To assist students in focusing their dissertation on the key areas, this is the marking scheme used by all Ashcroft International Business School tutors at Cambridge. The additions in italics like this are my comments.
The Dissertations Guide 2006 - click the pic!
Objectives:
Purpose and rationale for the investigation of dissertation. Clarity of
objectives will be viewed as a central issue
This is a very important area - it relates back
top your choice of title, and the objectives must run as a thread through the
whole dissertation, appearing finally in the Conclusion and Recommendations -
which must summarize the dissertation and maintain the focus.
Method:
Was relevant theory used? Was the approach appropriate?
Think about how you are going to approach the
dissertation - what research will you need, what evidence will be required to
support your arguments, and what theoretical basis and academic sources you will
be using.
Use of
Literature/Sources:
Was the range suitable and adequate?
Your dissertation should include a review of
appropriate academic theory. There will also be a need to review literature
relevant to any case studies you are using. You should be using the theory to
support your argument - if there is theory you don't agree with - use that as
well and state your reasons for disagreement - with supporting evidence!
Referencing
Has the Harvard Reference System been used throughout? Are all sources correctly
acknowledged?
Correct use of referencing according to the Harvard system (see dissertations
main page for a link) is ESSENTIAL. Knowing the difference between References
(what you have quoted) and Bibliography (a list of sources which you have
read/used) is important. If you use text from somewhere else and forget to give
the reference, you could be accused of plagiarism (at worst) or poor academic
practice (at best). Your tutor will be able to recognize work which is not your
own!!!
By following the rules correctly, it should be possible to obtain 100% for
this section!!!
Analysis:
Has the data been analysed or is the dissertation merely a description?
Appropriate theory used?
Review the evidence you have gathered and
analysing effectively. Don't just describe the situation - challenge things and
develop your own (evidence-based) thoughts.
Conclusions/Recommendation:
Are conclusions reasoned? Do they correspond with the objective(s) of the
dissertation?
I prefer conclusions to be SHORT - certainly no
new material should be introduced, and it would be unusual for this section to
have any references. Go back to your objectives - the conclusions MUST relate to
them (or you will have lost your way and failed to make your points effectively
- and lose marks).
Presentation:
Visual impact (diagrams, figures, tables, illustrations). Structure; Use of
grammar, language, clarity.
The structure is absolutely essential for a good dissertation.
There needs to be a thread - one section should follow logically and
progressively from the previous section. "Presentation" refers to how
the finished dissertation looks - appearance, use of charts, pictures, diagrams
and graphics. Don't make these too small to read. Use colour appropriately and
effectively.
Correct use of referencing according to the Harvard system (see dissertations
main page for a link) is ESSENTIAL. Knowing the difference between References
(what you have quoted) and Bibliography (a list of sources which you have
read/used) is important. If you use text from somewhere else and forget to give
the reference, you could be accused of plagiarism (at worst) or poor academic
practice (at best). Your tutor will be able to recognize work which is not your
own!!! Use a spellchecker - some tutors allocate 10% of the marks for
spelling, grammar, punctuation, layout, structure. Students for whom English is
not their first language are not penalized for errors in syntax, but the meaning
must be clear and the language must be comprehensible. See the guide to Plain
English linked to the previous page - keeping sentences short and using simpler
words can contribute to making your dissertation readable.
Overall Assessment (please comment)
Think of the marker when writing your dissertation - marking a dissertation
takes 3-4 hours (postgraduate) or 1-1½ hours. Make it Exciting, Readable and
Interesting! Marks are assessed in each of the above categories in 5 bands:
0-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+
Then the overall mark is assessed on the
basis of the score in each area. An overall mark of 80+ is extremely rare and
therefore any mark scoring in the 60s or 70s represents an excellent piece of
work - 50s represents good, 40s is a pass.
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