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Key issues to consider when marking PG coursework assignments
Guidelines issued to markers in PM coursework courses To maximise consistency in the marking of PM courses across markers, please note the following guidelines that are adopted within the PM discipline regarding expectations from students and provision of feedback on assignments.
Ampersand The ampersand ‘&’ is only used in citations (inside brackets e.g. (Wilkinson & Reed 2008, p. 21)) and in the list of references (e.g. Wilkinson, S & Reed, R 2008, Property Development, etc.). Where authors are named in the actual text, ‘and’ is used between the names (e.g. Wilkinson and Reed (2008, p. 21) suggest that…).
Analysis At Master’s level, you are expected to know the theory relevant to important topics in project management, and to be able to use that theory to ‘analyse’ your chosen context (your project). Read the Communication Skills Handbook to understand what is expected for ‘analysis’. You have to demonstrate an ability to apply recognised theory to reveal the nature and extent of problems, and to provide relevant and practical recommendations to solve those problems. For further information, go to the following websites: http://www.usq.edu.au/library/getting-help/how-to-guides USQ Library http://www.usq.edu.au/learningcentre/tips USQ Learning & Teaching Support Unit (LTSU) website
Citations This citation does not conform with Harvard referencing. Citations tell the reader that the material has been quoted from, or derived from, the work of another author whose intellectual property in that material must be acknowledged. A short quotation will be in inverted commas and a long quotation (>30 words approximately) should be indented. All quotations should have the author’s name, the year of publication and the page number. Where material in the assignment is influenced by someone else’s material but not actually quoted, the citation must be provided but the page number may not be required. Please go to the USQ Library website and see how Harvard style referencing is used. http://www.usq.edu.au/library/help/referencing/harvard.htm
Citations – inclusion of page numbers Where an actual quotation is used, page numbers must be used. Where another author’s views on a specific topic are paraphrased in a way that is close to the original, page numbers may be used and it would benefit the reader if they were. In a short document (e.g. journal article), it is not critical to include page numbers, but in a longer document (e.g. book), page numbers would assist. Where another author’s views are summarised broadly, there is no requirement to include page numbers. However, you might wish to where the source is a large document (e.g. book) in order to assist the reader to find the source. Citations and the full references must comply with Harvard AGPS style - http://www.usq.edu.au/library/referencing/harvard-agps-referencing-guide.
Conclusions The focus of the Conclusions is on what is in the report (similar to the ES and the Introduction) and is not on the theory. The conclusions summarise the key findings from the analysis carried out in the main body of the report. They are different to a ‘Conclusion’ which might simply summarise and ‘conclude’ the discussion. The conclusions identify any issues that require further action in order to address problems that have been identified. Those further actions will be listed clearly in the ‘Recommendations’.
Mark sheet Make sure you attach your assignment to the correct mark sheet for the marker to fill in (this also acts as a checklist for students to ensure you have covered all requirements). Failure to provide a mark sheet suggests an unwillingness to comply with the assignment’s requirements or a lack of care in reading the requirements. Either way, you put the marker offside immediately and will lose unnecessary marks. Download the mark sheet from the CD-Rom or from the Assessment materials under Course Content on the Course Study Desk.
Critical analysis Critical analysis is a difficult concept for students to understand, and the expectations will vary from lecturer to lecturer. As a PM, you should approach it as one of diagnosis and treatment of an organisational ‘ailment’. As an objective PM, you must put aside preconceptions, examine the problem objectively based on rigorous theories as a framework for analysis, diagnose the problem correctly, and put forward a treatment that will lead to a successful cure. There is a strong medical analogy in this viewpoint which might help to understand the process. It will also help to watch the video – see the study desk for the link.
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Key issues to consider when marking PG coursework assignments
Searching eBooks - eBrary and Books 24x7 Use the USQ library to gain access to electronic journals and books to research topics. Go to http://www.usq.edu.au/library/ Select ‘search a database’ and then ‘eBooks’ Choose Books 24x7 or eBrary Access the resource Insert your USQConnect username and password (provided on your enrolment confirmation) Insert your search term (e.g. stakeholder) in the search box It will provide you with all of the books and chapters that cover that topic. Refer to the Harvard referencing link on the Library website for advice on how to cite and reference eBooks.
