PRP4002 Thesis Dissertation Marking Criteria

This document outlines the marking criteria for a PRP4002 Thesis Dissertation. It provides detailed descriptions of the expected quality of work for each grade level, from Distinction (A*, A+, A, A-) to Fail (E, F, F1, F2). The criteria cover various aspects of the dissertation, including the abstract, literature review, originality, synthesis of information, analysis, critical evaluation, writing style, formatting, and adherence to APA guidelines. Each grade level includes specific expectations regarding the comprehensiveness, coherence, and depth of analysis demonstrated in the work. The document emphasizes the importance of a well-structured, logically flowing literature review that demonstrates a deep understanding of the subject matter and contributes novel insights. The criteria serve as a guide for students to understand the expectations and achieve the desired grade in their thesis dissertation.

PRP4002Thesis Dissertation
PRP4002 Thesis Dissertation
Marking criteria
**Please read in conjunction with the assignment Guidelines & Advice**
Marking criteria
A*, A+, A, A- (>70%, Distinction)
Outstanding work that is exceptionally good in most of the following ways:
 The abstract is a succinct, beautifully flowing, well-balanced snapshot of
the review.
 There is clear evidence of extensive and relevant reading, and this far
exceeds key papers suggested by supervisor.
 The theme chosen for the literature review provides a solid foundation
upon which to base an MSc level dissertation.
 The author has originality of exposition, which evidences a deep
understanding of the reviewed literature.
 The literature review is progressive, with an easy flow achieved between
paragraphs, irrespective of whether concepts described are related or
disparate.
 The author creates a novel, logical, and succinct synthesis of existing
sources of literature.
 The analysis of synthesised literature results in an insightful exploration
of the presented literature.
 The reviewed literature is subject to an advanced critical evaluation that
interprets the value of the body of literature as it stands, and the resultant
requirement for further study.
 The literature review is written in a manner befitting a postgraduate
student, without error in expression, grammar, and punctuation.
 The document is perfectly formatted and stylised in accordance with APA
guidelines (including use of appropriate language, in-text citations &
references).
B+, B, B- (69.5-60%, Merit)
Highly competent work that is very good in most of the following ways:
 The abstract provides a comprehensive, well-written summary of the
review.
 There is evidence of comprehensive, relevant reading, and this exceeds
key papers suggested by supervisor.
 The theme chosen for the literature review provides a good foundation
upon which to base an MSc level dissertation.
 The author is mostly original in exposition, and this evidences a good
understanding of the reviewed literature.
 The literature review is structured well, with good flow achieved between
paragraphs, and good links forged between related and disparate
concepts.
1

PRP4002Thesis Dissertation
 The author identifies a logical relationship between existing sources, and
this synthesis of information evidences novel thinking to some extent.
 The analysis of synthesised literature results in a well-justified survey of
the presented literature.
 The reviewed literature is subject to a critical evaluation that interprets
the value of the body of literature as it stands, and the resultant
requirement for further study.
 The literature review is written in a manner befitting a postgraduate
student, with few errors in expression, grammar, and punctuation.
 The document is formatted and stylised in accordance with APA
guidelines (including use of appropriate language, in-text citations &
references).
C+, C, C- (59.5-50%, Pass)
Acceptable work that is adequate in most of the following ways:
 The abstract provides an adequate summary of the review.
 There is evidence of relevant reading, but this adheres closely to the key
papers suggested by supervisor.
 The theme chosen for the literature review provides an adequate
foundation upon which to base an MSc level dissertation.
 The author is rarely original in exposition, and evidences an adequate
understanding of the reviewed literature.
 The literature review has a mostly coherent structure, with adequate flow
achieved between paragraphs, and some links forged between related and
disparate concepts.
 The author identifies some relationships between existing sources, but
this synthesis of information rarely evidences novel thinking.
 The analysis of synthesised literature results in a coherent overview of
the presented literature.
 The reviewed literature provides some evaluation that identifies why
there is a need for further study.
 The literature review is written in a manner mostly befitting a
postgraduate student, with some errors in expression, grammar, and
punctuation.
 Formatting and stylisation in accordance with APA guidelines requires
some revision (including use of appropriate language, in-text citations &
references).
D+, D, D- (49.5-40%, Pass)
Work that has some relevance to the assignment brief, but that is weak in some
of the following ways:
 The abstract provides a summary of the review, but the point of the
review and its outcomes are unclear.
 Some key papers in the field might have been missed, and there might be
the inclusion of irrelevant sources.
 The theme chosen for the literature review provides a weak foundation
upon which to base an MSc level dissertation.
2

PRP4002Thesis Dissertation
 The author does not show originality when describing theories/concepts,
and evidences a poor understanding of the reviewed literature.
 The literature review has a disjointed structure, with poor flow between
paragraphs, and weak links between disparate and related concepts.
 The author struggles to identify relationships between existing sources,
and there is little synthesis of information – instead, there are freestanding
summaries of distinct pieces of research evidence.
 There is little analysis of the summarised literature.
 The author identifies need for further study, but the evidence presented
does not justify this.
 The literature review is not written in a manner befitting a postgraduate
student, and there are many errors in expression, grammar, and
punctuation.
 Formatting and stylisation in accordance with APA guidelines requires a
lot of revision (including use of appropriate language, in-text citations &
references).
E, F, F1, & F2 (37-5%, Fail)
Inadequate work that is weak in many of the following ways:
 Abstract is missing, or provides a weak summary of the review’s content.
 Very few papers summarised; questionable relevance of sources.
 The theme chosen for the literature review provides an inadequate
foundation upon which to base an MSc level dissertation.
 The author displays a poor understanding of the included literature.
 The literature review is disjointed in structure, and there is little
connection between paragraphs.
 The author does not synthesise information.
 There is no analysis of the summarised literature.
 The need for further study is neither stated nor evidenced.
 The literature review is not written in a manner befitting a postgraduate
student, and there are an abundance of errors in expression, grammar,
and punctuation.
 Document is not APA formatted.
3