Question:

Identify and explain the key features of the United Kingdom’s (UK) constitution. To what extent are these features more of a disadvantage than an advantage to the UK’s constitution?

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes that are being assessed in this assessment are:

a)Explain the key foundational principles and theories underpinning constitutional and human rights law and practice in the UK and the factors (legal, historical, theoretical, political and practical) which shape the UK’s constitution

d)Sort, order and reference material and ideas drawn from a range of sources into logical lines of argument to propose solutions to questions set

Employability & Changemaker Skills

e)   Effectively communicate and argue ideas in structured, well written English

f) Identify, select and justify chosen solutions to factual situations (real and hypothetical)

Your grade will depend on the extent to which you meet these learning outcomes in the way relevant for this assessment. Please see the grading rubric at the end of this assessment brief for further details of the criteria against which you will be assessed.

Word Limits (where appropriate)

The maximum word limit for this assessment is 2,000 words

In accordance with the Assessment and Feedback Policy, as stated in section 4.40 where a submission exceeds the stipulated word limit by more than 10%, the submission will only be marked up to and including the additional 10%. Anything over this will not be included in the final grade for the assessment item. Abstracts, bibliographies, reference lists, appendices and footnotes are excluded from any word limit requirements.

In line with section 4.41 of the same Policy, where a submission is notably under the word limit, the full submission will be marked on the extent to which the learning objectives have been met.

Assessment Support

Workshops on the assignment topic provide an opportunity for formative feedback, feedforward and guidance on this assignment title, the issues it raises and how to address these. A week’s workshop class contact hours are additionally set aside for student face to face consultation on the assignment. This support is supplemented by individual student consultation on the assignment via individual face to face meetings or via e-mail.

Generic Grading Criteria

You will find the generic grading criteria for achievement at  University Grading Criteria.  Also explained here are the meanings of the various G grades at the bottom of the grading scale.

Assessment Submission

To submit your work, please go to the ‘Submit your work’ area on the NILE site and use the relevant submission point to upload your report. The deadline for this is 11.59pm (UK local time) on the date of submission.

Written work submitted to TURNITIN will be subject to anti-plagiarism detection software.  Turnitin checks student work for possible textual matches against internet available resources and its own proprietary database.  

When you upload your work correctly to TURNITIN you will receive a receipt which is your record and proof of submission.

If your assessment is not submitted to TURNITIN rather than a receipt you will see a green banner at the top of the screen that denotes successful submission.

N.B Work emailed directly to your tutor will not be marked. The only exception to this is when you are instructed to do so because TURNITIN is down.

Late submission of work

For first sits, if an item of assessment is submitted late and an extension has not been granted, the following will apply:

·Within one week of the original deadline – work will be marked and returned with full feedback, and awarded a maximum bare pass grade.

·More than one week from original deadline – maximum grade achievable LG (L indicating late).

Extensions

The University of Northampton’s general policy with regard to extensions is to be supportive of students who have genuine difficulties, but not against pressures of work that could have reasonably been anticipated.  

For full details please refer to the Extensions Policy.  The module leader can, where appropriate, authorise a short extension of up to two weeks from the original submission date for first sits only.

Mitigating Circumstances

For guidance on Mitigating circumstances please go to Mitigating Circumstances  where you will find detailed guidance on the policy as well as guidance and the form for making an application.

Please note, however, that an application to defer an assessment on the grounds of mitigating circumstances should normally be made in advance of the submission deadline or examination date.  

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

Unless this is a group assessment, the work you produce must be your own with work taken from any other source properly referenced and attributed. The University of Northampton policy will apply in all cases of copying, plagiarism or any other methods by which students have obtained (or attempted to obtain) an unfair advantage.

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