Essay feedback form.

Students name/ID:

Supervisor:

Title:

Gayle Ferguson

Marking criteria

Level
indicator

Comments and suggestions to improve

Weigh
ting

Organisation
Structure

20%
10%

Introduction

5%

Conclusion

5%

Content
Coverage of the
topic
Evidence of
understanding of
topic
References
Range and
relevance of
literature cited
Citation of
literature
Presentation
Standard of
English

40%
(20%)

Attention to details

(10%)

Total

100%

(20%)
20%
(5%)
(15%)
20%
(10%)

Level indicators: Fails to meet basic criteria (fail); basic (pass); satisfactory (C); good (B-/B/B+), very good (A-/A); outstanding (A+)

Final
grades
(%)

Essay marking criteria

ORGANISATION:
Structure: division into sections and logic of the argument.
Basic criterion is that the report is divided into sections; satisfactory- the sections are
clearly identifiable and there is an attempt to link the main points; good- clear sections
and main points are mostly linked so that the argument flows; very good- clear sections
and the main ideas are logically organised so that the arguments flows well;
outstanding- same + originality.
Introduction.
Basic criterion is the presence of an introduction; satisfactory- the introduction
attempts to introduce the topic; good- the introduction defines the topic and attempts to
explain how it will be addressed; very good- the introduction defines clearly the topic
and how it will be addressed; outstanding- same + originality.
Conclusion.
Basic criterion is the presence of a conclusion; satisfactory- the conclusion attempts to
sum up the essay; good- the conclusion sums up the essay and attempts to place it in a
broader context; very good- the conclusion clearly draws the information together and
place it appropriately in a broader context; outstanding- same + originality.
Appropriate use of figures: tables, diagrams and photographs. Relevance of the
material and correct presentation: labelling, legend, citation in text and if applicable
acknowledgment.
Basic criterion is that the text is supplemented with figures; satisfactory figures
supplement text but not in all cases appropriately or sufficiently; good figures used in
most cases appropriately and sufficiently + most of them have the appropriate
presentation; very good intelligent and appropriate use of figures to convey
information + all of them have the appropriate presentation; outstanding same +
creative use of figures.
CONTENT:
Coverage of the topic: appropriate approach and balance between basic information
and in depth information.
Basic criterion is that the student attempts to address the topic; satisfactory report
covers different aspects of the topic but importance given to different aspects may not be
appropriate and information may be missing on specific aspects; good in general a well
balanced report but some sections may be inappropriately long or short; very good
well balanced report with most aspects of the topic appropriately covered and weighted;
outstanding excellent balance between necessary background material and material
required to address the topic, all aspects of the topic are appropriately covered and there
is evidence of original thought.

Level indicators: Fails to meet basic criteria (fail); basic (pass); satisfactory (C); good (B-/B/B+), very
good (A-/A); outstanding (A+)

Essay marking criteria

CONTENT: continued
Evidence of understanding the topic: Interpretation and accuracy of information.
Basic criterion is that the student attempts to interpret available information but there
may be major inaccuracies; satisfactory a reasonable attempt to understand available
information but their may be some misinterpretation or inaccuracy; good most
information accurately interpreted with a few minor inaccuracies, evidence of critical
appraisal of available information; very good information accurately interpreted and
analysed critically; outstanding information accurately interpreted, clear evidence of
critical analysis.
LITERATURE CITED
Range and relevance of literature cited: balance between electronic sources and
printed literature: text books, new scientist articles and review-type articles.
Basic criterion is that some literature has been consulted; satisfactory appropriate
literature has been consulted but may be of a limited range and relevance; good clear
evidence that a number of different types of appropriate literature have been consulted
and mostly relevant to the topic; very good a good balance between sources and all
relevant to the topic; outstanding comprehensive list of sources, well balanced and all
directly relevant to the topic.
Citation of literature: correct use of Harvard system.
Basic criterion is that literature is cited in the text and a reference list is provided but
there may be many inconsistencies in citation and referencing style; satisfactory
literature is cited and referenced but there may be some inconsistencies in style, and
there may be errors in cross referencing; good most references appropriately cited,
maybe a reference cited in text that does not appear in the reference list plus a few
inconsistencies in citation style; very good a few minor errors in citation of literature
but not in cross referencing; outstanding no errors in referencing and citation of
literature
PRESENTATION:
Standard of English: editing, grammar, punctuation, attention to the reader.
Basic criterion is that it is written in English; satisfactory- there is evidence of an
attempt at editing; good: effort to write short meaningful sentences that are linked
together and few grammar and punctuation mistakes; very good- the report reads well
and there are very few grammar and punctuation mistakes; outstanding- excellent
writing style specifically targeted at the audience and with no or very few mistakes.
Attention to details: quality of word processing and figures, proof reading.
Basic criterion is that the report is word processed; satisfactory well presented report
but some figures may not be of high quality, some inconsistencies in notation and there
are many typos; good well presented report with figures of good quality and with few
inconsistencies and typos; very good high quality report; outstanding high quality
report and perfect proof reading.

Level indicators: Fails to meet basic criteria (fail); basic (pass); satisfactory (C); good (B-/B/B+), very
good (A-/A); outstanding (A+)