International Multimedia Journalism MACohort 19-20

IMJ7004Advanced Research & Study Skills

MODULE GUIDE

2019/2020 Semester 2 of 3

Level HE7

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Contents 1. Module Overview 2 ...........................................................................................................2. Learning and Teaching Strategy 2 ....................................................................................3. Module Communications 2 ...............................................................................................4. Module Description 3 ........................................................................................................5. Learning Outcomes and Assessments 3 ..........................................................................6. Assessment Deadlines 3 ..................................................................................................7. Assessment Feedback 4 ..................................................................................................8. Module Calendar 4 ...........................................................................................................9. Formative Assessment 6 ...................................................................................................10. Indicative Reading 6 ......................................................................................................11. Guidelines for the Preparation and Submission of Portfolio Assignments for Assessment and Digital Platform 7 .......................................................................................12. Academic Misconduct 9 .................................................................................................14. Assessments 10..............................................................................................................

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1. Module Overview

2. Learning and Teaching Strategy

This module is delivered through a combination of seminars and tutorials over 23 weeks. To complete the module successfully you must also allocate a substantial amount of independent study time.

Most in-class sessions comprise a formal seminar, with in-class exercises and discussions. Students are required to complete core and weekly assigned readings and read widely in preparation for seminar discussion where you will be expected to actively participate. You will also be expected to demonstrate independence in your research from recognised academic sources outside of taught sessions. Individual tutorials will allow for guidance and feedback on progression within the module.

To complete the module successfully you must also allocate a substantial amount of independent study time. (Approx 180 hours). Independent study time should be carefully managed and comprises of assigned and self-directed readings, producing written exercises and assignments.

3. Module Communications The Module Tutor’s contact details are provided at the top of this page. You must check your University of Bolton email address and the VLE (https://beijingimmj.wordpress.com/) area dedicated to this module regularly as many module communications are channelled through these media.

Your Module Tutor will normally aim to respond to your email messages within 3 full working days of receipt; however responses will be longer in holiday periods.

Please use email for more formal or personal communications such as request for leave, extensions etc. Please use WeChat for quick questions, and use the group WeChat account for comments or questions that may apply to all students.

Module Tutor Song Yi 宋毅

Tel. no. Office +86-10-8881-5882  

Email songyi@bfsu.edu.cn

Office Location Arabic Building 503

Drop-in Availability Mondays / Tuesdays 10 to 4pm. Email or WeChat to book an appointment

Weblink to Moodle Class https://beijingimmj.wordpress.com/

Weblink to Module Specification

https://modules.bolton.ac.uk/IMJ7002

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4. Module Descriptionhttps://modules.bolton.ac.uk/IMJ7002

5. Learning Outcomes and Assessments

6. Assessment Deadlines

Learning Outcomes Assessment

LO1: Develop a critical framework for the study of a contemporary issue in the area of multi-media journalism.

Assessment 1: Portfolio of written outcomes

LO2: Synthesise and critically evaluate the complex relationship between context, issue, story and narrative.

Assessment 1: Portfolio of written outcomes

LO3: Present insightful and valid conclusions and creative recommendations for further research and personal development.

Assessment 1: Portfolio of written outcomes

Assessment item Due Date Weight

1 Portfolio of written outcomes. In the form of two written Project Forms which document developed knowledge and understanding of critical discourses that underpin discipline-specific practice undertaken in IMJ7004

I. Project form A: including: Research Sources; Research Questions and a 1,500 word Research Proposal.

II. A 1200-word essay about a current critical issue in journalism. Including an annotated bibliography.

I. 29 May 2020

II. 27 June 2020

100%

(70%)

(30%)

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7. Assessment Feedback

You will receive two types of feedback:

• Formal Summative Feedback The single summative assessment takes the form of a portfolio of written items, written feedback will be delivered after assessment.

• Informal Formative feedback Tutor-led seminars and in-class discussion and activities provide opportunities for continuous formative feedback. Alongside this you will receive feedback on drafts of your written portfolio.

Feedback is therefore not just your grade or the comments written on your feedback form, it is advice you get from your tutor and sometimes your peers about how your work is progressing, how well you have done, what further actions you might take.

We recognise the value of prompt feedback on work submitted. Other than in exceptional circumstances (such as might be caused by staff illness), you can expect your assignment and examination work to be marked and feedback provided not more than 15 working days from the deadline date. (*Not including holiday weeks). However, please note that that such feedback will be provisional and unconfirmed until the Assessment Board has met and may therefore be subject to change.

