Guidelines for Submitting Assignments and Coursework Instructions

Checking Assignments for Proper Attribution and Direct Quotations

Before submitting assignments, you should check through it to ensure that: 

•    all material identified as originally from a previously published source has been properly attributed by the inclusion of an appropriate reference in the text;
•    direct quotations are marked as such (using “quotation marks” at the beginning and end of the selected text), and 
•    a citation has been included in the list of references at the end of the text.

This is really important in order to demonstrate that you composed your work in your own words and that you complied with the academic standard on referencing your source material. Thereby, you ensure that you avoid what the university terms as

 

‘plagiarism’

 

“Plagiarism is the practice of presenting the thoughts, writings or other output of another or others as original, without acknowledgement of their source(s). All material used to support a piece of work, whether a printed publication or from electronic media, should be appropriately identified and referenced and should not normally be copied directly unless as an acknowledged quote. Text translated into the words of the individual student should in all cases acknowledge the source.”  

 

Additionally, the Law School interprets self-plagiarism as re-using in a coursework your own work that has previously been submitted for assessment in this or another course. It is not permitted, and this will be reflected in the mark awarded If you are struggling with composing your coursework, or academic writing in general, there is a lot of assistance available by the Student Advice and Support Team.

 

Note on penalties, extension and deferral requests You must include a statement on the front cover of your work that gives the word count. Adhering to the word count for coursework is an important element of the assessment criteria, as it acts as parameter applicable for all students. 

 

Any student who uses 10% more words than the word count will have a marking penalty applied.  The penalty will be to move the work down by way of a deduction of 5% points from their mark (not 5% of the mark they have achieved). Thus work that was 65% will be reduced to 60% (not 61.75%). If the deduction takes the work below a grading threshold (i.e. A to B; B to C etc.) then the grade for that component will reflect the lower mark. Work which far exceeds the word count (that is, is far in excess of 10%) will not meet the assessment criteria and this will be reflected in the mark awarded

Avoiding Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism

Coursework Instructions

Students should write a word-processed essay in 12 point font, 1.5 line spaced in Verdana. Footnotes should be size 10 The word limit is 1800 words (+/- 10%). The word count of your assignment should be stated in your answer. 

 

The OSCOLA Referencing Guide must be followed; all references must be footnoted and properly cited. A bibliography should appear at the end of the coursework answer.Words in footnotes and bibliography should not be included when taking into account the word count. The coursework answer must be submitted via the drop-box on Campus Moodle by the following.

Coursework Question

 

You are a criminal defence solicitor in a busy criminal court practice and have been asked to represent some clients who are due to appear in court from custody on Monday morning.  

With reference to case law and other relevant authority, explain to each of your clients giving reasons for your answers:

a)    the charges they are likely to face and the actus reus and mens rea of these crimes; and
b)    comment on the strength of the claims raised by your clients by way of explanation for their actions and the likelihood of them being found guilty or not guilty.

 

Jim and his friend Charlie had been walking home from a night out in Aberdeen city centre when they got into a drunken argument over Jim’s ex-girlfriend, Sophie, who is now in a relationship with Charlie. Charlie begins to taunt Jim over Sophie leaving him, at which point Jim challenges Charlie to a fist fight in the street. Charlie agrees to the fight and punches Jim once in the face. Jim responds by repeatedly punching Charlie on the face until he falls to the ground unconscious. Jim then stamps on Charlie’s head four or five times, before running away. Charlie is found unconscious by a passer-by and is taken to hospital but dies the next day.

Nancy has recently been made redundant from her job.  She is in the pub alone drowning her sorrows when she comes up with a plan to make some extra cash.  She makes some enquiries in the pub and proceeds to purchase £500 worth of cocaine from a local drug dealer called John, who is also in the pub.  That night, Nancy heads to a nightclub in the city centre with the intention of selling packets of cocaine for £40.  Unfortunately for Nancy, she is searched on her way into the nightclub and 15 packets of white powder are recovered from her jacket pocket. The Police are contacted and subsequently arrest Nancy. The white powder is subsequently analysed by forensic scientists and found to be 100% caffeine and not the controlled drug, cocaine Nancy advises you that she’s relieved the packages contain caffeine and not cocaine.