MARKING CRITERIA Dissertation Marking Criteria First Class For a first class mark a candidate should show substantial

knowledge and critical understanding of the primary sources (where relevant) and a thorough and critical understanding of the secondary sources. The dissertation as a whole should be concise and have a structure that facilitates a proper development of the argument. There should be evidence of imagination, creativity, critical insight and analytical rigour. The methodology should be appropriate and properly defended (where relevant). The dissertation should be written clearly, concisely and intelligently and be well referenced. Second Class (Division One) Second Class Division One marks are awarded to dissertations that show substantial knowledge and understanding of the primary sources (where relevant) and an understanding of the secondary sources. The dissertation as a whole should be reasonably concise and have a structure that is clear and coherent. It should show critical insight into the topic and good analytical skills. The methodology should be properly defended (where relevant). The dissertation should be written in a way that is reasonably clear and concise and be referenced reasonably well. Second Class (Division Two) Second Class Division Two marks are awarded to dissertations that show adequate knowledge of primary sources (where relevant) and some knowledge of secondary sources. The dissertation should be structured but may be deficient in logical organisation. The work should show an understanding of the topic. The methodology should be properly defended (where relevant). The dissertation should be reasonably well written and adequately referenced. Third Class Third Class marks are awarded to dissertations that show some knowledge of primary sources (where relevant) and of secondary sources with some supporting argument and engagement with those sources. The organisation may be poorly suited to facilitate the argument. They will tend to lack imagination and display little insight into the topic. The methodology may be imperfect and lack a proper defence (where relevant). The writing may be clumsy and references inadequate. Fail Fails will display inadequate knowledge of the sources. They will be badly structured or unstructured and weakly argued. The methodology will be unsound or there will be no clear methodology. The writing and referencing will be poor.

Honours marking criteria The Extended Common Marking Scheme came into operation in 2005/06 Grade Mark % A1 A2 A3 B C D E F G H (90-100) (80-89) (70-79) (60-69) (50-59) (40-49) (30-39) (20-29) (10-19) (0-9) Description Honours Class

Outstanding 1st Class Fine Work 1st Class Excellent 1st Class Very Good 2:1 Good 2:2 Satisfactory 3rd Class Falls short of the standard Fail expected for a pass Clear Fail Fail Bad Fail Fail Very Bad Fail Fail

The following School of Law descriptors for divisions within the 1 st Class range were approved at the School meeting of 9/11/05, for communication to all internal and external examiners: A1 Work in this category will be outstanding. This will be reflected in the depth of knowledge and understanding of the primary (where relevant) and secondary sources and by the high degree of creativity, critical insight and analytical rigour. It must be remembered that whilst the work should be exemplary one is dealing with a piece of undergraduate work and, for instance, it would not be reasonable to judge it by whether it was publishable. A2 A candidate should show a robust knowledge and critical understanding of the primary sources (where relevant) and a thorough and critical understanding of the secondary sources. There should be considerable evidence of imagination, creativity, critical insight and analytical rigour. A3 A candidate should show substantial knowledge and critical understanding of the primary sources (where relevant) and a thorough and critical understanding of the secondary sources. There should be some evidence of imagination, creativity, critical insight and analytical rigour. B A candidate should show knowledge and understanding of the subject in general, but not enough to warrant a mark in one of the A grades. Work falling in this band will often exhibit a greater reliance on secondary literature rather than primary sources

(where relevant). There should be evidence of imagination, creativity, critical insight and analytical rigour. C A candidate should show some knowledge and understanding of the subject in general, but not enough to warrant a mark in the B grade. Work falling in this band will often exhibit a heavy reliance on secondary literature rather than primary sources (where relevant). There should be limited evidence of imagination, creativity, critical insight and analytical rigour. D A candidate should show limited knowledge and understanding of the subject in general, but not enough to warrant a mark in the C grade. Work falling in this band will often exhibit a heavy reliance on secondary literature rather than primary sources (where relevant) and it will be marred by deficiencies and inaccuracies. Inaccurate reproductions and mistaken understandings of materials, doctrines etc. are hallmarks of work in this category. Evidence of imagination, creativity, critical insight and analytical rigour is not to be expected in this grade. EH Work in this band will exhibit inadequate knowledge and understanding of the subject in general. Numerical marks are awarded within the range 39 0 at the discretion of the examiner.

Ordinary Marking Criteria 90 100% (A1) This mark will be awarded to exemplary work showing very full knowledge and understanding, demonstrating a sophisticated grasp of principle. It will be without errors. It will be very well structured and written, with clear conclusions supported by relevant arguments and/or authority. 80 89% (A2) Work in this band will be excellent and, will be likely to exhibit most of the characteristics of work in the A1 band. The distinction between a mark at A1 and A2 lies in the level of detail and sophistication of knowledge, argument and application. 70 79% (A3) The A3 band is applicable to work which is also excellent, demonstrating full knowledge and understanding. It will contain at most only one or two very minor errors. It will show a clear grasp of the relevant principles and an ability to apply them. It will follow a clear structure and be well written. The distinction between a grade at this level and those above is largely one of clarity of thought and expression and detail. 60 69% (B) Marks in the B band are awarded for highly competent work showing ample knowledge and understanding, with the ability to apply that knowledge in a reasoned manner. The work will be reasonably well written and presented clearly. Any errors will be minor. 50 59% (C) A mark in this band will be awarded to candidates who exhibit reasonable knowledge of the material appropriate to the area and an understanding of the relevant legal or philosophical principles. It will not contain significant errors. Where appropriate, authority will be appropriately cited. The work will be reasonably clearly structured and conclusions largely supported by argument. There may be some deficiencies in expression. 40 49% (D) A mark in this band will be awarded to candidates who have demonstrated sufficient understanding and knowledge to suggest minimal attainment of the learning outcomes of the course but whose work is marred by some deficiencies or inaccuracies. There will be some understanding of the relevant legal or philosophical principles and authorities but this is likely to be incomplete. There may be some lack of organization and structure. 30 - 39% (E) A mark in the E band will generally indicate that the candidate had some idea of what the examiner required, but shows limited understanding and knowledge in the answering of it. There will be fairly serious deficiencies and inaccuracies. Typically this answer will fail to identify the centrally relevant case law or legislation at several points, or fail to identify the relevant legal or philosophical principles.

20 29% (F) Answers at this level show very little knowledge of the relevant material and what is known may be seriously misunderstood or misapplied. The student may be unable to select or apply the relevant principles. There is likely to be a lack of citation of relevant authority. 10 19% (G) Here there may be an attempt to address the correct question, but the answer demonstrates very serious misunderstandings or errors. There will be large gaps in knowledge and an almost complete absence of appreciation of the relevant principles. 0 9 % (H) In this band there will be no, or virtually no, evidence of knowledge or understanding. Typical of a mark in this band are answers which have entirely misunderstood the question, or which are incomplete.