Please take time you read or listen to your assessment feedback. This can be very useful in determining your strengths and key areas for development, and can therefore help you improve on future grades.

8. Module Calendar

WK WK Start Date

IMJ7003 Agenda/Topics

1 06/01 Pre-Production A • Delivered as normal

2 13/01 Pre-Production A • Delivered as normal

20/01 CNY Holiday Week 1

27/01 CNY Holiday Week 2

3 03/02 ONLINE 1 • Documentary Viewing & Analysis (Last Train Home)

4 10/02 ONLINE 2 • Advanced Photography • Photographing people + decisive moments

5 17/02 ONLINE 3 • Documentary Viewing & Theory Reading

6 24/02 ONLINE 4 • Q&A Text Article Assignment

WK

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7 02/03 ONLINE 5 • Style & Methods

8 09/03 ONLINE 6 • Video Editing 1 • Critique

9 16/03 ONLINE 7 • Video Editing 2

10 23/04 ONLINE 8 • Narrative Theory 1 • Narrative Elements

11 30/03 ONLINE 9 • Narrative Theory 2 • Narrative Arc • Live seminar (Friday)

12 06/04 Break - students start preliminary research for Project B - Optional Zoom session to view Narrative Arcs

13 13/04 ONLINE 10 • Zoom focus group tutorials with Sharron & Rongfei pitch and present ideas for

project A

14 20/04 Pre-Production A (Online) • Mon: 6pm ZOOM SEMINAR IMJ7004: Context for Story (Graeme) • Tues: 2pm ZOOM SEMINAR IMJ7004: Intro to IMJ7004 & Project Forms (Song Yi) • Wed: Risk & Ethics Online Seminar (Sharron) • Tues/Wed: ZOOM TUTORIALS (focus on Style & Method Tests) (Sharron &

Rongfei)

15 27/04 Pre-Production A (Online) • Tues: ZOOM TUTORIALS (focus on Risk & Ethics) (Sharron & Rongfei with their

students) • Final approvals for Risks & Ethics • Tues: Zoom Online tutorials / written feedback (Song Yi) • Weds: ZOOM TUTORIALS Spot tutorials for students in need

16 04/05 Production A 1 • Independent fieldwork • Book a tutorial with your tutor if necessary.

17 11/05 Production A 2 • Independent fieldwork • Design Basics Online Seminar - (Sharron)

18 18/05 Production A 3 • Rongfei in class for some editing support (all students) • Sharron to deliver feedback remotely

19 25/05 Production A 4 • Independent Polish Editing

29 May 2020 Deadline Assignment A (All students, both China based and online Internationals)

20 01/06 Intensive 1 - Seminars / Workshops (Photo focus TBC?)

WK Start Date

IMJ7003 Agenda/Topics

WK

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9. Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is employed to support your learning on the module, allowing you to reflect on feedback on your progress from your tutors and peers. It takes a variety of forms including tutorials and written feedback on drafts. Formative assessment does not contribute to the final module mark.

10. Indicative Reading

There are three types of reading required for this module: • Assigned Core Readings • Assigned Weekly Readings to prepare you for seminars and discussions (Details on

the VLE) • Self directed readings

See below for the Assigned Core Required Readings for IMJ7004. You must complete in full during Term 1. You can find a more detailed version of this reading list on the VLE: https://beijingimmj.wordpress.com/imj-7004-reading-list/

Please note, there are additional weekly seminar specific readings. You will need to view the Seminar Schedule and take note of the weekly readings to ensure you complete them for specified deadlines. Find the Seminar Schedule and associated weekly readings online at the VLE: https://beijingimmj.wordpress.com/imj-7004-reading-list/

Self directed readings: Reading to support learning, defined by the student with little or no guidance or direction from tutors. This includes your subject specific reading around your self-directed A & B assignments. You should also engage in plenty of reading around the subject of multimedia journalism and storytelling, developing your personal general knowledge of and enthusiasm for the subject you have chosen to study. Check in at least once a week to Facebook Group to see which readings appeal to you.

Assigned Core Required Readings

21 08/06 Intensive 2 - Seminars / Workshops (Video focus TBC?)

