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Getting to Grips with Assessment

ALT Getting to Grips with Assessment Page 2/7/2018 v1.0

We wrote this guide because we were concerned that students were not always aware of some aspects of the assessment process at Anglia Ruskin.  Because of this, they sometimes made mistakes which would have been avoided easily.  In some cases, marks were lost, and often the experience was distressing.  We want all of our students to realise their full potential, and this includes ensuring that nothing goes wrong with the assessment process.

Jump to Core Questions

This document is designed to provide a quick reference to the main issues that can affect assignment submission, marking and feedback.  It has been written to provide generic advice on the main issues and courses may have alternative or additional provision in some areas.  The   Academic Regulations   (current version August 2018) are the definitive statement of all academic matters including submission, so any statement here is offered in good faith but is not authoritative.  Because this guide is a quick reference, it does not cover all eventualities, and specifically excludes appeals against decisions.  Please consult a Student Adviser, the Students’ Union Advice Service, your Course Leader or Director of Studies for more detailed advice.

A note on terms

We use the term 'assignment' here to describe a single task that you submit for evaluation or marking, and on which you will receive feedback.  You will meet the term 'assessment task' in University Regulation being used to denote the same thing.  We use the term 'assessment' to mean the process of assessing or being assessed,   not   for an assessed item.

Core questions

In our experience, most of the issues that students experience with assessment and feedback are covered by four basic questions.  If you have an issue, click on the question that seems closest to your situation and you will jump to the relevant section.  If you just want to be better informed, browse the complete text - at least all of the information that you need is in one location here rather than being spread across different sites.

1. Where can I find information about my assignment?

2. what is academic integrity.

3. What can I do if something goes wrong?

4. How is my work marked, how do I receive feedback - and what am I supposed to do with it?

In addition, you can follow More resources and links to find further links to study skills, Turnitin submission and expert advice.

In this section, you will find general information about how and where your assignment is described, and how to submit assignments using Turnitin and other methods.

1.1 Assignment description

• Key information, including the submission deadline, is supplied in the 'Assessment Information' section of any module site and can also be found in e-Vision.
• A more detailed description of the assessed task, including how it relates to learning outcomes,
• A marking scheme (unless not applicable in a few types of assignment),
• Links to any further resources you need to complete the assignment, and
• Other guidance, such as ‘frequent mistakes’ lists or examples of similar work.

1.2 Online submission using Turnitin

• Turnitin-Grademark is an online tool that is used for online submission of assignments, and marking and feedback (see also section on ‘Academic integrity’). You need to make sure that you have a Turnitin account and that you can access ‘classes’ for each of your current online submissions.
• Submissions should be made to the correct class set up for the assignment, should consist of one file only, and must be made before the published submission deadline (see also Section 3 ).
• You can upload multiple versions of your work up until the deadline, for example to replace an early draft with a final version.
• Your submission should be anonymous. The submission title field in Turnitin should contain your Student ID number but not your name.
• Submission must be completed by 1400 UK local time on the published submission date. You should ensure that you have sufficient time to complete the assignment task, and are strongly advised not to leave submission until close to the deadline, as this may risk missing the deadline.
• If there is a general failure of Turnitin close to the submission deadline, the Academic Registry will postpone the deadline for all submissions due on that day and you will be informed of this.

1.3 Other forms of submission

• Some assignments cannot be submitted through Turnitin. The assignment descriptions in the 'Assessment Information' section of this site will indicate how submission will take place.  These submissions will be subject to deadlines just as those through Turnitin, and you should ensure that you are fully prepared for whatever form of submission is needed.
• Some forms of assessment do not involve a submission, such as in-class tests, computer based assessments, posters etc. and so are not covered in this document.

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[ SU advice leaflet on assessment offences   and   LibGuide on Good Academic Practice   available]

• You should ensure that you follow published guidance relating to the use of third-party materials in your assignments. This guidance refers specifically to good practice in   quoting and referencing published material .
• There is an opportunity to check your work prior to submission using the Turnitin ‘Check Originality Report (COR)’ class (User guide   here ) – this will highlight any parts of your work that match sources held on the Turnitin database, and enables you to avoid issues around academic integrity. Look at the originality report carefully to see where matches occur, and do not simply try to get in under a notional baseline value.  Any work submitted through the ‘Check Originality Report’ class will not be added to the Turnitin database, so you will not plagiarise yourself in a later submission.
• The percentage match of your submission against published material is also calculated by Turnitin for your online assignment submission. Your markers will be aware of this value, but will not use it as grounds for identifying poor academic practice.  There is no threshold value, and markers are aware that some assignments will necessarily have relatively high similarity, whereas poor academic practice may occur with a low similarity.
• Any suspected academic offence will be considered by one of the Faculty’s Directors of Studies. If there is evidence of an assessment offence, the Director of Studies will write to the student, and the student is invited to respond. If the student denies there is evidence of an assessment offence, a formal hearing is arranged. If the offence is accepted or upheld, a penalty is applied.  The penalty relates to the level of study, previous offences, and outcomes of the hearing.  The penalties can be found in our Academic Regulations [2018 – section 10F].

