ASSESSMENT ITEMS

Assessment Details
A mark of 10% is allocated for student participation, that is, contribution to the on-line discussion

board. You will be required to make thoughtful contributions to the discussion board at least three
times during the course of the unit. The quality (rather than the number) of your contributions will
determine your overall mark.
The first assessment item is a multiple choice exam based on study notes and readings from weeks 1 to 6.
The questions will be distributed as evenly as possible so expect approximately 3-4 questions from each
weekly topic. The multiple-choice exam will be held in week 7 and the actual exam time allocation is
approximately 60 minutes. This allows approximately 2-3 minutes per question. The second assessment is a
short essay of 1,500 words in length. Please ensure that spelling is checked, particularly the spelling of the
authors you cite. DO NOT ON ANY ACCOUNT USE WIKIPEDIA. All referencing sources must be
from quality academic books and refereed journal articles. The final assessment item is an open book
exam scheduled during the exam period at the end of semester. You will be able to use your textbook and
dossier to complete this exam. It compromises of a choice of essay style questions of which you will choose
3 to answer. The questions will be developed from the unit content most weekly topics will be included in
the exam. Those weekly topics not included in assessment items 1 and 2 will have greater representation in
the exam.
Assessment Item 1: Multiple choice exam to be done in week 7 and covering weeks 1-6 (study notes
and readings)
Length:

20 multiple choice questions based on material and related readings from

weeks 1-6 inclusive

Weight:
Due:

20% of total marks

Scheduled for week 7.

Assessment Item 2:

Research Essay

Length

approx. 1,500 words

Weight

40% of total marks

Due

Friday, 5pm, Week 9

To be submitted to OC&AHS and returned by tutor or mail.

Choose one of the following:
1. Compare and contrast Marxs concept of alienation with Durkheims concept of anomie. Are their
responses to the negative effects of modernity or modern capitalism essentially different?
2. Individual identity is almost entirely the product of social structure. Debate this statement.
3. Is it realistic to assume that there is a single entity called the family? Debate this question.
4. Women and men are made, not born. Debate this statement.

5. Is class an objective structural aspect of all societies? And what does it mean to say that class is an
objective aspect of any society? Debate this question. (This question is taken from the textbook page
331.)
6. Marx, Weber and Durkheim all offer different perspectives on religion. For example, Marx is highly
critical of the conservative aspects of religion, while Durkheim wrote about the social function of
religion. Weber, too, offers many perspectives on religion (see The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of
Capitalism. Discuss two of these theorists, comparing and contrasting their ideas/arguments. Which
perspective do you think is most relevant to contemporary times and why?
Assignment Instructions:
1. Where relevant use a primary source that is, read a section of Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Simmel,
etc, rather than rely on articles that other people have written about these authors works and ideas.
2. Use good secondary source material, that is, academic books, book chapters and journal articles.
3. In addition to the textbook and dossier, you need approximately 4 additional readings (books and/or
journal articles)
4. Do not use Wikipedia or other Internet encyclopaedias.
5. Search through the Griffith library on-line database to find relevant refereed journal articles. Any of
the following will be useful: Proquest, Expanded Academic, Social Sciences Index, Jstor. Get some
help from the library if you are having difficulty. There is an on-line tutorial that is highly
recommended.
6. Do not cite or quote from study notes.
7. Keep your quotations to a minimum do not use quotations to fill in ideas that you need to work out
yourself in your own words and writing style.
8. Do at least 2 drafts and ask an appropriate person to read your essay so they can tell you what they
did or didnt understand, what was or wasnt clearly expressed.
9. If you are unsure of something or need some direction, talk to your tutor or the unit coordinator.
10. Do a spell check before submitting the assignment.

***You must include the Assessment Item checklist pages (2 pages) included in this unit outline with
your submission. Tick those boxes that you think best describe what you have done to complete your
essay. After you submit the item and checklist, your tutor will mark and comment on the essay at the
bottom of the checklist*** SET MATERIAL IS TO BE USED in addition to outside material --See
criteria.

