AC7024BNN01: Dissertation Project S3 Summative Assessment Brief | Northumbria University

AC7024BNN01 Assessment Tasks

Summative assessment

The summative assessment will consist of two parts:

Part 1: Dissertation project report

A final project report (8,000 words) in which you present the project in an appropriate academic style supported from the current literature base and accurately referenced. The different types of project will require a different structure/organisation depending on the method chosen. 80% of the total mark for the module.

Part 2: Oral presentation

An oral presentation which should critically reflect on the process of completing your research project. The presentation should critically discuss your data collection and data analysis process and any project challenges and successes. 20% of the total mark for the module.

Formative assessment

In this module formative assessment will be to write a protocol (proposal) of no more than 1,000 words which must be completed and approved prior to beginning the dissertation project, usually on the date of the final seminar session. You will submit the protocol electronically as an email attachment to your supervisor and written feedback will be given to you electronically within 20 working days by your supervisor. This will assist you to further develop your thinking prior to beginning the summative assessment. Continuous formative feedback on your progress will be offered during the supervision process. Additional formative feedback will come from the sharing of project work during seminar discussions.

Academic misconduct

Please consult with the student handbook and academic misconduct regulations for further information. Here we present the most common forms of academic misconduct that we encounter with dissertations.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the unacknowledged incorporation in a student’s work of material derived from the work (published or unpublished) of another. Turnitin is only an indicator of plagiarism; it is possible to receive a low (green) Turnitin score yet still have plagiarised.

This is most commonly seen where students have ‘word spun’ the original work, either by
hand or using automated online services.

Collusion

Collusion is defined as: When a student works with others on an assessment, which is then submitted as though it was solely that individual student’s own work. In situations where students are required to work with others on an assessment, this will be clearly stated in the assessment guidelines and constitutes approved collaboration. Work should be undertaken by one individual and collaboration is not permitted. A student who works with others to produce work that is then submitted as their own unaided work may be found to have colluded. Of course, discussion and even sharing of reading (eg a pertinent recently published article) is acceptable, but we want to see students’ own interpretation of the material. Colluding in the design of the thesis (eg figure design, tables structure, section headings) is still collusion.