976001 Foundations in International Studies

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Around 1200 words (including everything, plus or minus 120 words)

Quality of thesis statement and procedure statement: (-/8)

• Relevant to question/topic (missing the point scores badly)
• Thesis is original/creative, logical and shows sophisticated use of the ideas explored in the subject, gives a clear draft answer to the question
• Procedure statement specifies clearly what will be covered in the essay

Quality and use of materials (-/8)

• Use of knowledge built thus far in subject (use relevant lecture and reading materials)
• Five independently found peer reviewed academic journal articles annotated
• Relevance of articles to the essay topic and student’s thesis
• Each article is summarized including: main points of the paper, theoretical perspective, scope
• Each article is evaluated including: logic of argument; use of evidence; bias; limitations; usefulness for essay; reliability
• The summaries and evaluations demonstrate understanding of the papers, ability to assess their qualities, and understanding of how each may be used in the essay

Appropriate organization, expression and formatting: (-/4)

• Clear and succinct language use (around 200 words for the thesis/procedure paragraph and 200 words for each reference annotation)
• Reference at the start of each annotation formatted as per FASS Essay Writing Guide in UTSOnline

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Content & Organization /11

Good: Plenty of research-based information clearly related to main topic, A thesis/theme is built across each part of the presentation, Demonstrates good comprehension of the methodology readings, Uses evidence from methodology appropriately to illustrate important ideas, Points logically ordered, Stuck to topic, Kept within time limit, The sections tie together into a seamless whole Information examined in terms of critical perspectives and theories (including those from lectures and readings) Engaged class in meaningful discussion on the topic

Satisfactory: Adequate amount of information relating to topic, some evidence from methodology given for some ideas, Flow sometimes abrupt or fails to show relations between points, Mostly stuck to topic, Went slightly over time, Information a bit ‘government line’ or ‘tourist brochure’ rather than explored critically, Class discussion engaged students somewhat, discussion was shallow or off-topic

Unsatisfactory: Insufficient information or information irrelevant to topic, Ideas not explained with use of examples, no evidence of methodology, No meaningful flow from one point to another, Points do not combine to build a thesis, Wandered from topic, Presentation much too long or short, Is a collection of single presentations rather than one group presentation, Major relevant ideas from the subject not mentioned, Did not do class discussion, or unable to elicit responses from class

Audiovisual Media / Other Presentation Material /3

Good: Engaging, enhances argument, content appropriate to topic, enhances presentation

Satisfactory: Material is on appropriate topic but does not enhance the argument, not completely connected to topic

Unsatisfactory: Little or no audiovisual or other material used, or what is used is not related to topic, or detracts from argument

Presentation Skills /3

Good: Clear articulation, positive posture, suitable volume, enthusiastic (or shyness is well managed), confident, engaged audience and held their attention

Satisfactory: Articulation, posture, volume and attitude OK, or sometimes good and sometimes less good. Some of the audience engaged, or audience engaged some of the time

Unsatisfactory: Articulation unclear (too fast, too quiet or mumbling), Shyness detracted from presentation, Audience were confused or bored, Speakers distracted by a technical hitch

Teamwork /3

Good: Each member is equally involved in the presentation and seems well informed about the topic, Perspectives from each students’ discipline brought into presentation , Group Progress Template completed thoughtfully and submitted to tutor in Week 7

Satisfactory: Most of the group contributes, or the group works well together some of the time, Only some disciplines from the group represented, Progress template completed in a ‘slap dash’ manner, or is submitted late

Unsatisfactory: One or two members dominate, others seem ill-prepared or are otherwise not contributing, Only one or none of the students’ disciplines visible in the presentation, No progress template

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Marking Criteria:

Points are scored for correct answers (no deductions for incorrect answers). The scores for the best eight quizzes for each student will be added up and turned into a score out of 20. For example, if Jane scores 7/10 for her best eightquizzes her final score will be 14/20 (56/80). If students do not complete 8 quizzes they will be given 0 for the number of missing quizzes. For example, if Jess scores 7/10 for 6 quizzes but did not come to class the other weeks her score will be 10.5/20 (42/80). In other words, to do well in this assignment students need to come to class prepared for the quiz for as many weeks as possible during the semester. Students may do all 11 of the quizzes and have just their best 8 selected. It is likely that each student will be sick for at least one week during the semester, and have some extremely busy weeks. It is students’ responsibility to make sure they have done enough quizzes in the weeks when they are well and less busy, so that they can skip the quiz whenill/busy and still make up the minimum of 8 quizzes.

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2000 words (excluding the reference list). 10% longer or shorter than this is OK.

Marking Criteria:

1. Content (the most important thing in your essay)
   • Essay question fully answered
   • Clear and logical thesis (improved marks for sophisticated and original thesis)
   • Engaged with relevant materials listed in the Subject Outline
   • Engaged with at least another 5 academic-quality materials the student found independently
   • Thesis is supported with evidence for all main points
   • Evidence contrary to thesis is explained
   • All material presented is relevant to topic
   • Thesis is well sustained throughout the essay
   • Quality examples used to support points
   • Relevant ideas from lectures and essential readings referred to
2. Organisation (important in terms of communication of your content)
   • Clear introduction (thesis + procedural statement)
   • Schematic structure suited to purpose
   • Ideas organised logically in paragraphs
   • Smooth transition from point to point
   • Word length is no more than 10% + or - the limit
   • Clear conclusion (summarizes main points of essay and reiterates thesis). A really good essay then adds a point about why this is something significant for people to know about.
     
3. Expression (also important for communication, but a bit less so than Organization)
   • Main thesis is clearly communicated to reader
   • Language use flows from point to point
   • Uses summary and paraphrasing (avoid over-reliance on direct quotes)
   • Appropriate topic sentences
   • Acceptable grammatical structures
   • Vocabulary suited to reader and purpose
   • Acceptable spelling
   • Acceptable punctuation
4. Presentation (also important for communication, a bit less important than Expression)
   • Submitted with IS Assignment Cover Page
   • Presentation as specified in FASS Essay Writing Guide
   • Edited for "typos"
5. Referencing (a basic requirement, but great referencing will not increase grade)
   • Quoting, summarizing and paraphrasing from sources according to Harvard system

To encourage students to revise the content of the readings and lectures at the end of semester.

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Marking Criteria: Points will be given for correct answers (no deductions for incorrect answers).