Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW1016C: A Legal Foundation for Environmental Protection

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Workshops will provide students with opportunities for formative feedback throughout the module.3 x 2 hour workshops1-10Peer and lecturer feedback and guidance
There will be a mid-term test to check progress on key themes and concepts. 25 short answer questions 1-8, 8Answers will be given by the tutor and discussed to check understanding
A draft of Part 1 of the portfolio may be handed in between weeks 4 and 5 which will be marked and returned to students with written feedback. 500 words1-6, 8-9with written feedback to aid progression to the completion of the portfolio

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
80020

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Directed individual presentation in a debate setting (students will role-play and represent the position of a stakeholder at a public hearing.)2015 minute presentation of debate (followed by 10 minutes of questions from peers and tutor)1-8, 10Oral feedback following debate from peers and lecturer
Written counter-argument to the position taken during the debate (which should include an opinion on the stakeholders most likely to disagree with this position and why.)301000 words1-6, 8-10Written feedback directly linking the content of the work to the marking criteria
A five-part critical Learning Portfolio covering 4 selected topics from the module. The learning portfolio should be critical and evaluative of the issues, concepts, readings and values addressed on the module. The word limit is 2500 and should include the following elements: An introduction where you provide some background about your experiences on the module so far and your initial thoughts about the relevance of environmental law to environmental science (250 words). A series of four themes you draw from your learning on the module, which should be directly related to the topics studied. For each one you should reflect on your initial responses to the topic, critically explore the reading you undertook and comment on how your views have developed (500 words for each part). Please note that for each topic covered on the module indicative themes/ questions that might be addressed will be provided as guidance. A conclusion, in which you draw the sections of your portfolio together and reflect on your learning during the module (250 words). 50500 word per part (2500 words)1-6, 8-9Written feedback directly linking the content of the work to the marking criteria
0
0
0

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Debate and counter-argument.Essay (1500 words) worth 50% replicating the ideas considered in the original assessment1-6, 8-10August/September Reassessment period
PortfolioPortfolio to be re-submitted worth 50%1-6, 8-9August/September Reassessment period

Re-assessment notes

Re-assessment will be by means of a replacement piece of work to be submitted during the August/September reassessment period referral / deferral period equivalent to the failed element of the original assessment.