22 15/06 Intensive 3 - Seminars / Workshops photo focus: INTERACTIVE PROJECT with Lester - Project B

23 22/06 Buffer week for students to finalise Project B • Independent fieldwork & Editing • Tutorials to Discuss term 3 Assignment ideas

27 June 2020 Deadline Assignment B (All students, both China based and online Internationals)

WK Start Date

IMJ7003 Agenda/Topics

WK

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1. “Journalism, Media and Technology Trends and Predictions 2019” from Reuters Institute.

2. View and critically reflect on all the nominees of the World Press Photo Digital Storytelling contest for 2018, 2019 & 2020. https://www.worldpressphoto.org/collection/digital-storytelling-contest. In addition read 2019 jury member Xiao Muyi’s reflection on judging the contest (in Chinese): https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/TAccKnBOi2wfJ3mx19GUCw 

3. View Sixth Tone’s multimedia project “Red Lights Go Gray” and read a reflective article on the project (in Chinese – can be translated via google chrome)

4. Read “Words without Pictures” by Jörg Colberg. Jörg Colberg a critic, writer, photographer, and educator. He maintains CPhMag.com, and he is a visiting assistant professor at Harford Art School.

5. Read “Bending the Frame.” Fred Ritchin’s. Hard copies in both English and Chinese language are available in our class library.

6. Dart Center is a resource that offers best practices and guidelines for journalists to navigates sensitive topics: http://dartcenter.org/

7. Podcasts: 1) Listen to the podcast with SCMP’s new CEO Gary Liu to better understand the current digital transformation in a media company that’s seeking to expand its audience. http://supchina.com/podcast/gary-liu-ceo-south-china-morning-post/ 2) Emily Bell and Heather Chaplin discuss the relationship between platforms and publications: https://journalismdesign.com/podcast/platforms-publishers-name-a-more-dysfunctional-duo/ /// https://journalismdesign.com/podcast/season-2-episode-4-platforms-publishers-part-2/ 3) #metoo is probably one of the biggest recent global stories. This podcast talks about how to report on #metoo from a solution journalism’s perspective. https://onbeing.org/programs/rebecca-traister-and-avi-klein-metoo-through-a-solutions-lens-dec2018/

11. Guidelines for the Preparation and Submission of Portfolio Assignments for Assessment and Digital Platform

1. Completed assignments should be submitted via email. All students will be sent a submission thread email 3 days before the deadline. You will reply to the email and attach your assignments. The file name structure for the documents: 

• Project Form 1: 20_7004_PFA_FullName_StudentNumber • Essay 2: 20_7004_Essay_FullName_StudentNumber

2. Written assessments should be word-processed and saved as word documents. The font should be Arial font size 12. There should be double-spacing and each page should be numbered. Quotations of fewer than 40-50 words (approximately four lines) should be included in the text using quotation marks and reference. Quotations of longer than four lines should be included as ‘block quotes’. To block quote, the quoted text must begin on a separate line after a colon and be indented from the margin and inset from the rest of your essay, (no quotation marks are then needed) and referenced using the Harvard system. All assignments must be carefully copy-edited. We suggest you use Grammarly as a final copy edit step. 

3. There should be a title page identifying the programme name, module title, assessment title, your student number, your marking tutor and the date of submission.

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4. You should include a word-count at the end of the assessment (excluding bibliography references, figures, tables and appendices).

Where a word limit is specified, the following penalty systems applies: • Up to 10% over the specified word length = no penalty • 10 – 20% over the specified indicative word length = 5 marks subtracted

(but if the assessment would normally gain a pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the pass mark for the assessment).

• More than 20% over the indicative word length = if the assessment would normally gain a pass mark or more, then the final mark will capped at the pass mark for the assessment.

• All written work should be properly referenced using the the Harvard system of citation - see https://www.bolton.ac.uk/leaponline/My-Academic-Development/My-Writing-Techniques/Referencing/Level-2/Harvard-Referencing.aspx. You must acknowledge the sources of all quotes, paraphrased information, and ideas that you use and are not your own. Web sources must also be referenced using this style as well.

5. Students are required to keep a digital hard copy of each assignment. In the minor chance of any email transmission problems, your assessment will be made by this submission. If you experience problems in uploading your work, then you must send an electronic copy of your assessment to your Module Tutor via email BEFORE the due date/time.

