and to construct an argument, but do not quite achieve an effective one. Often they are under-researched. Pass essays are also often in need of further editing and revision and may feature occasional unclear language or less-than coherent structure (essays which are unclear or incoherent throughout may fail). In MAS 302, essays which are inadequately, poorly or sloppily referenced cannot attain higher than a Pass at best. Moreover, MAS 302 essays which display no evidence of academic reading beyond the unit reader cannot attain higher than a Pass at best.

Credit essays Macquarie University defines the Credit grade as denoting "performance which is substantially better than would normally be expected of competent students in the unit." Credit essays, therefore, are very much above average. Speaking generally, Credit essays will often have at least some of the following characteristics: they will probably have a clear and well-supported argument and are likely to offer strong evidence of serious and thoughtful reading and research; they will often also demonstrate a broader understanding of the key themes and concepts of the unit. In addition, Credit essays will be written with a high degree of clarity and precision, and will obviously be the product of a serious process of thoughtful drafting, revision and editing. However, Credit essays will probably still display significant room for improvement in at least one of the three assessment categories.

Distinction and High Distinction essays The university defines the Distinction grade as denoting performance which "clearly deserves a very high level of recognition as an excellent achievement in the unit." Distinction essays are exceptional pieces of work which demonstrate initiative in research and are informed by serious reading on the essay topic and in the subject area more broadly. They display both breadth and depth of understanding. Speaking generally, Distinction essays will often have at least some of the following characteristics in addition to  meeting all the requirements of the Credit standard: Distinction essays usually demonstrate complex understanding and the best of them may display some originality in their analysis. Distinction essays often engage critically with underlying assumptions in texts and assess these with reference to well chosen other texts and appropriate evidence and examples. In sum, Distinction essays are excellent pieces of writing, with carefully-mounted and effective arguments, well-supported with reference to rigorous and comprehensive research; in addition, they will be persuasively written and probably display some initiative and flair. The grade of High Distinction is awarded to essays which satisfy all of the criteria of the Distinction essay in an obviously exceptional manner: this grade is defined by the university as denoting work "which meets all unit objectives in such an exceptional way and with such marked excellence that it deserves the highest level of recognition."

Fail Essays Fail essays do not satisfy minimum standards in any of the three assessment categories. Fail grades may be given in a range of cases, including (but not limited to) cases where: the assignment submitted more closely resembles a set of preliminary notes than a finished essay; the essay contains no evidence of reading or evidence only of reading material inappropriate for university study (this often means haphazardly selected writings found online); the essay does not construct an argument but relies instead entirely on description and synopsis; the essay calls upon the reader to guess at the meaning intended, through lack of care and attention in spelling, grammar, sentence and paragraph construction. Please note that clarity of expression is not an optional extra in university work and that all assignments must be clearly and precisely written, using language appropriate to a university assessment task.

Some Tips on How to write a better essay: Five things which should be in undergraduate essays but often aren't: (1) evidence of reading (2) evidence of thinking (3) clarity and precision in written expression (4) facts (5) concrete examples. Five things which shouldn't be in undergraduate essays but often are: (1) grammatical errors (2) spelling mistakes (3) referencing problems (4) unsupported assertions and crude generalisations (5) lots of direct quotes (rarely necessary).

Lecture: The lecture will be on Wednesday at 11:00am in the Y3A T1 Theatre. Students who have elected to enrol under the "iLecture only" option are just as welcome to attend the lectures. Lecture attendance is highly recommended.

Films: The films of the course are just as important as the readings, and play a large role in discussion and assessment. Students will be provided with options including the university streaming system to access.

iLearn: Course uses iLecture and Echo360. Students are advised to make frequent use of iLearn in order to survey course content in greater detail.

Reader: A MAS302 unit reader will be available as print on demand. It is highly recommended to purchase a hard copy of the reader as it is much easier to make notes and digest the contents. The readings for the course will be listed in their appropriate weeks on iLearn.

The Macquarie University printery will set up a unit link for students in this unit to order and pay for their required reader. This link will be posted on iLearn by the unit convenor as soon as it is available.