International Security Studies

Characteristic:

High Distinction (80 and above). Excellent standard.

Distinction (70-79) Very good standard.

Credit (60-69) Good standard.

Pass (50-59)

Fair or poor standard.

Fail (Below 49)

Not up to standard.

Question and

The approach to the

The question is very

The question is well

The question is only

The question is

Central

question is excellent;

well answered and

but only partially

fairly or superficially

not answered and

Argument:

it is answered directly and fully. As a consequence,

there is a clear thesis statement, however, one or two

answered. Consequently, the thesis statement is

answered. Consequently, the thesis statement

there is no thesis statement.

there is a clear

gaps or

only partially

outlines a

thesis statement that comprehensively

shortcomings are evident either in

complete.

superficial or incomplete

answers the question and thereby

terms of addressing the question or

argument.

effectively outlines

establishing the flow

the essay’s central

of the rest of the

argument.

essay.

Structure:

The essay is extremely well

The essay is very well structured with

The essay is well structured, and the

The essay is not well structured, and

The essay is not sufficiently

structured with fully

developed and

material is well

the material is only

structured in

developed and

focused

organised in

fairly or poorly

accordance with

focused paragraphs,

paragraphs, and the

accordance with

organised in terms

both exploring and

and the material is

material is very well

both exploring and

of both exploring

demonstrating an

extremely well

organised in

demonstrating its

and demonstrating

argument. There

organised in

accordance with

central argument.

its central

are significant

accordance with

both exploring and

However, gaps,

argument.

gaps, errors, or

both exploring and

demonstrating its

errors, or

Consequently,

contradictions

demonstrating its

central argument.

contradictions exist,

significant, gaps,

which heavily

central argument.

However, some

thereby,

errors, or

detract from the

Topic sentences are clearly evident and

gaps or shortcomings exist

undermining the essay’s analysis

contradictions exist which detract from

essay.

are crafted at an

in the analysis and

and the formatting

the analysis and the

excellent standard.

the formatting of the essay’s ideas.

of its ideas.

formatting of the essay’s ideas.

Critical

The writer has

The writer has

The writer has

The writer has

The writer has not

Reflection:

critically engaged at an excellent

critically engaged at a very good

critically engaged at a good standard

partially critically engaged with the

critically engaged sufficiently enough

standard with the

standard with the

with the topic,

topic, readings,

with the topic,

topic, readings,

topic, readings,

readings, question

question and

readings, question

question and

question and

and relevant

relevant theories. It,

and relevant

relevant theories. It,

relevant theories. It,

theories. It,

therefore, only

theories. It has

therefore, identifies

therefore, identifies

therefore, identifies

partially identifies

overlooked most

the key points of the

the key points of the

the key points of the

the key points of the

of the key points

topic at an excellent standard. Its voice

topic at a very good standard. However,

topic at a good standard. However,

topic. Many significant gaps,

of the topic.

comes across clearly

one or two major

two or three

shortcomings, or

and confidently and

and/or some minor

significant and/or

errors are present.

is distinct to those of other authors.

gaps, shortcomings, or errors are present.

many minor gaps, shortcomings, or errors are present.

Use of Evidence:

The writer employs evidence

The writer employs evidence

The writer employs evidence at times

The essay reflects only fair or poor use

The essay does not reflect

consistently

consistently

throughout to

of evidence

sufficient use of

throughout to

throughout to

demonstrate some

throughout

evidence at this

demonstrate all of their claims effectively. Evidence

demonstrate most of their claims effectively.

of their claims effectively.

Evidence, however,

generally.

level of academic study.

is utilized from primary sources

Evidence is utilized from primary

is missing in places.

extensively and

sources to either

effectively at an

support or take

excellent level.

issue with claims

Evidence has been

put forth by other

utilized to either

authors at a very

support or take issue with claims put forth

good standard.

by other authors.

Research:

The essay reflects excellent research

The essay reflects very good research

The essay reflects good research

The essay reflects fair or poor research

The essay does not reflect

which has enabled it

which has enabled

which has enabled

which has enabled

sufficient research

to write a

it to write a

it to write a solid

it to write only a

at this level of

comprehensive

/excellent response

substantive/very good response to

/good response to the question. There

very basic or partial response to the

academic study.

to the question.

the question. There

is a good mix,

question. There are

There is an excellent

is a very good mix,

quality, and amount

considerable

quality and extensive

quality, and amount

of primary and

omissions and

mix of primary and

of primary and

secondary source

limitations with the

secondary source materials.

secondary source materials.

materials. However, there are omissions and/or limitations

list.

with the list.

Writing and

The essay is

The essay is

The essay is well

The essay is not

The essay is

Word Limit:

concise, articulate, and drafted to an

concise, articulate, and very well

but not expressed clearly throughout.

clearly expressed throughout. There

generally unclear throughout. There

excellent standard

drafted with only

There are

are grammatical

are frequent

with zero to few

some grammatical

grammatical and

and spelling issues

grammatical and

grammatical and

and spelling errors.

spelling issues that

that detract

spelling issues

spelling errors. The

The essay is within

detract from the

substantially from

that detract

essay is within the

the word limit.

essay’s overall

the essay’s overall

significantly from

word limit. There is no figurative language or hyperbole; the essay is written using professional academic language and turn of phrase throughout.

There is only some figurative language or hyperbole.

worth. The essay is within the word limit. There is figurative language or hyperbole.

worth. There is substantial amounts of figurative language or hyperbole.

the essay’s overall worth. The essay may not be either within or up to the word limit.

Referencing:

The essay is meticulously

The essay is mostly accurately

The essay is well referenced

The essay is only fairly or poorly

The essay is insufficiently

referenced

referenced

throughout in terms

referenced

referenced

throughout in terms

throughout in terms

of its accuracy and

throughout in terms

throughout. Its

of both placement

of both placement

placement and is

either of accuracy

references and

and accuracy of

and accuracy of

presented in either

or placement. It

bibliographical list

construction in either

construction in

the approved

may not be using

entail significant

the approved

either the approved

Harvard or Chicago

either the Harvard

gaps or are

Harvard or Chicago

Harvard or Chicago

styles. Its

or Chicago styles.

missing in too

styles. It includes a

styles. Its

references and

Its references and

many places or

reference list

/bibliography that is

references and bibliographical list

bibliographical list, however, entail

bibliographical list entail significant

entirely.

also meticulously accurate.

are mostly accurate, but a few shortcomings exist.

some shortcomings.

gaps or errors.