6. Please note that when you submit your work, it will be checked for plagiarism via matches against other electronic information. The individual percentage text matches may be used as evidence in an academic misconduct investigation (see Section 13).

7. Use of imagery: Essays can include images as supporting material for the points in the essay. Plate or Figure should be used and a Plate list included with information on author, date, title, and source in Harvard citation. Imagery must be of good quality and appropriate size.

8. Every source, which has contributed to the essay (including those are not cited), has to be included in the annotated bibliography, and the format is Harvard citation. Song Yi will outline the requirements of the annotated bibliography during the Academic Primer.

9. Your paper should be a coherent essay, do not use sub-headlines to indicate introduction, main body or conclusion either. No need to include an abstract / keywords. 

10.Where a word count is specified, the following penalty systems applies: • Up to 10% over the specified word count = no penalty • 10 – 20% over the specified word count = 5% subtracted (but if the assessment

would normally gain a pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the pass mark for the assessment).

• More than 20% over the word count = if the assessment would normally gain a pass mark or more, then the final mark will capped at the pass mark for the assessment.

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11. The assignment must be handed in by the submission date and meet stipulated requirements. *Please note, 'internet problems' are not an acceptable excuse for a late submission. We are all aware that the internet on campus can be slow at times and you are expected to upload ahead of the deadline to avoid this problem.

12. Late work will be subject to the penalties:• Up to 7 calendar days late = up to 10 marks subtracted but if the assignment

would normally gain a pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the pass mark for the assignment.

• More than 7 calendar days late = This will be counted as non-submission and no marks will be recorded.

• Where assessments are graded Pass/Fail only they will not be accepted beyond the deadline date for submission and will be recorded as a Fail. Students may request an extension to the original published deadline date as described below.

• In the case of exceptional and unforeseen circumstances, an extension of up to 14 days after the assessment deadline may be granted.

• This must be agreed by your Programme Leader, following a discussion the Module Tutor. You should complete an Extension Request Form available from your Tutor and attach documentary evidence of your circumstances, prior to the published submission deadline.

• Extensions over 14 calendar days should be requested using the Mitigating Circumstances procedure, with the exception of extensions for individual projects which, at the discretion of the Programme Leader, may be longer than 14 days.

• Requests for extensions which take a submission date past the end of the module (normally week 15) must be made using the Mitigating Circumstances procedures.

• Some students with registered disabilities will be eligible for revised submission deadlines. Revised submission deadlines do not require the completion extension request paperwork.

• Please note that the failure of data storage systems is not considered to be a valid reason for an extension. It is therefore important that you keep multiple copies of your work on different storage devices before submitting it.

• If you wish to apply for an extension or mitigating circumstances, please come and see your tutor, preferably four weeks, before the due date with any problems you may be having.

12. Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct may be defined as any attempt by a student to gain an unfair advantage in any assessment. This includes plagiarism, collusion, commissioning (contract cheating) amongst other offences. In order to avoid these types of academic misconduct, you should ensure that all your work is your own and that sources are attributed using the correct referencing techniques.

Please note that penalties apply if academic misconduct is proven. See the following link for further details: https://www.bolton.ac.uk/about/governance/policies/student-policies/

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14. Assessments

Learning Outcomes Assessed: LO1: Develop a critical framework for the study of a contemporary issue in the area of multi-media journalism. LO2: Synthesise and critically evaluate the complex relationship between context, issue, story and narrative. LO3: Present insightful and valid conclusions and creative recommendations for further research and personal development.

Assessment BriefThe assessment for IMJ7004 consists of a portfolio of two written assignments in the form of ‘Project Forms’ which document developed knowledge and understanding of critical discourse that underpins discipline-specific practice undertaken in IMJ7003. They require self-directed, independent research and investigation, beyond those provided on the reading list.

There are two items for assessment:

I. Project form A: including: Research Sources; Research Questions and a 1,500 word Research Proposal.

II. A 1200-word essay about a current critical issue in journalism. Including an annotated bibliography.

Students can find more detailed guidance on the accompanying Assignment Brief IMJ7004 Document for this module.

