ARES30001 Dissertation Formative Assessment Brief 1 2026 | NTU

ARES30001 Formative Assessment Brief 1

Feedback on your assessment

Individual feedback will be provided, either in the form of written comments within the text of your work, or verbal comments given during a supervisory meeting. You are encouraged to reflect on how the individual feedback comments can be used to inform your future development. Please note that no grades are given.

This assessment is formative but can be used to form the basis of your dissertation report.

Expected return date: By 6th November

Aims

Identify your current capabilities, with a personal action plan to develop yourself further.

Specific Tasks

As final year students, it is important that you recognise the value of the progress you have made and identify how your capabilities are of value to employers. Every recruiting organisation assesses candidates against a series of competency-based selection criteria. These criteria tend to reflect the strategic priorities of the organization, to ensure every role is filled by the best candidate. The criteria vary between organisations, aligned to the requirement of the role, but are generally arranged under three broad theme headings: subject knowledge; practical skills; transferable skills.

Your course has been structured to equip you with the necessary skills, attributes and behaviours sought by employers. Knowledge and application gained through taught modules is enhanced by involvement such as undertaking placements, volunteering, becoming a CERT mentor, being a member of a student society, attending lunchtime seminars, etc.

For your plan:

1. Create a capability profile (provided on the NOW page) comprising three radar charts, showing your key competencies: subject knowledge, practical skills and transferable skills, acquired through the duration of your course. These can focus on what you can offer potential employers, or how you can progress within current employment.
   
   
2. Critically evaluate your key strengths and areas for development, using examples as evidence to highlight your strengths.
   
   
3. Establish a personal development plan, including steps to enhance your professional development. Your action plan could follow a ‘SMART’ or ‘PACT’ framework/approach.

Further Assessment Guidance

Glossary of terms in the Radar Chart spreadsheet on the Dissertation NOW learning room

Job descriptions of roles in the relevant industry sector(s) and the skills and attributes required

Personal Pebblepad workbooks or tutorial information, for evidence to help inform and illustrate poster sections. These can include recorded activities and  events that you involved yourself in over the duration of your studies Employability Team at NTU  1:1 appointments through the online booking system

Module Outcomes Addressed

Analyse and articulate how your university experience has helped you develop your skills, knowledge and graduate attributes.

Develop your graduate professional profile (e.g. CV, LinkedIn, personal statement) and prepare for graduate recruitment processes relevant to your chosen profession or subject discipline.

Using your work as evidence in professional contexts

The following aspects of your assessment could be used as evidence of your skills, knowledge and applied learning relevant to professional, industry or external audiences. (This may include the type of task completed, approaches used, outputs produced, or ways of working.)

• Communication
• Reflection
• Creative thinking
• Collaboration
• Information literacy
• Organising, planning & prioritising work
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Inter- and intra-personal skills

Use of artificial intelligence (AI) in this assessment

You have a responsibility to develop and engage in good academic practices so that you can act with academic integrity.

NTU provides guidance to students on the appropriate and inappropriate use of generative AI. The following acceptable uses of AI may be applicable to this assessment:

•  Use AI to Simplify Complex Concepts
  
  Prompt AI to explain difficult topics in simpler terms or through analogies. For example: “Explain [concept] in simple language, like I’m a beginner.” For instance: “Create a mind map of the key points for [subject].”
  
  
• Organise and Plan Your Study Time
  
  Use AI to help structure your workload by creating study schedules, to-do lists, etc. For example: “Help me design a two-week study plan for
  [subject].”
  
  
• Clarify Instructions
  
  If you’re unsure about something you have been asked to do, ask AI to rephrase or explain the instructions in a clearer way. For example: “What does this essay prompt mean, and how should I approach it?”
  
  
• Refine and Improve Your Writing
  
  Prompt AI to provide feedback on grammar, structure, tone, and clarity in your writing. For example: “Check this paragraph for clarity and flow.” Always review and personalise the suggestions.
  
  
• Foster Critical Thinking
  
  Challenge AI responses to deepen your understanding. For instance:
  “What are the strengths and weaknesses of this explanation of [concept]?” or “Can you provide an alternative perspective on this topic?”

If you have used artificial intelligence (AI) in your assessment, you should declare this on the assessment cover sheet, ensuring transparency and demonstrating that AI has supported, not replaced, your independent work.

The following resources provided by Libraries and Learning Resources will support you in acting with academic integrity;

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity at NTU

NTU Harvard referencing including how to reference the use of GenAI appropriately Failure to acknowledge sources, both in the text and in the reference list, and/or inappropriate use of generative AI, may incur a penalty. For further details, see the University’s Academic Integrity policy.