Assessment item 2 checklist (please staple the two pages together)

(Social Sciences in Australia SGY 14)

Which of the following have you completed? Please circle to indicate.

1. I have used primary sources where relevant.
2. I have used good secondary source material, that is, academic books, book chapters and
journal articles.
3. I have at least 4 additional readings (books and/or journal articles)
4. I have not quoted from Wikipedia or other Internet encyclopaedias.
5. I have not quoted or paraphrased from lecture notes.
6. I have drafted my assignment at least twice.
7. I have done a spell check, and made sure the names of authors I cite are correctly spelt.
8. I have written my tutors name on the cover sheet of the assignment.

Assessment item 2 checklist (please staple the two pages together)

(Social Sciences in Australia SGY14)

For a PASS mark (50%64%), your essay must meet the following criteria:

has referred to the relevant set readings and at least four additional readings
is word-processed or typed
conforms to rules of sentence construction, punctuation, spelling
avoids plagiarism
is properly referenced according to the Harvard-Style of in-text referencing
provides a properly set-out Bibliography according to the Harvard system
provides a clear introduction and conclusion
provides a statement of your main argument in the introduction
considers the principal writers on the topic in relevant social science disciplines
summarises each writers discussion
compares and contrasts the conclusions presented by each writer

Note: Any essay that fails to meet the Pass requirements on technical grounds (word-processing, title,
referencing) will be returned to the student unmarked. Essays that do not correctly reference all sources
(including direct quotations, paraphrased ideas and arguments and so forth) will also be returned to the
student unmarked. The essay could be corrected and resubmitted within one week (to the appropriate
tutor).Essays associated with plagiarism will be subject to further action.

For a CREDIT (65%74%), your essay must meet the following criteria in addition to all the above:

shows coherent structure and logical organization of ideas

additional relevant material is presented in tables and/or charts

For a DISTINCTION (75%-84%), your essay must meet the following criteria in addition to
all the above:

provides evidence of further and critical reading on the topic

offers a well sustained and articulated argument

For a HIGH DISTINCTION (85%-100%), your essay must meet the following criteria in addition to all the
above:

fully substantiates the conclusion reached

demonstrates extensive and critical reading on the topic

Assessment Item 3: Exam

Length

3 short essays (approx 500 words each)

Weight

30% of total marks

Due

Scheduled during the exam period.

Details and instructions on the open book exam

The exam paper is divided into three parts. It will consist of approximately 10 questions with a total of 3
questions to be answered. The duration of the exam will be 2 hours.
The exam covers most, though not necessarily all, of the unit topics. You will be expected to answer
questions on topics not covered in the earlier assessment items. For example, there will be questions on
globalization, sustainability and globalization, crime and deviance.
1. You will be expected write 3 essays of approximately 500 words each. Do not exceed 700 words for each
question.
2. You will need to choose 1 question from PART A, 1 question from PART B, and 1 question from PART C.
3. You may consult the course textbook and book of readings in the exam. No other written materials can be
consulted.
4. Do not use or fill up the essay with quotations.
5. Start a new page for each question.
6. Write the question out in full at the top of the page.

1.0

ASSESSMENT
Assessment in this unit of study conforms to standard Griffith University and Faculty procedures. For
each individual assessment item you will be given a mark by the tutor. The marks, along with
comments from the marker, will be recorded on the assignment cover sheet attached to your essay.
The assignment cover sheet, the accompanying style and presentation check sheet and the comments
made in the text of your essay are important feedback mechanisms for you. An appropriate number of
assignment cover sheets and accompanying style and presentation check sheets are included in the
Study Package. These should be attached to each of the assessment items submitted. Please note the
following points:
1.

Always submit essays with cover sheet. Never send essays directly to the tutor or convenor.

2.

You must always keep a copy of the final draft of your essay.

3.

Note that markers have two working weeks to complete their assessment after your essay is
received at the office.