Specific Assessment Criteria:

(Please note that the General Assessment Criteria will also apply. Please see section 15)

Assessment Number 1

Assessment Type (and weighting)

Portfolio of written outcomes

Assessment Name Portfolio of written outcomes. In the form of two written Project Forms which document developed knowledge and understanding of critical discourses that underpin discipline-specific practice undertaken in IMJ7004

I. Project form A: including: Research Sources; Research Questions and a 1,500 word Research Proposal.

II. A 1200-word essay about a current critical issue in journalism. Including an annotated bibliography.

Assessment Submission Date

I. 29 May 2020 II. 27 June 2020

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What we are looking for above all else is evidence of your ability to perform quality research and critically evaluate and analyse sources and key discourses to develop your knowledge and understanding of critical discourses that underpin discipline-specific practice undertaken in IMJ7003.

80+ (DISTINCTION High) - Work of exceptional quality: • Students will have formulated well-focused research questions and a research

proposal that develops an exceptionally well considered critical framework for the study of a contemporary issue in the area of multi-media journalism.

• Students will demonstrate exceptional cognitive awareness of the field of Visual Multimedia Journalism.

• Students will demonstrate exceptional critical reasoning skills alongside consistent and detailed scholarship coupled with accurate interpretation of appropriate theoretical discourse.

• References, quotations, and imagery underpin accurate interpretation of the critical discourse.

• Extensive research demonstrating use of a wide range of current secondary research sources will be evident. Academic style and referencing will be excellent.

• A logical structure and coherent focus progress the discussion that leads to well-argued points and clarity of theoretical debate and analysis. A cohesive and coherent conclusion circles back to and synthesises key points in the of the main body of the essay. The essay topic is rigorously interrogated and clearly communicated throughout the essay using text and imagery (the latter where appropriate for the argument).

70+ (DISTINCTION) - Work of excellent quality:• Students will have formulated well-focused research questions and a research

proposal that develops an very well considered critical framework for the study of a contemporary issue in the area of multi-media journalism.

• Students will demonstrate excellent cognitive awareness of the field of Visual Multimedia Journalism.

• Students will demonstrate excellent critical reasoning skills alongside consistent and detailed scholarship coupled with accurate interpretation of appropriate theoretical discourse.

• References, quotations, and imagery underpin accurate interpretation of the critical discourse.

• Extensive research demonstrating use of a wide range of current secondary research sources will be evident. Academic style and referencing will be excellent.

• A logical structure and coherent focus progress the discussion that leads to well-argued points and clarity of theoretical debate and analysis. A cohesive and coherent conclusion circles back to and synthesises key points in the of the main body of the essay. The essay topic is rigorously interrogated and clearly communicated throughout the essay using text and imagery (the latter where appropriate for the argument).

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60-69 (MERIT) - Work of good or very good quality:• Students will have formulated good research questions and a research proposal that

develops a well considered critical framework for the study of a contemporary issue in the area of multi-media journalism.

• Students will demonstrate good cognitive awareness of the field of Visual Multimedia Journalism.

• They will demonstrate good critical reasoning skills alongside good scholarship coupled with mostly accurate interpretation of appropriate theoretical discourse.

• References, quotations, and imagery underpin interpretation of the critical discourse. • Research demonstrating use of a wide range of current secondary research sources

will be evident. Academic style and referencing will be good. • A mostly logical structure and focus progress the discussion that leads to well-

argued points and analysis. A coherent conclusion circles back to the key points in the of the main body of the essay. The essay topic is clearly communicated throughout the essay using text and imagery (the latter where appropriate for the argument).

50- 59 (PASS - Work of satisfactory quality):• Students will have formulated appropriate research questions and a research

proposal that develops a critical framework for the study of a contemporary issue in the area of multi-media journalism.

• Students will demonstrate satisfactory cognitive awareness of the field of Visual Multimedia Journalism.

• They will demonstrate critical reasoning skills alongside satisfactory scholarship coupled with mostly accurate interpretation of appropriate theoretical discourse, though there maybe some inconsistencies at times.

• References, quotations, and imagery underpin interpretation of the critical discourse. Points and arguments will be focused and justified, but the level maybe somewhat inconsistent.

• Research demonstrating use of a range of current secondary research sources will be evident. Academic style and referencing will be fair.

• A reasonably logical structure and focus progress the discussion that leads clear points and analysis. A conclusion circles back to the key points in the of the main body of the essay. The essay topic is communicated throughout the essay using text and imagery (the latter where appropriate for the argument).

45–49% (FAIL — BORDERLINE)• Students will have formulated poorly-focused research questions and a research

proposal that does not sufficiently develop a critical framework for the study of a contemporary issue in the area of multi-media journalism.

