Criterion

Excellent (19-23)

Very Good (16-18)

Good (13-15)

Satisfactory (10-12)

Fail (0-9)

Overall

Author articulates a sophisticated project theme relevant to the literature review/business consultancy/internship project, and presents a full developed, insightful and innovative examination of the topic.

Author introduces a clear project theme relevant to the literature review/business consultancy/internship project, and presents a well-researched examination of the topic, although further insight could have been included for a higher grade.

Author competently addresses a project theme relevant to the literature review/business consultancy/internship project, and presents a sound examination of the topic, although parts of the argument could have been further developed for a higher grade.

Author attempts to address a project theme relevant to the literature review/business consultancy/internship project, but needed to present a more coherent and well supported argument for a higher grade.

Submission does not address a theme relevant to the literature review/business consultancy/internship project. The overall argument is superficial, confused or generic, and needed to be more clearly articulated for a higher grade.

Structure, Clarity and Use of Sources/Word Count

Structure, signposting, logical development of argument

Submission is innovatively presented and signposted with clear headings and a logical structure. The work sets out the arguments made in a relevant sequence and presentation is of a professional standard.

Submission is well presented and signposted and makes good use of headings. Presentation is good although there may be some very minor omissions against university guidance. The sequence of the arguments made is mostly logical.

Submission is clearly presented and signposted and makes some use of headings. Presentation is sound although there may be some omissions against university guidance. The sequence of the arguments made could be more clearly articulated.

Submission mostly has a logical structure and the sequence of the arguments made is reasonably clear. However, the work could be better presented, make further use of headings or more clearly adhere to university guidance.

Submission does not follow a logical sequence. The work is poorly structured or confusing and does not set out a clear argument. Presentation is of poor standard and does not attempt to engage with university guidance or academic conventions.

Clarity and style

All work is grammatically correct and clearly presented. No words are misused. All information is accurate and demonstrates engagement with emergent themes. Submission has been spell-checked and proofread and contains no errors. Excellent use is made of the word count to meet the requirements of the project.

Work is grammatically correct and well written. Any misuse of words is infrequent. The information presented is accurate and up to date. Submission has been spell-checked and proofread, and contains no more than a few minor errors, which do not adversely affect the reader’s ability to understand the work. Good use is made of the word count to meet the requirements of the project.

Work is mostly grammatically correct. Only occasional words are misused. Information is mostly accurate and up to date. Submission has been spell-checked and proofread, but contains minor errors. However, these do not adversely affect the reader’s ability to understand the work. Sound use is made of the word count to meet the requirements of the project.

Some elements are grammatically incorrect or not clearly presented. Several words are misused. Not all information is accurate and up to date. Reader’s ability to understand the work may be compromised by these errors, but only to a minor extent. Appropriate use is made of the word count to meet the requirements of the project.

Work contains many grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Several words are misused. Not all information is accurate and up to date. The volume of errors hampers understanding of the work. Work does not make appropriate use of the word count to fulfill the requirements of the project.

Use of evidence and sources

Work demonstrates engagement with a wide range of innovative or emergent evidence and sources. Exemplary citation/referencing format used throughout.

All sources correctly and thoroughly documented. Appropriate citation/ referencing format used throughout. All sources have been used appropriately and are of sound quality. Effective use made of multiple sources throughout.

Most sources correctly and thoroughly documented, with minimal errors. Mostly appropriate citation/ referencing format used throughout. Most sources have been used appropriately and are of mainly sound quality. Work effectively uses multiple sources.

Most sources are correctly documented and an appropriate citation/ referencing format is used. Some of the sources are of appropriate quality and logically linked although further contemporary and emergent sources could have been integrated for a higher grade.

Fails to correctly document relevant sources or to utilize appropriate citation/ referencing formats. Referencing is poorly organized and illogical. Range of sources is very limited in scope.

Context, Argument and Use of Theory/Knowledge/Models

Context and rationale for the literature review/business consultancy/internship project

Exemplary rationale provided for the choice of literature review/business consultancy/internship project topic chosen. The topic is well introduced and identifies either:

How it curates existing knowledge to identify a gap to be explored through future research (in the case of literature review projects), or

How it utilises secondary or desk-based research to address a specific issue related to either the business consultancy or internship project.

Work includes a clear rationale for the choice of literature review/business consultancy/internship project topic chosen. Clear background context is given to the choice of topic and this is related to either a gap in knowledge (in the case of literature review projects) or requirements of the business consultancy/internship organisation.

Work includes a sound explanation for the choice of literature review/business consultancy/internship project topic chosen. Some background context is given to the choice of topic although how this is related to either a gap in knowledge (in the case of literature review projects) or requirements of the business consultancy/internship organisation could be more clearly explained.

Work includes a limited explanation for the choice of literature review/business consultancy/internship project topic chosen. The background context given for the choice of topic is quite limited and only superficially related to

either a gap in knowledge (in the case of literature review projects) or requirements of the business consultancy/internship organisation.

Work includes no explanation for the choice of literature review/business consultancy/internship project topic chosen. Limited or inappropriate background context is given for the choice of topic and there is no explanation of how this is related to either a gap in knowledge (in the case of literature review projects) or requirements of the business consultancy or internship organisation.

Applicability of arguments made (balance of theory and practice, critical insights offered, relevance and topicality of content for the literature review/business consultancy/internship project)

Clear and sophisticated arguments are identified relevant to the literature review/business consultancy/internship project.

These are well linked to both established and emergent theories and the work demonstrates the clear integration of critical insights and subject knowledge.

Good arguments are incorporated relevant to the literature review/business consultancy/internship project.

These are linked to theories and insights, although the application of theoretical understanding and subject knowledge could have been more sophisticated.

Sound arguments are incorporated relevant to the literature review/business consultancy/internship project.

These are linked to some relevant theories and insights, although the application of theoretical understanding and subject knowledge could have been further developed and evidenced for a higher grade.

The work incorporates basic arguments relevant to the literature review/business consultancy/internship project.

It demonstrates superficial engagement with relevant theories, subject knowledge and critical insights, and needed to be substantially developed for a higher grade.

The work is basic and narrative in approach and describes either the literature or the business consultancy/ internship project rather than offering arguments or critical insights relevant to the topic area. It offers very limited integration of relevant theory and subject knowledge and does not engage critically with relevant topics.

Use of relevant business models and frameworks

Deploys relevant models, frameworks and tools in an innovative manner. Provides excellent analysis to support recommendations for further research and/or business decisions proposed.

Successfully deploys relevant models, frameworks and tools to provide appropriate analysis and recommendations for further research and/or business decisions proposed.

Successfully deploys some models, frameworks and tools to underpin analysis, and some recommendations for further research and/or business decisions are suggested, although a clearer rationale for these could have been provided.

Deployment of models, frameworks or analysis tools is piecemeal or ineffective. Work could be more clearly linked to analysis.

Fails to correctly deploy relevant models, frameworks or analysis tools. Work is subjective and is not clearly linked to detailed analysis.

Recommendations, limitations and future learning

Futures: apply key learnings (conclusion – gaps in knowledge, recommendations and action plan – what next?)

Recommendations are clear, concise, insightful and logically linked to the discussion presented. Relevant theories and/or concepts presented in the discussion are creatively applied to support either the gap identified in the case of literature review projects, or suggested solutions in the case of business consultancy or internship projects. Limitations are acknowledged and suggestions are made for future research and/or learning.

Good recommendations are proposed and logically linked to the analysis. Relevant theories are applied to support either the gap identified in the case of literature review projects, or suggested solutions in the case of business consultancy or internship projects. Discussion of limitations and/or future suggested research and/or learning is incorporated but could be more sophisticated.

Recommendations are sound and linked to the analysis. Some theories are applied to support either the gap identified in the case of literature review projects, or suggested solutions in the case of business consultancy or internship projects. Some discussion of limitations and/or future suggested research and/or learning is incorporated.

Recommendations lack evidence of being logically linked to the analysis. Some theories and/or concepts presented in the discussion are applied, but these are limited in scope. Discussion of limitations and/or future research and/or learning is basic or limited.

No recommendations or irrelevant recommendations made with no relevant concepts applied. No discussion of project limitations and/or future research and/or learning.