3. What can I do if I do not submit on time, or if something goes wrong?

This section covers the scary moments if you have been unable to submit an assignment or if you find that you will be unable to do so by the deadline.  More importantly, it tells you about the processes that Anglia Ruskin offers to help you under these circumstances, covering   extensions   (delayed submission ahead of the deadline) and   mitigation   (what happens if circumstances prevent you from doing your best or from submitting altogether).

3.1 What if I do not submit on time?

• If your current personal circumstances prevent you from submitting your assignment in time for the deadline, you can request an extension before the submission deadline (see below). This allows you to submit later without incurring a penalty.
• The University has clear rules for circumstances that justify an extension, and these are typically related to unavoidable health- or practical- issues that prevent you from completing your assignment. You may be asked to provide evidence for the circumstances affecting your submission.
• You are permitted to submit your work late (without an extension) up to five working days after the submission deadline, but the mark for the assignment will be capped at 40% [Academic Regulations, 2018 – 6.53]. You should liaise with the module leader if you are contemplating late submission, and should be aware that it may not be possible to submit some assignments late.
• Late submission of work normally handed in to the i-Centre (or another location such as the School office) will be made to the same location, and will be recorded as a late submission.
• Late submission online will be handled through a page on the Academic Registry website ( anglia.ac.uk/latework ), and your submission will then be routed through Turnitin. You cannot submit late work direct to Turnitin.
• If you have already submitted an assignment through Turnitin ahead of the submission deadline, you cannot then use the late submission process to submit an updated version.
• Failure to submit after five working days beyond the first submission deadline without justifiable circumstances will incur a resit and result in the mark for the module as a whole being capped at 40%.
• If anything else goes wrong with your submission that is not listed here, please see your Student Advisor as soon as possible. Remember that we are more likely to be able to resolve your problems if we hear about them promptly.

3.2 Extensions

[Academic Regulations, 2018 – Section 6J;   SU advice leaflet on extensions   available]

• An extension allows you to submit an assignment later then the published deadline. You can only apply for an extension before the submission deadline.
• Your module leader, module tutor, course leader or personal tutor are not authorised to agree to an extension.
• Extension requests are normally made through an online form (accessed from:   http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/student_services/student_advisers/managing-assignment-deadlines.phtml   ). You may be asked to supply documentary evidence to support your claim.
• If you are unable to use the online request form, you can still contact a Student Adviser either in person, by ‘phone ( 01245 68 6700 ) or by e-mail ( [email protected]) . If e-mailing, please use your student e-mail account and include your SID, the course name, module code (such as MOD003580) and assignment number (such as 011) in the e-mail subject field.  A Student Adviser can also provide advice on extensions.
• An extension is for ten working days after the original submission date.
• Longer-term extensions may also be granted under exceptional circumstances [Academic Regulations, 2018 – section 6K].
• There is no mark penalty if an extension is awarded.
• An extension applies only to the assignment(s) for which it was allocated – if you have problems with other, later assignments, you will need to make separate applications and you should never assume that your circumstances will be ‘on file’.
• Extensions are normally a short-term solution to a short-term problem. If you think that a problem is likely to affect you for a longer period, you should discuss this with your personal tutor or another member of academic staff.  There are other options to help you to cope.
• You should be aware that shifting the submission date through an extension may increase your subsequent workload if later submission deadlines clash.

3.3 Mitigation

[Academic Regulations, 2018 – section 6Q;   SU advice leaflet on mitigation and appeals   available]

• Mitigation applies when your personal circumstances have prevented you performing to your full potential in an assignment, or from submitting an assignment. Such circumstances are short-term, unforeseen and outside your control.
• Mitigation and an extension are not the same thing. If accepted, mitigation cancels any mark awarded for an assignment.  You will then re-take the assignment during the resit period as if it was your first attempt.
• You should normally claim mitigation no later than five working days after the submission deadline. If you make a claim after that time, you need to demonstrate the reason for your being unable to claim on time, in addition to the evidence for mitigation itself.
• You need to apply for mitigation through a Student Adviser – your module leader, module tutor, course leader or personal tutor are not authorised to grant mitigation.
• If applying by e-mail ( [email protected] ), please (a) use your student e-mail account, (b) include your SID, the course name, module code (such as MOD003580) and assignment number (such as 011) in the e-mail subject field and (c) attach the completed mitigation form (available at   http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/assess/mitigation.phtml ) and any documentary evidence that supports your mitigation request.
• As with extensions, the University has clear rules for the types of circumstances for which mitigation can be requested.
• A claim for mitigation for each assignment needs to be supported by evidence, and is assessed by a panel.
• A successful claim for mitigation cancels any mark awarded to an assignment, or cancels a non-submission, and allows you to resit the assignment without any penalty. The mark for your subsequent attempt will be recorded as if it were the first attempt (unless you are claiming mitigation for a reassessment).
• If the claim for mitigation is not upheld, the mark for a submitted assignment is maintained, whilst a failure to submit is treated as a non-submission.
• Once mitigation has been requested, it cannot be reversed, even if your original submission attracts a satisfactory mark.
• If your claim for mitigation is rejected, you can appeal against the decision. The appeal is made through the Student Adviser, and is considered by a panel, who will judge your appeal on grounds of administrative failure.  You cannot base an appeal on your judgement of the fairness of the original decision.
• Feedback on your work will be made available within 20 working days of the submission date (30 days for the dissertation). You should ensure that you are familiar with the way(s) in which your feedback is supplied to you, and any arrangements for reviewing this (for instance in your personal tutorial).
• Feedback on your assignment will include generic comments on your work that are designed to help you to improve the quality of forthcoming assignments, and will reference the marking scheme. Feedback will be consistent with the mark awarded, but should not be treated simply as a justification for the mark.
• It is your responsibility to access and make effective use of your feedback. If you are uncertain how to do this, please contact the Module Leader or your Personal Tutor.
• If you feel that the mark awarded is incorrect, you can challenge it on procedural grounds, for instance if the marking scheme has not been followed. You cannot challenge on grounds of fairness or academic judgement, or your own perception of the quality of the work.
• All assignments are marked initially by the module tutor, and these marks are then internally moderated by a second tutor. They will then be moderated by the External Examiner as part of the University process for quality assurance.  The External Examiner has the power to refer work for re-marking, or may impose adjustments in marking.  The marking process is described in a flowchart available from the 'Introduction to Assessment' page.

Further reading, sources of information and points of contact

• The definitive source of information is the University Academic Regulations and the Assessment Regulations (the part of the main regulations dealing specifically with assessment), both of which can be found online at: http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/academic_regulations.phtml
• Anglia Ruskin Students’ Union Advice Service is independent of the University. They provide free, confidential, impartial advice and representation. They are able to advise on a range of academic issues, and publish a series of information leaflets that cover most of the topics mentioned here. These are available in print form from the SU, or online at: http://www.angliastudent.com/advice/ , which also lists the full range of services provided. The Students’ Union Advice Service in Cambridge can be contacted on 01223 460008 or e-mail   [email protected] , and in Chelmsford on 01245 258178 or e-mail   [email protected] .
• Student Advisers are part of the University's Student Services.  As well as providing advice on a range of topics, Student Advisers deal with issues such as extensions, mitigation and intermission which academic staff cannot authorise.  You can take queries to any of the Student Advisers, and the general contact details for student advisers are at: http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/student_services/student_advisers/contact.phtml
• Study Skills Plus, also part of Student Services, offers support in a range of workshops, tutorials and online resources that will support your assignment preparation, including good academic practice: http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/studyskillsplus/index.phtml Study Skills Plus sessions can be booked online.
• The Anglia Ruskin ‘Academic Honesty Policy’ is located at   https://library.aru.ac.uk/academic/files/Academic%20Honesty%20Policy.pdf .
• You can log into Turnitin at:   turnitinUK.com/en_gb/login , using your full Anglia e-mail as your username and your Turnitin password.
• The ARU Turnitin support site provides information on submitting your work and receiving feedback: https://www.anglia.ac.uk/turnitin
• If you encounter any specific problems with submitting to Turnitin, please contact the FSE team at   [email protected]
• Your Directors of Studies are Cliona O'Dunlaing (Chelmsford) and Jim Sullivan (Cambridge).

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