Writing requirements and their assessment

Dear all, as we discussed in class, those of you who are officially enrolled in this seminar will have to submit their essays (min 3000 words; max 6000 words) by the 31st of May. The essay can be written in English or in Portuguese. The essay will be marked by the 10th of June, according to the guidelines appended below. Should you be unsatisfied by your grade, you will have an option to submit a revised essay by the 30th of June.

Distinction (70% and over)

• Exceptionally sophisticated, verging on the publishable
• Of (almost) publishable standard, shedding new light on the field, richly researched and, theoretically sophisticated
• Original work and worked through to own critical stance
• Demonstrates considerable research, well beyond the required reading and handles the argument with sophistication and originality
• Original contribution to the topic
• Original contribution to the topic/area, well structured; well written; extensive coverage of the literature

Merit (60 - 69%)

• Deals with the relevant literature critically and comprehensively and provides a well structured analysis
• Good, competent account, well structured argument, good coverage of literature
• Wide reading, beyond reading list
• Decent attempt at critical engagement with literature, and at building arguments

Pass (50 - 59%)

• Reasonably structured and argued, with a literature review that tries to that connects with theoretical development and/or methodological analysis
• Fair understanding of the literature, good attempt to focus on the relevant questions
• Clear understanding and but lacks critical engagement
• Shows reasonable grasp of key issues and ability to analyse

Fail (Below 50%)

• Has sloppy structure and weak arguments
• Descriptive, lack of research, lacking conceptual understanding, poorly organised
• Merely regurgitates the literature, major gaps in the analysis, poorly structured
• No real grasp of key issues, superficial, and incoherently written