Assessment

In all cases students are required to:

• attend lectures, seminars and tutorials regularly;
• participate in class discussion;
• complete satisfactorily all prescribed written work and examinations.

The department makes use both summative and formative assessment procedures to help you achieve your goals. A complete breakdown of marks for the various units of study are handed out at the beginning of each semester.

The way the department’s units of study are assessed differs according to each units aims and objectives. In general, all assignments and other items of set work within any unit of study are assessable and it is in the students’ interest to complete all work on time and to perform consistently. Marks are, as a rule, given as a percentage and the marks allotted to each section of the unit of study will reflect the time devoted to it throughout the semester.

Students in Junior German 1 should note that this unit of study is strictly cumulative in nature; high marks in early assessments cannot offset a poor performance in the final examination. Unless students have reached an adequate level by the end of the semester, they may not be able to achieve a pass standard and therefore not be really able to cope with the following unit of study.

• Raw marks
• Assessment criteria
• Handing in of assignments

All marks given to students are to be understood as 'raw' marks and may be subjected to final scaling in order to comply with the resolutions of the Academic Board of the University The proportion of students who receive various grades is based on the following Academic Board Guidelines:

Raw marks may at our discretion and especially in the case of the award of Credit, Distinction and High Distinction results, be adjusted in the light of any of the following matters:

• Special Consideration applied for by the student;
• regularity of attendance at classes;
• level of participation in seminars;
• written assignments being the unaided work of the student;
• late submission or non-submission of written assignments;
• serious disparity between the marks gained in different segments of the course;
• general potential of the student for honours work and research (where appropriate).

Assessment criteria specific to individual assessment tasks are usually stated either on the unit of study syllabus or outline, or on separate handouts. It is expected that such criteria will be consistent with the information provided under Interpretation of Grades on this website. The broad criteria are stated below.

Assessment criteria for language units of study

Language units of study and language components of combined language units of study are assessed according to proficiency across the four major areas of language learning:

• reading comprehension;
• writing skills;
• aural comprehension;
• oral skills.

and at the respective level of progression and within the stated aims and objectives of a unit of study's specific syllabus.

Assessment criteria for literature, culture & linguistics units of study

When submitting essays, students are expected to show above all that they know and have read and understood the focal texts in the original German, that they have thought about them for themselves and can express their thoughts about them lucidly. They should concentrate on the texts themselves, the so-called “primary literature”. If students also use “secondary literature” (scholarly studies, commentaries, interpretations etc.) that is to their credit. However, such works must remain secondary and should never replace the primary texts as the focus of the students’ attention. Secondary literature is to be treated critically and with caution and is not to be followed slavishly. Full use of notes taken in lectures and classes may, however, be made, but these are not simply to be regurgitated in an essay; students must show that they have thought through the issues for themselves.

The unacknowledged copying of other people’s work is unacceptable. If students are in doubt as to how they should operate with regard to secondary literature and referencing in their essays, they should consult the Departmental Policy on Presentation of Essays or the staff-member concerned who will be pleased to help.

The various assignments, exercises, and essays must be completed by the due date. Students should follow the instructions given by the tutors about the format of the assignments and about how and where to hand in the work.

Students’ assignments must be their own work (unless the tutor has specifically authorised collaboration between students). If there is an obvious and unaccountable discrepancy between homework and supervised examination work, it may be assumed that outside help has been obtained and assignment marks may, out of fairness, have to be discounted. Please refer to academic honesty for more information.