Different types of coursework

You may be asked for one or more of the following for your class. You are unlikely to be asked to produce all of them.

Essay

A response to a question set by you or your lecturer which draws on an analysis of the material learnt, published resources and materials. As with other pieces of work, the essay should include:

  • Introduction: state your aims, the questions and problems to be identified and tackled and the structure of the piece of work
  • Body of the essay: take each of the main points and develop them with examples and illustrations. Back up your arguments by referring to research, writings and other points of view. Make sure to examine your own and others’ views, making a case, with reasons, for your own and others’ arguments
  • Conclusion: review findings and unresolved problems.

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Presentations

These are given in class and usually followed by student and class lecturer evaluations. If you submit your presentation as a piece of coursework, you should include the Assessment Form, your write-up and the lecturer’s comments. Marks are normally divided between the presentation and the write-up. You may be assessed on the following elements:

  • Content: appropriate level, relevance, use of sources
  • Structure: style, comprehension, sequence of ideas
  • Communication: interaction between students, general interest, self awareness/reception of feedback
  • Presentation: clarity of speech, lack of distracting mannerisms, timing, audiovisual aids/materials and other teaching methods.

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Review

A critical discussion of, for example a book, article, exhibition, film or programme.

Reviews should include a 50–100 word synopsis of the work, a brief review of the main points of interest and key themes, whether it was pitched correctly for its target audience, how far it has achieved its objectives, plus comparison with previous or similar works.

Interviews

You may be asked to conduct interviews with individuals or groups. You must be able to explain how you chose your interviewees and why, what questions you asked and why, your criteria for evaluating their answers as well as how you prepared for the interview. You should also make links to other relevant material and class/coursework and state how well you achieved your interview objectives.

Autobiographical writing

You will be assessed on your level of analytical engagement with the question of ‘experience’, your ability to make a critical assessment of your life events in the light of questions you are attempting to discuss, as well as links with relevant publications and other sources.

Evaluations, process logs and journals

These should include:

  • A timetable of what you did, how you got your ideas and the factors you took into consideration in developing your ideas.
  • An evaluation of process: how you did it and what you learnt along with a critical review of your strengths and weaknesses and personal development
  • Links with reading and concepts on your course and an evaluation of how well your finished work fulfilled your initial brief.

Reports

You may be asked to write a report on visits, campaigns, conferences, and activity at your workplace. Each report should include a brief statement of purpose, the criteria used for evaluation, and why these have been chosen, preparation and links to material and class/coursework and a discussion of findings.

Executive summaries

These are summaries of a report, case study, proposal or other document and should include key points and recommendations. Always remember:

  • to use an uncluttered layout. For example use a bullet point format, such as numbered points/indented points
  • clarity of purpose, for example it should be a summary or response to a situation or an argument
  • that the length should not exceed 10 per cent of the original document.

Programme tapes

The tape of a programme you have made, alone or in a group, should be accompanied by a log, which should contain:

  • a statement of the aims of the programme, who was involved, and your role
  • the production plan
  • a description of the stages in the production process, problems encountered and changes to the plan
  • a look back at the project to evaluate the finished tape and how well it meets your original aims.

Other forms of coursework

There are other forms of individual work and group projects in some classes such as project reports and long essays. You will be given detailed instructions for these when you need them.