Executive summary The executive summary is a short concise document that is capable of being removed from the main document and still make sense. It should be no more than 10% of the document (or a maximum of about one page for a PM assignment) and its primary focus is on what is the report and not on the project itself – there is an important distinction. The ES is fully self-contained and tells the reader why the document exists, what is in it, what has been done, what has been found, and what is recommended to address any concerns that have been identified from the analysis. Refer to the set FOB text by Summers and Smith or check the USQ websites for assistance: http://www.usq.edu.au/library/help/tutorials.htm Library website http://www.usq.edu.au/learningcentre/tips Learning & Teaching Support Unit (LTSU) website See also http://clc.cqu.edu.au/FCWViewer/view.do?page=843 for Central Queensland University.
Figures Insert figures or diagrams so that they are within the page borders. The title of the figure goes below the figure together with the citation showing the source and actual page number. If you have adapted a figure for your own situation, show that it has been ‘adapted from…’. If you have created an original figure, there is no need to indicate the source, but you may cite yourself or simply indicate that it has been prepared for this report. The preferred way of numbering figures is to use the section or chapter number and the sequence in which they appear e.g. the second figure to appear in section 3 might have a title such as ‘Figure 3.2: Stakeholder analysis’.
First person Do not use ‘first person’ (such as I, we, us, etc) in a professional report. Use ‘third person’ only, as you are writing an objective professional report.
Footnotes Harvard referencing style does not encourage the use of footnotes. If it is important, include it in the body of the assignment. If it is not important, do not include it.
Harvard referencing This citation or reference does not conform with the conventions associated with Harvard referencing. Please go to the USQ Library website and see how Harvard style referencing is used. You will lose marks if your citations or references are not consistent with Harvard referencing style. Harvard style does not encourage the use of footnotes. http://www.usq.edu.au/library/referencing
Introduction An introduction tells the reader why the document exists, and what is in it. It is similar to the Executive Summary without the conclusions and recommendations. It is unlikely to contain any theory. Refer to the set FOB text by Summers and Smith or check the USQ websites for assistance. http://www.usq.edu.au/learningcentre/tips Learning & Teaching Support Unit (LTSU) website See also http://clc.cqu.edu.au/FCWViewer/view.do?page=843 for Central Queensland University.
Page numbering The numbering of pages is done using Roman numerals (I, ii, iii, iv, v,…etc) up to and including the table of contents. Arabic numbering (1, 2, 3, 4, etc) commences on the page of the Introduction. Use Insert, Break, New Page after the table of contents to create a new section. Before that break, you can use Roman numerals, and after it, you can start with Arabic numerals.
Section numbering
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Key issues to consider when marking PG coursework assignments
Follow the assignment requirements to structure the sections. The Introduction is generally Section 1, with the following sections numbered sequentially from 2 to the final section which is the Recommendations normally. The list of references has no section number, nor do the appendices. Within the numbered sections, use subsections such as 1.1, 1.2, …3.1, 3.2, etc. to clearly show the structure within each section.
Numbering tables and diagrams Within each section, number diagrams and tables to show the location. For example, Table 4.2 is the second table in Section 4. Diagram 1.5 is the fifth diagram in Section 1.
Numbering appendices Number appendices using Arabic numbers. The first appendix is Appendix 1: . For example, the first appendix might be ‘Appendix 1: Analysis of project stakeholders’. Number subsequent appendices as Appendix 2, Appendix 3, etc with the title clearly indicated. A table in an appendix is still an appendix and not indicated as a table. For example, a table showing all project budget items in Appendix 5 would be ‘Appendix 5: List of project budget items’.
New page It is highly recommended that you start each new section of a report on a new page. This makes marking much easier and the document is more readable. Start a new page using Control-Enter, or Insert, Break, Page Break (or new section if you want to change formatting in the new section). DO NOT ‘TAB’ DOWN USING THE ‘ENTER’ KEY TO FORCE TEXT ONTO A NEW PAGE.
