Assessment & the Expanded text project
Essays
Combining essays and examinations to vary learning
This assessment package was designed to assess the breadth and depth of students' knowledge and understanding. The mid semester assessed essay focuses the students' attention in detail on the texts and issues covered to date in seminars and lectures and consolidates the knowledge already attained. As such it provides a useful basis upon which to build learning during the rest of the semester. The examination tests breadth of knowledge.
Assessment design: 2, 500-4,000 word essay (50 per cent),
two hour examination (50 per cent).
Sheffield Hallam University level two, twenty credits
Unit title: Introduction to poetry 1780-1850
The unit offers a critical introduction to the diverse range of poetry written
between 1780 and 1850. It relates the production and reception of this poetry
to a variety of appropriate cultural and historical contexts. By the end
of the unit students will be able to understand individual poems and how
they relate to larger historical and literary contexts, and able to apply
different critical perspectives to a wide range of poetic texts.
In their essays students are expected to maintain a balance between general argument and detailed readings of specific poems. Credit is given for evidence of individual research beyond lecture and seminar discussion. The examination is a two hour examination in which students have to answer two questions. The questions are on topics of a formal or thematic nature rather than on particular poets or poems. Students are expected to make reference to at least four poets in the paper as a whole. In the examination, students append the title of the assessed essay they attempted and the names of the poems and poets discussed. They are not allowed to repeat material from the essay in the examination answers.
