Feedback on Coursework and Examinations
Feedback
One of your objectives in your studies, as an undergraduate student in the Department of Law and Criminology, should be the maximising of your academic performance so that you are in a position to fulfil your potential. Taking account of, and building upon, feedback on your work and general performance is an essential part of this process of maximising your performance.
Feedback is not about informing you of your grades or results. Rather, the purpose of feedback is to provide information about your learning and to help you to identify both strengths and weaknesses. This can assist you in reflecting on your achievements and lead to enhanced performance in the future. To gain the most benefit from the available feedback you should treat it as a two way process in which not only do you receive information but in which you can discuss the best way of acting upon it. There are a number of forms of feedback and a variety of ways in which you may receive it. Participation in seminars and interactive sessions in lectures, for example, can help you to clarify your knowledge and understanding and instil confidence in your abilities. All methods can give you confidence in your strengths and help you to address any weaknesses.
An important opportunity for feedback arises after formal assessment, whether of coursework assignments or examinations. This is designed to be a constructive process, so please do not feel nervous about seeking the feedback. You may feel nervous about taking up the opportunity to receive feedback if you think you have not performed well in an assessment. However, it is particularly important that if you are disappointed with your performance that you try to find out how you might improve it. It is also important that if you have done well that you have a chance to reflect on your good performance with a view to consolidating it.
Coursework
When coursework has been marked, comment sheets are provided and you are invited to discuss these with the relevant staff. Staff will endeavour to return comments to you as quickly as possible: normally the aim is to complete the marking within three weeks of the submission date. However, there will be times when this is not possible, as for example when the essays for a large module are being marked by only one or two staff. In such cases, the module co-ordinator will contact you to let you know when the feedback will be available. In those cases, we would be grateful for your patience. The module co-ordinator will also provide 'generic' feedback: this will be emailed to the whole module and will identify common mistakes and failings in the work.
Examinations
After examination marks are released, personal tutors will be able to discuss your assessments with you. Please do take the time to see your personal tutor for feedback and discussion of your performance. In addition module co-ordinators will be giving generic feedback on the performance of their module which will identify common mistakes and failings. All of these are designed to help you to achieve the highest standard of which you are capable - it's up to you to take advantage of them.
Summary
Please note that you are provided feedback in the following ways:-
- Comment Sheets for assessed and non-assessed essays;
- Generic feedback on the coursework once all the essays have been marked;
- Generic feedback per module after the exam results have been posted in each semester;
- Opportunity to seek further feedback from marker or member of teaching team in relation to coursework;
- Opportunity to seek further feedback from Personal Tutor in relation to coursework and exams;
- Personal Tutor meetings arranged three times a year (although you should obviously see your Personal Tutor outside such scheduled meetings if you are encountering problems).