• Students will demonstrate weak cognitive awareness of the field of Visual Multimedia Journalism.

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• They will demonstrate a lack of critical reasoning skills and demonstrate unsatisfactory scholarship coupled with sometimes inaccurate interpretation of appropriate theoretical discourse.

• Points and arguments may be unfocused and unjustified. • Research using a range of current secondary research sources will be lacking.

Academic style and referencing will be weak. • An illogical structure and focus hinder the points and analysis. The conclusion fails

to synthesis the key points in the of the main body of the essay. The essay topic is not clearly communicated throughout the essay using text and imagery (the latter where appropriate for the argument).

44% > (FAIL - Unsatisfactory performance)Students who do not meet the requirements of a third class grade will not successfully complete the assessment activity.

Minimum Secondary Research Source Requirements:

Be sure to use a variety of sources, at Secondary Research Level HE7, it is expected that the Reference List for each written project form will contain a minimum of 15 to 20 sources. Your written assignments should be the product of research/reading beyond the readings already provided on the course. This means you will need to conduct bibliographic research for new readings. The sources for each project form should ordinarily include a minimum of two academic books and four academic journal articles with plenty of web based writings, however web-based writings are not sufficient by themselves.

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15 General Assessment Guidelines for Written Assessments Level HE7

% Relevance Knowledge Argument/Analysis

Structure

Presentation

Written English

Research/Referencing

DISTINCTION

Exceptional Quality

85-100%

Directly relevant to title/brief. Expertly addresses the assumptions of the title and/or the requirements of the brief.

Demonstrates an exceptional knowledge of theory and practice for this level. Insightfully interprets appropriate concepts and theoretical models. Demonstrates originality in conceptual understanding.

Presents an exceptional critique of key research material resulting in clear, original and illuminating conclusions. Demonstrates distinctive, insightful and creative solutions to complex problems. Produces exceptional work that makes a contribution to the development of knowledge and understanding in the subject area.

Coherently articulated and logically structured.

An appropriate format is used.

Exceptional presentational style & layout, appropriate to the type of assignment. Effective inclusion of figures, tables, plates (FTP).

Exceptionally well writtenanswer with standard spelling and grammar. Style is clear, resourceful and academic.

Sources accurately cited in the text.

An extensive range of contemporary and relevant references cited in the reference list in the correct style.

Excellent Quality

70-84%

Directly relevant to title/brief.

Expertly addresses the assumptions of the title and/or the requirements of the brief.

Demonstrates an excellent knowledge of theory and practice for this level. Expertly interprets appropriate concepts and theoretical models. Demonstrates originality in conceptual understanding.

Presents an excellent critique of key research material resulting in clear, original and illuminating conclusions. Demonstrates insightful and creative thinking solutions to complex problems. Produces excellent work that makes a contribution to the development of knowledge and understanding in the subject area.

Coherently articulated and logically structured.

An appropriate format is used.

Excellent presentational style & layout, appropriate to the type of assignment. Effective inclusion of figures, tables, plates (FTP).

Excellently writtenanswer with standard spelling and grammar. Style is clear, resourceful and academic.

Sources accurately cited in the text. A wide range of contemporary and relevant references cited in the reference list in the correct style.

MERIT

Good Quality

60-69%

Directly relevant to title/brief.

Addresses the assumptions of the title and/or the requirements of the brief well.

Demonstrates a sound knowledge of theory and practice for this level. Comprehensively interprets appropriate concepts and theoretical models. Demonstrates originality in conceptual understanding

Presents a cohesive critique of key research material resulting in clear and original conclusions. Demonstrates creative solutions to complex problems. Produces superior work that makes a contribution to the development of knowledge and understanding in the subject area

For the most part coherently articulated and logically constructed.

An appropriate format is used.

Very good presentational style & layout, appropriate to the type of assignment. Effective inclusion of FTP.

Well written withstandard spelling and grammar. Style is clear and academic.

Sources accurately cited in the text. A range of contemporary and relevant references cited in the reference list in the correct style.

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PASS

Satisfactory Quality

50-59%

Generally addresses the assumptions of the title and/or the requirements of the brief.

Minor irrelevance in places.

Demonstrates an adequate knowledge of theory and practice for this level. Some minor omissions. Satisfactorily interprets some appropriate concepts and theoretical models. Demonstrates some originality in conceptual understanding.

