Course Title BA Architecture Year 2 BA Architecture
Module Title / Assignment Title History & Theory 2 / Comparative Essay Module Code / Credit TIA1121 / 20
Module Credit 20 credits Assessment Number 1/2 % weight 50%
Tutor
Caterina Benincasa-Sharman
Learning outcomes (to be assessed)
Knowledge and understanding
A Demonstrate an understanding of cultural, fine arts and
architectural theories and practices
Abilities B Investigate and evaluate contemporary architectural and urban
design issues.
D Use architectural theories and concepts to appraise architectural and urban design in a variety of contexts.
Transferable skills F Research broadly and academically.
G Formulate academic arguments and present appropriate information in a purposeful manner.
H Communicate with clarity of intent to express practical and
theoretical thinking.
Submission Date Formative Assessment 9am
Summative Assessment - Before 5.15 pm on Friday 28th April 2017 In keeping with Registry advice any work submitted at 5.16pm will be assessed as a late submission.
Submission location
Unilearn
Return Date to Students (3 term time weeks after date of submission) Three weeks later in line with the University guidelines
Return
method Unilearn
Internal moderator TBC
Date the assessment brief was moderated by the External Examiner Prior to Exam Board June 2016
Project synopsis
Contemporary Architects are influenced in their work by other buildings, three dimensional structures, objects, theory and ideology from a wide variety of sources. These might be historical, cultural, local, national, global, highbrow or popular.
This assignment enables you to do a close reading of a contemporary architects / architectural practice’s work to understanding the usefulness of precedents and theory in contemporary design.
It also prepares you for an assignment for your studio practice in the last term of this year. By attending group tutorials you will become familiar with contemporary precedents in a particular typology.
This module also aims to improve your research, communication and argumentation skills whilst adding to your knowledge.
Submission requirements:
Your APA referenced, illustrated essay should be between 2,500 words in length and submitted with a bibliography.
What is excluded in the word count?
• Title page
• Contents page, table/figure lists
• Figure and table and there titles
• Reference lists, bibliography and appendixes.
What is included in the word count?
• Any quotes within the body of the report are included within the word count.
• Abstracts are included in the word count Please state your word count at the start of your essay.
Project/Assessment requirements:
You will choose an urban intervention to analyse, which must incorporate a multiuse space and public facilities, such as a leisure / health centre, arts centre, civic hall, courthouse, theatre/cinema or a museum complex, that has been completed in last ten years. This can be an addition to an existing building. I would like you to find these buildings and spaces in recent magazines, on-line journals and published books, so that you may have some critical guidance. Once you have chosen the place and space that you wish to deconstruct, you must analyse the design, researching and commenting upon what the architect, designers and the institution are signifying via their project. For example you may believe that your chosen building typifies a Mid Century Brutalist choice and use of materials, or that the approach to layout is similar to Alvar Alto’s Paimio Sanatorium (1932). You may believe that there are clear signs that your space has links to the theories of Baudrillard or Barthes. The approach you take can be varied, but it must be coherent – you should aim for a concise and complex argumentation, where you provide clear points, which can be explained with the use of well chosen, appropriate and referenced examples.
The assignment’s three assessment criteria are equally weighted. This means that you will be given a mark out of 100 for each of the criteria, these will then be added together and divided by three, which will make your final mark. There will be a 10% reduction in marks for an assignment that runs over the designated word count. For example if you gained a mark of 60 you will be given a penalty of 6, making your final mark 54.
Assessment breakdown:
This assignment will contribute 50% towards your total mark for module TIA1121
Ethics:
If a student has ethical concerns regarding teaching and learning, it is their responsibility to bring it to the attention of the module/course leader. University and school ethical guidelines are available from http://goo.gl/RrH6ZH.
The school of Art Design and Architecture has adopted an ethical framework involving a low and high risk approach to ethics. Students should ensure any activity associated with the assessment or module complies with the University and schools ethical guidelines. Please use the flowchart (http://goo.gl/6F5qf) to determine if you are required to complete the ethics approval forms (low risk approval form http://goo.gl/gQPaH3; high risk approval form http://goo.gl/iCl8h). A copy of the signed approval form should be submitted with the associated assessment.
Guidance regarding participants consent can be found at http://goo.gl/Ns7Mim and http://goo.gl/6o6aBq
Reading List:
See Reading List on Unilearn
Referencing:
Referencing is required to comply with APA6 standards: www.hud.ac.uk/library/finding-information/apa-referencing/
Other Information
Students must keep a copy of the work whether or not any receipt is issued for the submission.
Assessment Criteria:
(a) An understanding of historical and contemporary theories and practices in architectural and urban design is demonstrated (learning outcomes A-H)
(b) An ability to use broad and academic research methods.(learning outcome F)
(c) An ability to develop and present appropriate information and structured academic arguments with clarity and purpose.(learning outcomes G,H)
Tutor Reassessment available before the Exam Board in June, marks capped at 40.
UG – Delete as appropriate (example of grading criteria)
Grading Guide
(a) An understanding of historical and contemporary theories and practices in architectural and urban design is demonstrated (learning outcomes A-H)
Evidence of understanding of historical and contemporary styles and practices in architecture and design.
Evidence of understanding theory appropriate to understanding architecture and design contexts.
90+ Exceptional knowledge of historical and contemporary practice and / or theory in architecture and design
80+ Outstanding knowledge of historical and contemporary practice and / or theory in architecture and design
70+ Excellent knowledge of historical and contemporary practice and/ or theory in architecture and design
60+ Really Good knowledge of historical and contemporary practice and/ or theory in architecture and design
50+ Good knowledge of historical and contemporary practice and/ or theory in architecture and design
40+ Fair but limited knowledge of historical and contemporary practice and/ or theory in architecture and design
30+ Poor and limited knowledge of historical and contemporary practice and/ or theory in architecture and design
10+ Very Poor and limited knowledge of historical and contemporary practice and/ or theory in architecture and design
b) An ability to develop and present appropriate information and structured academic arguments’ with clarity and purpose.(learning outcomes G,H)
Evidence of being able to construct, consistent, full, relevant academic arguments based upon appropriate evidence. Your arguments should be pertinent to the brief set. 90+ Exceptional ability to consistently construct academic
arguments / appropriate to the brief set
80+ Outstanding ability to consistently construct academic arguments / appropriate to the brief set
70+ Excellent ability in the construction of academic arguments /
appropriate to the brief set
60+ Really Good ability in the construction of academic arguments / appropriate to the brief set
50+ Good ability in the construction of academic arguments /
appropriate to the brief set
40+ Fair ability in the construction of academic arguments /
appropriate to the brief set
30+ Poor ability in the construction of academic arguments /
appropriate to the brief set
10+ Very poor ability in the construction of academic arguments which / appropriate to the brief set
d) An ability to use broad and academic research methods.(learnin g outcome F)
Evidence of a wide range of appropriate and academic research methodologies and sources.
Accurate use of APA referencing.
90+ Exceptional range of current and seminal sources which are accurate and referenced using APA
80+ Outstanding range of current and seminal sources which are accurate and referenced using APA
70+ Excellent range of appropriate academic sources which are accurately referenced using APA
60+ Very Good range of appropriate sources which are consistently accurate in using APA
50+ Good range of appropriate sources are used which are generally accurate in using APA
40+ Fair but limited selection of appropriate sources. Some attempt has been made to use APA
30+ Poor and limited range of appropriate sources inaccurate use of APA
10+ Very Poor range of sources. Little or no attempt at referencing using APA