Critical Analysis of Current Developments in [relevant industry for your pathway] Industry

Major Themes (Literature Review part 1)

Demonstrate the following knowledge and understanding:

Demonstrate a critical understanding of current developments within the [relevant industry for your pathway] industry and how these are informed by appropriate current academic discourse and debate. Consequently, demonstrate an awareness of how theory and practice are integrated to ensure specific objectives and targeted outcomes are informed by current research and practice.  

Demonstrate the following skills and abilities:

Critically evaluate current marketing practice and research paying particular attention to gaps and contradictions in the current knowledge base.

What am I required to do in this assignment?

You are required to submit an individual essay of 5,000 words (+/- 10%) which should be based on your Project Proposal for your chosen topic within the choices provided for your course pathway:

• BSc Aviation and Airport Management

The Essay has two parts as follows:

Is a written essay that requires you to summarise a range of key academic and practitioner information sources, to critically analyse them and to demonstrate how you have synthesised the articles in relation to complex debates within a given essay question.

Is a critical reflection of the issues presented in part 1 of the essay in relation to implications for a range of relevant stakeholders within practice, policy and academic research.

The essay should show evidence of application of all the learning that has taken place as a result of participating in the workshops and feedback from the MAR029-3 Preparation for the Specialist Project unit and MAR030-3: Specialist Project sessions. The following points should be observed:

The essay must adhere to the word limit.

The format is an essay, but the style must be formal, serious and ‘academic, therefore we suggest that you avoid writing in the first person (“I”); rather the third person is recommended (e.g. it can therefore be suggested that...).

You may include headings and subtitles and a contents page if you feel this will help you to stay focused and create clearer sign-posting for the reader.

The best essays will demonstrate a deep understanding of the key issues of your debate (derived from your research) and ownership of the essay resulting in a critical conclusion. The main assessment criteria are listed at the end of your Project Handbook and the assessment grid is available on BREO.

The following format/structure should be observed for your essay:

1.Introduction

a.Define the scope of the question (i.e. your interpretation and focus).

b.Give brief contextual or background information

Critical Reflection (Literature Review part 2)

c.What key authors/works/academic frameworks will you be drawing on?

d.Set the direction for your essay

2.Major Themes (Literature Review part 1)

a.Introduce your major themes

b.Explain the connection to your research question and how each theme helps address the task

c.What evidence are you providing to support your arguments?

3.Critical Reflection (Literature Review part 2)

a.Consider the implications of your findings from your major themes in terms of implications for practice, policy, academic research etc.

b.Highlight challenging, but relevant outcomes with flair and imagination

c.Demonstrate learning from the overall task

4.Conclusion

a.Draw the key points together

b.Come back to the overall argument

c.How have you demonstrated your central point?

d.Answer the question!

5.Bibliography – IMPORTANT

a.The bibliography should comprise a variety of sources with a minimum of 12-15 academic journal articles forming the core debate of your essay.  

b.‘Other’ types of references should also be used to make the essay both current and ‘colourful’, so you should aim for about 25-30 in total.

c.Categorise academic journals separately.

What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)

• Construct theoretically informed arguments that are supported by a range of evidence from both practitioner and academic sources
• Identify key quantitative and qualitative data related to the research question and conduct a comprehensive analysis of both as an evidence basis.
• Demonstrate independent analysis and the ability to synthesise evidence from different perspectives.
• Produce critical conclusions and recommendations that have validity and follow logically from the arguments.

How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?

We will be filling this section in together in class on Click or tap to enter a date. make sure you have downloaded/printed out the Assignment Brief and bring it to the session with you.

How does assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?

The seminar preparation each week will allow you to start the preparation for the Essay.  

Active participation is essential to any learning process and especially to the success of this very important unit. You are expected to prepare for the workshops by reading the assigned materials in advance (materials will usually be made available on BREO).

Active participation by all students is necessary if the learning outcomes are to be achieved. Your engagemet is very important since all the workshops are linked to one another. Missing one workshop will have a ‘knock-on’ negative impact on the subsequent workshops thus interfering with effective learning.

It is imperative that you make ample notes and annotate key guided learning materials such as academic journal articles, so that you are able to quickly draw out from these materials key evidence to support your points which is a key skill that will be tested in this critical essay.

How will my assignment be marked?

Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations and the criteria on the following page.

You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit.