Word counts and time limits
Assessments will include a word count, or time limits. Going significantly over or under will impede your mark. Most modules have ranged word count (i.e. 1,000-1,500 words), or a +/- 10% buffer, or include a range (e.g. Your lecturer will confirm what the penalties for exceeding or falling short of a word or time limit.
Crucially, the word counts and time limits are indicative of the correct quantity of work. Going above or below this shows you have not adequately followed a brief.
Word counts do include in-text citations, footnotes, tables, and figure captions, but do not include the bibliography.
Referencing and academic integrity
Your work must include appropriate acknowledgement of the ideas, words, and arguments of others. HSS students should use Harvard referencing by default, but if you are more familiar with a different style, let your lecturer know and ensure you use it consistently. Inconsistent or poor referencing will lose you marks and could lead to a plagiarism offence. Good academic practice includes paraphrasing appropriately, quoting accurately, and making clear when another author’s ideas end and your own analysis begin.
Please use the Harvard referencing style guide from the library to see how your references should be presented.
Where work has been incorrectly referenced, or there are concerns about academic integrity, lecturers will investigate the concern. Following the Imperial policy, if a concern is found to be true, an appropriate penalty will be applied.
You can find more information on the guidelines on avoiding plagiarism, the CLCC policies on plagiarism and collusion, and the university’s formal position on academic misconduct on the Imperial website.
Your lecturer will give you specific advice for the assessment in your module. The following guidance outlines common expectations across HSS and when writing an essay.
General guidance to writing a good HSS assessment
Developing a critical argument: A good submission involves critical analysis. This means you should build an argument, drawing on, and evaluating, appropriate forms of evidence, and showing why the points you made matter. Being critical does not simply mean being negative; it means analysing ideas carefully, weighing evidence and drawing on the theory or theories covered in the module and supporting materials.
Structure: Most essay work should include an introduction, main body and a conclusion. Your introduction should explain the purpose of your essay and indicate the direction of your argument. The main body should be organised into clear paragraphs, each developing a distinct point. Your conclusion should draw together your discussion and reinforce the essays overall argument, without introducing new material.
Writing style: Clarity matters. Aim to write in a precise, formal and readable style. Use the module’s terminology accurately, avoid clichés, and keep your sentences purposeful. Essays are, by their nature, formal pieces of writing written in mainly the passive voice.
Format and presentation: Students should follow any module-specific formatting instructions given by the lecturer. Usually, this means 1.5 or double line spacing and margins of at least 2.5cm. Use a font that is easy to read.