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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
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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published or unpublished works of another person, suitably attributed, are acceptable.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
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Assessment Criteria
For more information please see the marking guide at Appendix 1
3
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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
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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
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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.
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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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