Overall (this is an example of what could be inserted and then adapted to reflect the actual assignment outcomes) Good assignment overall. Presentation was good Good use of tables and diagrams to illustrate the concepts concisely and clearly Well written with few mistakes Reasonable Executive Summary but lacked comprehensive recommendations Well researched using a good range of references to frame and support the discussion Good analysis with good balance between the theory and the project Good conclusions Reasonable but limited recommendations
Quotations Where you use a quotation in the assignment, you must identify its source and location. It must have details of the author/s, year and page number. If you are summarising something from another author and they are not quoted directly, the page number/s are not required.
Recommendations The recommendations clearly and concisely address the key findings identified in the ‘Conclusions’. They should be set out in a way that the CEO (or Project Director or Higher Authority) can confidently decide which recommendations should be acted upon and which shouldn’t. Recommendations are different to ‘suggestions’ and quite different to ‘Conclusions’. Recommendations should be written in terms of ‘should’. They should not be vague and fuzzy. Try presenting them in dot points or numbered points so each recommendation is clearly identifiable.
Reference list Citations and the list of references must adhere to the requirements and conventions of the Harvard referencing system. References must be in alphabetical order and include all citations inserted into the text. Sources that have not been ‘cited’ in the assignment do not go into the List of References. If they might be of interest to the reader, they can be included in a ‘Bibliography’. Harvard referencing requirements are available on the USQ library website at http://www.usq.edu.au/library/help/referencing/harvard.htm
Sections Each section of the report should be numbered and should start on a new page. The Introduction should be Section 1, the background will probably be Section 2, etc. The recommendations will be the last section to be numbered. The list of references is NOT numbered. The list of appendices is not numbered.
Table of contents Learn to use automatic generation of table of contents (TOC) in MS Word (for this you need to use formatting of headings and sub-headings) – this will make your life much easier and save a lot of time over your studies and your professional life. It is not difficult. It is worth investing in a course in the use of MS Word or exploring the tutorials online on the Microsoft websites. The TOC should include the Executive Summary, all major sections of the assignment with section numbering, major sub-sections, all page numbers, the List of References, the List of
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Key issues to consider when marking PG coursework assignments
Appendices (showing all numbered appendices with page numbers), the List of Figures showing all numbered figures and page numbers, and the List of Tables showing all numbered tables with page numbers.
Tables Format tables so they occupy the least space. Use smaller font. Use single line spacing. Adjust column widths to eliminate empty ‘white’ space – consider using Autoformatting of tables in MS Word. Avoid going over pages if possible – otherwise use ‘Heading Rows Repeat’ to automatically repeat headings at top of columns. The width of the tables should be the same as the width of the text above and below. The title of the table goes above the figure together with the citation which should show the source (and actual page number if taken from another source). If you have adapted a table for your own situation, show that it has been ‘adapted from…’. The preferred way of numbering them is to use the section or chapter number and the sequence in which they appear e.g. the second table to appear in section 3 might have a title such as ‘Table 3.2: Stakeholder analysis’.
Theoretical sources Theory is used to support your argument, and must come from a source that is based on valid principles of research such as texts, journal articles, etc. Internet websites are generally not acceptable unless they have academic rigour. Wikipedia is not an acceptable source nor are personal websites created by people who are interested in the topic and simply quote the work of others. Sources might include: Journal articles (especially where they are peer-reviewed) Recognised text books eBooks (accessed from the USQ library website) including Books 24x7 and eBrary professional websites where they host academic articles that are based on rigorous principles of research.
Theory Statements of opinion need to be supported by theory. Use relevant theory to frame and support your developing argument. A concept such as ‘stakeholder’ should initially be defined by a recognised theory (e.g. Cleland), and then the type of stakeholder framework that you use for analysis would be supported by relevant theory (e.g. Bourne).
Wikipedia Websites like Wikipedia are very low on the ‘rigour’ scale for academic research. They are documents that are compiled by members of the public who express their personal opinions, which may be right or wrong. They are not based on any research and have not been endorsed by the professional research community. Use the USQ eBrary facility in the Library website to find quality texts or articles in journals or conferences. http://resguide.usq.edu.au/index.php?type=ebooks&brief=1
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