Reading Reflection

Assessment Type ¹: Reflective Writing Indicative Time on Task ²: est. 14 hours 

Students will submit 2 reflections during the session. Reflection is a means to separate opinions from evidence. Students will engage with deep reflection on the topics of readings and explore how they have changed thier skills or perspective on the topic as a result of exposure to new knowledge. The task is specificaly designed to avoid opinionated writing. Students must consider cause and effect and apply evidence from the reading to the topic under discussion. This encourages students to write in a concise fashion and stick to the task word limit.

Check the guidance on iLearn for more detailed information.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• demonstrate a scholarly understanding of the criminal justice system
• distinguish between personal opinion and scientifically verified evidence
• use social research skills to identify, analyse and assess the quality of different data sources and types of evidence
• express key concepts clearly and accurately in both spoken and written format
• prepare for and engage effectively in online and classroom activities

Court Report

Assessment Type ¹: Report Indicative Time on Task ²: 40 hours

Reports are often used as assessment tasks because well-developed report writing skills are important in many professional contexts. Reports are written based on gathering and analysing information using a discipline-specific methodology and format. This report requires students to visit a court, conduct scientific observations and report back on those observations in a written report. Full details and FAQs are provided in iLearn, please read the extensive FAQ document in iLearn for more detailed information on the task requirements.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• demonstrate a scholarly understanding of the criminal justice system
• distinguish between personal opinion and scientifically verified evidence
• use social research skills to identify, analyse and assess the quality of different data sources and types of evidence
• express key concepts clearly and accurately in both spoken and written format
• conduct independent non-participant observations in the field, then combine theory with both primary and secondary data to write up a formal report
• prepare for and engage effectively in online and classroom activities

Active Participation

Assessment Type ¹: Participatory task Indicative Time on Task ²: 12 hours Due: WEEKLY

Students must read at least an hour for all scheduled active participation activities, every week. Depending on enrolment method this may include: preparation by reading and note-taking, bringing required participation to tutorials, engaging in online learning activities (e.g. wiki/discussion board). Active participation (approximately 15 skill-based tasks over 13 weeks) is used in this unit with a strict marking rubric and a careful alignment of each weekly activity to the skills needed for the unit assessments. Non-attendance/non-completion of a weekly task will receive a mark of '0' for that task unless appropriate documentation is supplied. Non-completion of weekly tasks will significantly affect the final mark for this assessment.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• demonstrate a scholarly understanding of the criminal justice system
• distinguish between personal opinion and scientifically verified evidence
• express key concepts clearly and accurately in both spoken and written format
• prepare for and engage effectively in online and classroom activities

Online Quiz

Assessment Type ¹: Quiz/Test Indicative Time on Task ²: 2-4 hours

The online quiz will test basic knowledge on the course content for the first 6 weeks of the unit. Students will spend 1 hour on the quiz, plus at least 1 hour of preparation (including focused reading and online research).

On successful completion you will be able to:

• demonstrate a scholarly understanding of the criminal justice system
• use social research skills to identify, analyse and assess the quality of different data sources and types of evidence
• express key concepts clearly and accurately in both spoken and written format

¹ If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

• the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
• the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

² Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS 

• You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in Ilearn discussion forums and preparing assessments. 
• Internal students are expected to attend all seminar or tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activities. 
• Students are required to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit. 

REQUIRED READINGS 

• The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site.  Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means. 

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED 

• Computer and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement. 
• This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/
• Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient. 
• Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at  http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS 

• All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically.  This will only happen through the unit iLearn site.  
• Assessment tasks must be submitted as a MS word document by the due date. 
• Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process. 
• The granting of extensions is subject to the university’s Special Consideration Policy. Extensions will not be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Special Consideration: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. 

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS 

• Stated word limits include footnotes, but not bibliography, or title page.
• Students must not use footnotes for references, refer to refernce guideance for APA7 on the library website  
• Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure. 
• If the number of words deviates from the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words deviation from the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%). 
• The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener. 

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER 

• Macquarie University operates a Final Grade Appeal procedure as part of the Assessment policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=277
• In accordance with the Grade Appeal procedure, individual works are not subject to regrading. 

STAFF AVAILABILITY 

• Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not usually be answered outside of standard office workhours (Monday-Friday. 9-5), nor over the weekend or during public holiday periods. 
• Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff.