Research Essay Description 2015

ST01: SEB104 Assessment Task

Description: Research Essay
Task

Research Essay

Unit Learning
Outcomes
Addressed

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

Due Dates

Discussion forum: Week 11 workshop (week beginning 11th May)

1. Apply principles of independent and teamwork including demonstration of roles

within a multi-disciplinary teams and awareness inter-cultural factors.
Collect, record, analyse and interpret information based on source and
perspective, and form educated judgments of their scientific merit.
2. Synthesize knowledge to produce arguments which draw on multiple scientific
perspectives and apply the written and visual conventions of science to
communicate scientific concepts to scientific peer groups and/or the broader
community.
3. Critically reflect on the differences and commonalities between scientific and nonscientific representation and approaches to real-world events, natural and
technological phenomena and on the impact these representations produce on
the society.
Research Essay: 5pm Friday 29th of May.

Marks

40% of unit total. Individual Assessment.

Specifications

1500 2000 words (not including abstract, references or figures)

150 word Abstract
Minimum 15 References (including at least 10 peer reviewed sources)
12 point double spaced with 2.5cm margins
Overview

This is an individual assessment task, where you are challenged to adopt a solutions-based approach to
real world problems. You will retrieve, evaluate and synthesize scientific information on your Grand
Challenge problem, with a strong focus on possible scientific solutions or management strategies. You will
then use these findings to write a brief overview of the problem, and a well-developed discussion of
possible management actions and/or resolutions. You will then develop a scientific argument for how such
strategies/technologies might be brought to bear in relation to your chosen problem.
What you will do
1. Investigate possible options for management and/or resolution of your chosen scientific
problem/challenge.
2. Discuss with your tutors and Grand Challenge Leader your chosen topic.
3. If there are multiple management and/or resolutions for your problem then compare and contrast
these options. Hint: summary tables, Venn diagrams or de Bonos six hats thinking are useful tools to
help compare and contrast options and think through ideas.
4. Your short abstract should briefly describe your research problem and why it is important, possible
management strategies and/or solutions and the conclusions reached.
5. In week 11 there will be a Discussion Forum during your workshop. At this time you will present a 5

Criteria and Standards for Grading Assessment Item 2 - Individual

Research Essay Description 2015

minute synopsis of your topic and the research you have done to date. This will provide formative
feedback from your peers and tutors.
6. Prepare a research paper that includes an introduction that defines the problem, discusses the
significance of the problem and introduces readers to the important topics that will be covered in the
body of the research paper.
7. Group the main body of your research paper into informative sub-headings that relate back and are
meaningful to your problem/management actions/solutions.
8. If your problem has potentially multiple resolutions discuss the pros and cons of each and propose
possible future directions including highlighting what information is missing in the area.
9. Include pictures, tables, graphs or conceptual diagrams if this helps the discussion of key concepts,
but all tables, figures or diagrams must be referred to in the text.
10. To conclude the research paper you should develop an evidence-based argument for how the chosen
problem may be managed or resolved using the technologies or strategies you have researched and
discussed.
What you will submit
An electronic version (MS Word or PDF file format) of your research papers is to be submitted via
Blackboard 5 pm Friday 29th of May (Week 13).
Resources and Useful References
1. Blackboard Folder/Workshop activities
2. Google Sites
3. Library guide

Criteria and Standards for Grading Assessment Item 2 - Individual

Research Essay Description 2015

Criteria and Standards for Grading Individual Research Essay Task

Criteria

Standards

Discussion Forum

Completed
Not completed
Accurate in every detail; highly relevant.

10
0
32

Accurate in most details; mostly relevant.

24

Accurate in few details; combination of relevant/

irrelevant material.
Mostly inaccurate and/or little or no relevant analysis.
Evidence and key perspectives linked clearly; all
conclusions clearly supported by evidence.
Evidence and key perspectives linked; conclusions
mostly supported by evidence.
Some links demonstrated; some conclusions supported
by evidence.
Links poorly demonstrated, little or no evidence to
support conclusions.
Excellent expression fully satisfying requirements of
academic writing; referencing fully follows preferred
convention.
Clear expression satisfying the requirements of
academic writing, minor stylistic and/or grammatical
mistakes; appropriate referencing with minor flaws.

16

Expression does not satisfy the requirements of

academic writing (e.g. uses inappropriate expressions,
etc.); referencing does not follow preferred convention.
Basic level of writing and/or significant errors in
referencing and/or lack of referencing.
Well-structured and organised; framework appropriate
for a scientific presentation
Structure and organisation mostly good; framework
appropriate for a scientific presentation with some
inconsistencies/ flaws.
Satisfactory structure and level of organisation
Poorly organised and presented.

Interpretation and
analysis of information

Critical analysis of data

and resources

Academic writing and

referencing

Design and presentation

Total mark

Criteria and Standards for Grading Assessment Item 2 - Individual

Possible
marks

0
32
24
16
0
16
12

0
10
7
5
0
100

Your
mark