People, Culture and Society FC313

Posted: July 7th, 2022

Assessment Task Information
Key details:
Assessment title: Written assignment (individual): Discursive Essay
Module Name: People, Culture and Society
Module Code: FC313
Tutor’s Name: Dr Andrew Upton
Assessment will be set on: Week 12
Feedback opportunities: Peer feedback in class, written feedback from class tutor 1 week before submission deadline.
Assessment is due on: 12pm UK Time on Tuesday 25th April 2023
Assessment weighting: 60%

Assessment Instructions
What do you need to do for this assessment?
Task:
You will be required to write a discursive essay based on the instructions below. The aim of this essay is to demonstrate your understanding and interpretation of the key issues and theories on culture, society and human behaviour.
Instructions:
Choose one topic from the list below and critically analyse its issues concerning culture, identity and human behaviour, with reference to major sociological approaches and other relevant theories:
• Culture and Social Class
• Culture and the Primary Agents of Socialisation
• Culture, Identity and Age
You should also briefly analyse the research methods of the cited studies. You might choose a current news item in your home country or the UK that relates to the chosen topic as the focus for your discussion.
Your essay should be discursive, i.e. balanced and representing different views, and it should be supported by research. You do not have to demonstrate a strong position/opinion, but you can include tentative opinions in your conclusion.
You are expected to include a minimum of eight academic sources.

Please note:
This is an individual assessment so you should not work with any other student.

Your tutor will also ask for a draft copy of your report and provide written feedback at least 1 week before the deadline for the final version.

Before you submit this assessment, you are encouraged to act on the feedback useful to enhance your final submission.

Structure:
The suggested structure for this assignment is as follows:

The Introduction
• sets the question/topic against a wider background
• clarifies your understanding of the question/topic
• defines and explains key terms and ideas
• outlines an overview of the approach to the question/topic
• outlines different views presented

In the main body of the essay:
• all key points are clearly presented
• the points made are systematically backed up by facts/evidence/examples
• quotations and references to other works are accurately cited
• any diagrams, figures or tables are properly labelled
• different viewpoints are logically presented, synthesised and analysed
• research methods of studies referred to are analysed for their benefits and limitations

The conclusion:
• brings together/summarises the main points
• links back to the question/topic
• revisits the statement presented in the introduction and makes logical conclusion(s)
Theory and/or task resources required for the assessment:
You must conduct secondary research for this assessment finding relevant sources independently, in addition to the resources listed in your module handbook.
You are expected to include a minimum of eight academic sources.
Referencing style:
You must include a Harvard style reference list at the end of your essay relating all your in-text citations. A full bibliography is NOT required.
Expected word count:
You are expected to write 1500 words, excluding the reference list, following the structure outlined above.
Learning Outcomes Assessed:
• Define and explain key terms and concepts fundamental to the study, understanding and interpretation of culture, society and human behaviour
• Using appropriate sources, research, to analyse and report on an aspect of culture or society
Submission Requirements:
You must include the following paragraph on your title page:
I confirm that this assignment is my own work.
Where I have referred to academic sources, I have provided in-text citations and included the sources in the final reference list.
How to avoid academic misconduct
You should follow academic conventions and regulations when completing your assessed work. If there is evidence that you have done any of the following, whether intentionally or not, you risk getting a zero mark:
Plagiarism & poor scholarship
• stealing ideas or work from another person (experts or students)
• using quotations from sources without paraphrasing and using citations
Collusion
• working together with someone else on an individual assessment, e.g., your work is corrected, rephrased or added to by another (both parties would be guilty)

Buying or commissioning work
• submitting work as your own that someone else produced (whether you paid for it or not)
Cheating
• copying the work of another student
• using resources or aids that are not permitted for the assessment
Fabrication
• submitting work, e.g., laboratory work, which is partly or completely made up. This includes claiming that work was done by yourself alone when it was actually done by a group
Personation
• claiming to be another student and taking an assessment instead of them (both parties guilty)

Specific formatting instructions:
You must type your assessment in Arial font 11, with single spacing.
You must submit the assessment electronically via the VLE module page. Please ensure you submit it via Turnitin.
Assessments submitted after the submission deadline may incur penalties or may not be accepted.
Additional submission information – check you have done the following:
Formatting Consistent font, spacing, page numbers, formatting and subheadings
Citations Correct format and location throughout the report
Referencing Harvard referencing system used correctly in the reference list
Summarising Summarising the results of research
Paraphrasing Paraphrasing the contents of research findings
Spell check Spell check the report
Proof-reading Proof-reading completed
Grammar Grammarly has been used to check the report

How will this assessment be marked?
The assessment will be marked using the following four marking criteria:
Your essay will be marked for:

• Content (30%) – how well you address the task with breadth and depth across issues, showcasing your knowledge of the chosen topic
• Analysis (25%) – how well you analyse the topic and evaluate issues; how well you address matters from different perspectives, showing a balanced understanding.
• Research and Use of Sources (20%) – how well you use examples and literature to support the ideas, and how relevant your sources are
• Academic Integrity (15%) – How correctly you have used paraphrase, citations, quotes and references; how accurately you have represented data and facts.
• Presentation (10%) – how well you organise the essay; your use of language; formatting

You will receive a % mark in each of these categories and your overall mark will be calculated as the weighted average of the four. The overall mark will be a percentage (0-100%).
How will you get feedback?
Your tutor will ask for a draft version of your essay and provide you with feedback at least 1 week before the deadline for the final version.
Your tutor will also mark the final assessment and provide you with a written feedback sheet.

Thank you for providing the detailed instructions and requirements for the discursive essay. I understand that the essay needs to be 1500 words long, excluding the reference list, and that I need to choose one topic from the given list of options. The topic needs to be analyzed critically concerning culture, identity, and human behavior with reference to major sociological approaches and relevant theories. I also need to include at least eight academic sources and briefly analyze the research methods of the cited studies. The essay needs to be discursive, balanced, and supported by research. I will be expected to submit a draft copy of my report to my tutor for feedback at least one week before the final deadline. Finally, I need to make sure that my work follows academic conventions and regulations and avoid academic misconduct.