Presents some critique of key research material resulting in original conclusions. Loss of focus in places. Demonstrates some creativity in solving complex problems. Produces satisfactory work that makes some contribution to the development of knowledge and understanding in the subject area.

Adequate attempt at articulation and logical structure.

An acceptable format is used.

The presentational style & layout is largely correct for the type of assignment.

Inclusion of FTP but lacks selectivity.

Competently written with minor lapses in spelling and grammar.

Style is legible and mainly academic.

Key contemporary and relevant academic sources are drawn upon.

Most sources are accurately cited in the text and reference list/bibliography. Minor weaknesses evident.

FAIL

Borderline Fail

45-49%

Some implications of issues explored.

Some irrelevant and/or superficial arguments.

Some omissions evident in knowledge of theory and practice at this level. Insufficient understanding of appropriate concepts and theoretical models. Demonstrates some conceptual understanding in places.

A limited amount of critique of key research material with description in places. Lacks creativity. Some original conclusions.

Limited attempt at articulation and problems with structure.

Some formatting errors.

Some weaknesses in the presentational style & layout.

Some inappropriate use of FTP.

Intermittent lapses in grammar and spelling. Style hinders clarity in places and is not academic throughout.

Limited number of contemporary and relevant sources cited. Weaknesses in referencing technique.

Fail 30-

44%

Significant degree of irrelevance to the title and/or brief.

Issues are addressed at a superficial level and in unchallenging terms.

Demonstrates weaknesses in knowledge of theory and practice for this level. Limited understanding and application of concepts.

A basic argument is presented, but too descriptive or narrative in style. Limited originality and creativity. Conclusions are not clearly stated.

Poorly structured. Lack of articulation. Format deficient.

For the type of assignment the presentational style &/or layout is lacking.

FTP ignored in text or not used where clearly needed.

Deficiencies in spelling and grammar make reading difficult in places.

Simplistic or repetitious style impairs clarity.

Inappropriate sources and poor referencing technique.

<30%

Relevance to the title and/or brief is intermittent or missing.

The topic is reduced to its vaguest and least challenging terms.

Demonstrates a lack of basic knowledge of either theory or practice for this level, with little evidence of conceptual understanding.

Severely limited arguments. Descriptive or narrative in style with no evidence of critique and originality or creativity. Conclusions are sparse.

Unstructured. Lack of articulation.

Format deficient.

For the type of assignment the presentational style &/or layout is lacking. FTP as above.

Poorly written with numerous deficiencies in grammar, spelling, expression and style.

An absence of academic sources and poor referencing technique.

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OTHER IMPORTANT FAQ’S & INFORMATION

WHAT HAPPENS IF I FAIL?

You need to pass both IMJ7003 and IMJ7004 modules to progress to IMJ7005 and IMJ7006 in Term 3. If you fail the module you will be given either a refer or a refer and repeat status.

Depending on the case, you may be given a refer status which means you will have one final chance to resubmit your assignment 6-weeks after the original deadline. If you fail on the second submission you will be withdrawn from the program without completing your degree.

A refer and repeat means you need to attend class and retake the entire module the next time it runs and submit your assignment again. You will also need to pay for the module, refer and repeats typically happen on a serious fail or a fail due to poor attendance or other special circumstances.

• *Borderline fails are typically straightforward and usually result in a resubmission on a refer status. This means the student fails on the first attempt but is given a second and final attempt to resubmit the assignment six weeks after the deadline. However, if there has been an issue with attendance, usually a refer on repeat status of the module are usually required. A refer and repeat means the student will need to rejoin in the following academic year and will be subject to additional payment.

• *Fails below borderline fails are serious and often result in a resubmission on a refer and repeat status. This means the student will need to rejoin in the following academic year and repeat the module and assignment and will be subject to additional payment. If there is a serious fail and attendance has also been an issue with attendance, a refer and a repeat of the module are almost always required

PLAGIARISM *A note on Academic misconduct & plagiarism. We run all assignments through a plagiarism checker. Students found guilty of plagiarism or other academic misconduct will be subject to University disciplinary procedures. Penalties for plagiarism include having to repeat assessments or even being suspended from their course in serious cases. See the UoB policy zone for further details.  There are, in addition, other forms of academic misconduct specific to the IMMJ program in line with the standard ethics of journalism. Please note that if your work includes any of the issues below it will be dealt with as a matter of academic misconduct. • Copyright infringement for music, images or other assets • Staging video: Asking a story or interview subject to do something specific

that they would not typically do. (“Set-up” shots — including reverses for an interview or “walking” shots are a grey area but are accepted).