2.0

AGGREGATION OF MARKS
At the end of the period of study a grade is the result awarded when you have completed your unit of
study. Grades are confirmed by an Assessment Board. The grades are aggregated from individual
marks.
One of the following grades will be awarded for each unit from which a student has not formally
withdrawn:
HD

High Distinction

Distinction

Credit

Pass

PC

Pass Conceded. This can be awarded to students who are not eligible for a
grade of Pass, but whose marks, in the opinion of the Assessment Board,
merit the award of a Pass Conceded. You can receive no more than 30 credit
points towards your degree for units for which a Pass Conceded has been
awarded.

Fail

FNS

Failure through non-submission. This will be awarded to a student who did

not present any work for assessment. It will be counted as a failure.

For award of a grade of Pass Conceded or higher, students must have completed 85% or more of the
weighted items, with marks above zero.
For any student that has formally withdrawn from a unit, at the end of the study period, the student
will be awarded a grade as follows:
W

3.0

Withdrawn

DISCRETIONARY FACTORS
There are some further provisions which allow the Assessment Board discretion to act in your favour,
particularly if you are near a borderline:
a)

the Assessment Board may round up your final mark for award of a higher grade if the Board
feels this is warranted, given your total array of marks/grades;

b)

the Assessment Board may make adjustments to grades in the light of the documentary evidence
submitted by students as to circumstances that may have disadvantaged them.

PLEASE NOTE: All assignments which receive marks below 50% will be double marked and the
higher of the two marks will be recorded as the mark awarded for that item.

4.0

NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS
Following approval of results by the relevant Assessment Board, students are notified of their results.

ACADEMIC PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING

Plagiarism means copying another text without referencing the source of that text. It is possible to plagiarise
an idea, a paragraph, or an argument. Direct copying of lines and paragraphs word for word ( whether from
a reading, the study guide or another source) is an obvious case of plagiarism. Cheating is defined as any
fraudulent response to any item of assessment and includes plagiarism.
It is important that you be aware of the practices which constitute acts of plagiarism. Plagiarism occurs
where:

paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence which are copied
directly, are not enclosed in quotation marks and appropriately referenced;
where direct quotations are not used, but are paraphrased or summarised, and the source of the
material is not acknowledged either by footnoting or other simple reference within the text of
the paper;
where an idea which appears elsewhere in printed material or film is used or developed without
reference being made to the author or the source of that idea.

In cases where plagiarism is felt to be minor or due to scholarly ignorance, the marker may return the
assignment with a mark of Unsatisfactory and require it to be resubmitted. In cases where the extent of
plagiarism is significant, the assignment will be referred to the relevant Assessment Board which may award
the assignment a mark of Unacceptable with no opportunity for resubmission.

APPEALS AGAINST MARK

Appeals against individual marks for assignments should be addressed to the relevant tutor. The tutor can
request a second opinion on the assignment from another tutor.

APPLICATION FOR REVIEW OF GRADE

(i)

Students are encouraged to discuss with academic staff their performance in assessment items during a
unit.

(ii)

Where a student believes that an error has been made or an injustice done in respect of the grade
awarded for a unit, the student may request a review of the grade. This request (a)

MUST BE MADE IN WRITING

(b)

must state the specific grounds on which the application for the review of grade Is based.

(c)

must be lodged with Off Campus & Assignment Handling Services within 14 days of the
official notification of the result to the student.

(iii)

All requests for review of grade shall be dealt with by the Convenor of the relevant unit who shall
seek the advice of the relevant examiner/s.

(iv)

The outcome of a review of grade may be either: (a) no change to the grade (II) the grade Is changed
or (c) other action may be required as an outcome of the review of grade application (the student will
be advised of specific details).

Any formal complaint about assessment procedures or results should be marked Confidential and
addressed to:
Administrative Officer
Off Campus & Assignment Handling Services
Logan Campus
Griffith University
MEADOWBROOK QLD 4131

The complaint will then be passed to the relevant Convenor. Confidentiality will be respected at all times.