UCLAN FIRE www.uclan.ac.uk/fire University of Central Lancashire School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences FV3004 Assignment Brief Assignment Details Essay Discuss the following statement: In the United Kingdom the common law approach to the admissibility of expert opinion evidence is one of laissez-faire, with such evidence being admitted without sufficient regard to whether or not it is sufficiently reliable to be considered by a jury. The word limit is 2,000 words (+/-10%). This excludes footnotes but includes quotations. The word count must be printed on the top right hand corner of your work. Remember: • • • You must keep to the word limit of 2,000 words You must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes As you construct and present your work, consider the assessment criteria Presentation Instructions It is your responsibility to ensure that your work is neatly and accurately presented. The work must be: • Word-processed • Single sided • 1.5 or double line spaced • Ariel 12 point font • Justified • Page numbered • On A4 paper • Margins left and right 3cm • Stapled together at the top left-hand corner • Attached to a cover sheet. Marks may be deducted for failure to follow these instructions. Please look at the Student Guide to Assessment for more information. Referencing All academic writing must be referenced. If you use other people’s ideas without referencing them you are plagiarising their work. 1 UCLAN FIRE www.uclan.ac.uk/fire Either: Use the Harvard system of referencing within your text. This will take the form: surname, year of publication, page number, and is enclosed within brackets, for example (Bradley 1998, 277). At the end of your work you should provide an alphabetical list of all the works you cite. Or: Use the Numeric System of referencing within your text. At every point in the text where a reference is made, insert a number (in brackets or superscript) and then list the references numerically at the end of your work, Plagiarism The use of work produced for another purpose by you, working alone or with others, must be acknowledged. Copying from the works of another person (including Internet sources) constitutes plagiarism, which is an offence within the University’s regulations. Brief quotations from the published or unpublished works of another person, suitably attributed, are acceptable. You must always use your own words except when using properly referenced quotations. You are advised when taking notes from books or other sources to make notes in your own words, in a selective and critical way. Submission Your work must be submitted electronically with cover sheet via Turnitin (a guide to submitting work via Turnitin can be found on Blackboard). The deadline for submission is 12th December 2014 Every attempt will be made to ensure that the work will be marked and available for collection by 9th January 2015 The assignment is worth 40% of the total module assessment. Learning outcomes This assessment will test your ability to meet the learning outcomes as described in your module booklet, specifically: 1. Demonstrate an understanding of the investigation methods for determining causes of fire and fire dynamics and the ability to apply these methods 4. Demonstrate an understanding of fire investigation processes including the important roles and evidence associated with different fire safety agencies and personnel participating in fire investigation 6. Analyse and critique a range of fire investigation reports from minor to major incidents 2 UCLAN FIRE www.uclan.ac.uk/fire Assessment Criteria For more information please see the marking guide at Appendix 1 3 UCLAN FIRE www.uclan.ac.uk/fire Appendix 1 . Marks for the essay will be allocated in the following manner: Knowledge and understanding of the legal position relating to expert witness testimony 30% Use of case law 12% Analysis and discussion of the question. 30% Written communication 20% Presentation 8% 4 UCLAN FIRE www.uclan.ac.uk/fire School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences Assessment Criteria/Marking Proforma Name......................................................... Module................................ General Criteria In grading your work we will be assessing the extent to which it matches the criteria attached. The criteria are not of equal importance, but it is not possible to ascribe an exact weighting to each. What follows is intended as a general guide to the standards. 1. Severe weakness in understanding the issues/arguments/theory is likely to result in a mark of less than 40%. 2. Thorough coverage of the relevant material, with statements supported by data, evidence, literature or examples, is necessary to gain 52% or above. 3. Work which is disorganised with points randomly ordered is unlikely to gain more than 48%. 4. A logical, well-explained argument, combined with other good characteristics is usually necessary to obtain 75%. 5. Fluent grammatical expression is important for expressing ideas clearly. Errors in this area are likely to lead to a reduction in marks. General Comments: Overall Grade Markers Signature………………….Moderation Signature…………... 5 UCLAN FIRE www.uclan.ac.uk/fire Student…………………………………………… Academic Level 6 Classification Grade Outstanding 70 – 100% Relevance Knowledge Analysis Argument & Structure Originality 20% Directly relevant to title. Able to address the implications, assumptions and nuances of the title. 20% Makes effective use of a comprehensive range of theory and practice knowledge. 15% A comprehensive analysis of the material resulting in clear and illuminating conclusions. 20% Coherent and logically structured, making creative use of an appropriate mode of argument and/or theoretical model. 15% Distinctive work showing independent thought and critical engagement with alternative views. 