• Telling an interview subject what you want him or her to say. • Paying or giving someone something expensive in exchange for doing an

interview

PUNCTUALITY AND DEADLINES

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Classes begin promptly at 10:00 am on Mondays & Tuesday. Punctuality and deadlines are critical in the news business and both are taken into account in your assessment. Weekly assignments must be turned in each Sunday evening by 7pm – via upload to your digital platform. There are occasional exceptions and you will be notified well in advance.

ATTENDANCE – BOLTON POLICY In order to progress and achieve the award for which you are registered, you must attend the classes for each individual module regularly and in accordance with any compulsory attendance requirements defined. The full University Attendance Policy is located in the UoB Student Policy Zone. The UoB has an attendance threshold of 80 percent, if attendance falls below this is any module action will be taken and a student may be asked to repeat the module the following year and at additional cost. Please contact your Module Tutor if you are absent from a session. Attendance is critical and classes build upon each other. While you may be able to catch up on some practical skills out of class, missing class means you will miss critical core ethical & journalism principles. Anything less than full attendance will be taken into account when determining overall module results. For example, failure with poor attendance is more likely to lead to a repeat of the module than a simple refer. A repeat of a module requires you to repeat the module in full the following year – and you will need to pay the costs of taking that module again.

TIME MANAGEMENT You must make sure you keep up with the weekly teaching program and check your WeChat and email account as this is where updates will be communicated to you. The modules can be quite intense and your success may ultimately depend on your keeping up the pace required. If you fall behind, then self-directed study should be used to catch up for the following week. Successfully negotiating your way through the modular program involves careful time management and organisation. Your tutors and/or supervisors will be able to provide guidance if issues arise.

ENGLISH All assignments must be delivered in English for an international English speaking audience. Poor English will impact your grades. We expect articles, picture captions and subtitles to be well written. We recommend proofreading each other’s work in peer groups. Also, please download http://www.grammarly.com – A free online proofreading tool that checks the text for grammar, punctuation, and style, and features a contextual spelling checker and plagiarism detector. All assignments must be accessible in the English Language, we will not review work in Mandarin, so please subtitle or dub audio to English if necessary.

PROCEDURE FOR THE MODERATION OF ASSESSMENTS The assessment process is carried out by the internal program team, then scrutinised by the External Examiner. The role of the External Examiner is to ensure that we are marking fairly and has academic parity with other UK universities. In this way, you can be sure that your award meets the quality of the national standard expected.

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You must ensure that you submit your work on time. Assessments for practical work may ask you to exhibit work or submit them online, please make sure you achieve this the day before so the work is ready for assessment on the day required. Please read the School Handbook for information on late work and/or Mitigating Circumstances, if you think you may not be able to submit work for assessment. The guidelines for mitigation are very strict, and it is important that you familiarise yourself with these before making an application. Please note the following are examples of circumstances which would not fall within the University definition of mitigating circumstances:

• proximity or number of examinations or other assessments • completing coursework too late and missing deadlines because of computer

difficulties ortransport difficulties;

• losing work not backed up on computer disk; • failure to make alternative travel plans when disruptions were known in

advance; • normal work commitments on behalf of an employer; • misreading of assignment deadlines or examination timetables; • poor time management; • scheduling of holidays or time abroad.

On completion of the initial assessments by the program teams, the marks are fed into the University’s marking system. Module Assessment Boards are held periodically at BFSU, chaired by the Dean or Deputy Dean of the School of Arts, Media and, Education at the University of Bolton over a Skype link from Bolton.

These module boards fix module results. Award and Progression Boards are held periodically at Bolton. These determine awards and make progression decisions about continuing students. The Assessment Board meets to discuss and agree on the module marks presented and to agree on progression decisions and, eventually, awards.

The board takes account of any mitigation by receiving a report from the School’s Mitigating Circumstances Panel. The External Examiner is usually present to ensure academic consistency. Decisions on referral, progression, etc. are made at this Board and a final set of marks are generated, these are then published for students to obtain their results.

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