10% A very well written answer with standard spelling and syntax. Good analysis of the material resulting in clear and logical conclusions. Generally coherent and logically constructed. Contains some distinctive or independent thinking. Well written with standard spelling and syntax. Beginning to formulate an independent position Style is lucid utilising an appropriate format and bibliographical apparatus. Sound work which expresses a personal position, often in broad terms and tends towards uncritical conformity to one or more standard views of the topic. Competently written with only minor lapses from standard spelling and syntax. Largely Generally competent writing although intermittent lapses from standard syntax and spelling and pose occasional obstacles for the reader. Relevance to practice is thoroughly and explicitly addressed. Above average 6069% Directly relevant to title. Is able to demonstrate effective practice relevance. Average 5059% Generally addresses the title, sometimes addresses irrelevant issues. Relevance to practice effectively addressed, may be implicit in places. Below Average 4149% Some degree of irrelevance to the title. Superficial consideration of the issues. Relevance to practice tends towards superficiality and is largely implicit. Demonstrates ability in the manipulation and transfer of subject material to demonstrate a solid understanding of the issues in both theory and practice. Makes effective use of good theory and practice knowledge. Manipulates and transfers some material to demonstrate a clear grasp of the themes, questions and issues in theory and practice. Adequate knowledge of a fair range of relevant theoretical and practice related material with evidence of an appreciation of its significance. Uses an appropriate mode of argument or theoretical model. Adequate analytical treatment, with occasional descriptive or narrative passages which lack clear analytical purpose. Conclusions are clear. Adequate knowledge of a limited range of relevant theoretical and practice related material with intermittent evidence of an appreciation of its significance. Evidence of analytical ability. Intermittent passages of descriptive or narrative material which lack clear analytical purpose. Conclusions are not always clear and logical. 6 Adequate attempt to construct a coherent argument, but may suffer loss of focus and consistency. Issues at stake may lack clarity or theoretical models couched in simplistic terms. Some attempt to construct an argument is evident but it lacks sufficient clarity and coherence. Issues at stake are only vaguely stated. derivative. Attempts to present a personal view, but only in broad terms. Is largely uncritical and conforms to one or more standard views. Presentation Style is lucid and resourceful with an appropriate bibliographical apparatus. Style is readable with acceptable format and bibliographical status. Format and bibliography is generally error free and acceptable. UCLAN FIRE www.uclan.ac.uk/fire Bare Pass 40% Some degree of irrelevance to the title is common. Only the most obvious issues are addressed at a superficial level and in unchallenging terms. Basic understanding of a limited range of relevant theoretical and practice related material. Largely descriptive or narrative in style with limited evidence of analytical capability. Conclusions are not always clear or logical . Fail 0-39% Relevance to practice is superficially addressed and rarely made explicit Relevance to the title is intermittent or missing. The topic is reduced to its vaguest and least challenging terms. Relevance to practice is barely considered or not at all. A limited understanding of a narrow range of relevant theoretical and practice related material or a lack of basic knowledge in either or both theory and practice necessary for an understanding of the topic Heavy dependence on description and/or narrative. Paraphrase is common. Evidence of analysis is lacking. Clear and logical conclusions are sparse 7 A basic argument is evident but tends to be supported by assertion and lacks proper development. Coherence and clarity are evident only intermittently Little evidence of coherent argument. There is a lack of development and the work may be repetitive and/or thin. Largely derivative. No personal view is adequately formulated Wholly uncritical and conforming to one or more standard views. Almost wholly derivative. The writer’s contribution rarely goes beyond simplifying paraphrase. No evidence of personal thought. Style of presentation makes reading difficult. Deficiencies in spelling, syntax, format or bibliographical apparatus impact significantly upon clarity. Poorly written with numerous deficiencies in syntax, spelling, expression and presentation. The writer may achieve clarity (if at all) only by using simplistic or repetitious style. Assignment Details Essay Discuss the following statement: In the United Kingdom the common law approach to the admissibility of expert opinion evidence is one of laissez-faire, with such evidence being admitted without sufficient regard to whether or not it is sufficiently reliable to be considered by a jury. The word limit is 2,000 words (+/-10%). This excludes footnotes but includes quotations. The word count must be printed on the top right hand corner of your work. Remember: • • • You must keep to the word limit of 2,000 words You must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes As you construct and present your work, consider the assessment criteria Presentation Instructions It is your responsibility to ensure that your work is neatly and accurately presented. The work must be: • Word-processed • Single sided • 1.5 or double line spaced • Ariel 12 point font • Justified • Page numbered • On A4 paper • Margins left and right 3cm • Stapled together at the top left-hand corner • Attached to a cover sheet. Marks may be deducted for failure to follow these instructions. Please look at the Student Guide to Assessment for more information. Referencing All academic writing must be referenced. If you use other people’s ideas without referencing them you are plagiarising their work. Use the Harvard system of referencing within your text. This will take the form: surname, year of publication, page number, and is enclosed within brackets, for example (Bradley 1998, 277). At the end of your work you should provide an alphabetical list of all the works you cite. Plagiarism The use of work produced for another purpose by you, working alone or with others, must be acknowledged. Copying from the works of another person (including Internet sources) constitutes plagiarism, which is an offence within the University’s regulations. Brief quotations from the published or unpublished works of another person, suitably attributed, are acceptable. You must always use your own words except when using properly referenced quotations. You are advised when taking notes from books or other sources to make notes in your own words, in a selective and critical way. Learning outcomes This assessment will test your ability to meet the learning outcomes as described in your module booklet, specifically: 1. Demonstrate an understanding of the investigation methods for determining causes of fire and fire dynamics and the ability to apply these methods 4. Demonstrate an understanding of fire investigation processes including the important roles and evidence associated with different fire safety agencies and personnel participating in fire investigation 6. Analyse and critique a range of fire investigation reports from minor to major incidents
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