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PG Diploma grade guidelines: characteristics of performance for each grade

Criteria Ungraded: 0-39% (Fail) Grade D: 40-49% (Fail) Grade C: 50-59% (Pass) Grade B: 60-69% (Merit) Grade A: 70-100% (Distinction)

Integration & Demonstrates very little evidence of having Demonstrates a limited, fragmented Demonstrates a modest, partially Demonstrates a well-integrated Demonstrates an excellent, well-
Application read, or integrated, central texts and knowledge of the literature and integrated knowledge of the basic knowledge of the basic literature and integrated knowledge of the basic
(Reading) research findings; scarcely relates these to research findings; presents few and/or literature and research findings; research findings; presents pertinent literature and research findings;
the topic. limited applications of these to the presents some modest applications applications of these to the topic. presents convincing applications of
topic. of these to the topic. these to the topic.

Critical use Demonstrates very little or no awareness of Demonstrates limited awareness of Demonstrates modest awareness of Demonstrates awareness of differing Demonstrates excellent awareness of
of literature differing viewpoints, and of relations differing viewpoints, and of relations differing viewpoints, and of relations viewpoints, and of relations between differing viewpoints, and of relations
(Reading) between them. between them. between them. them. Is familiar with main texts and between them. Is widely read, and is
findings; presents some critique but is critically incisive.
Reflection, insight not incisive.
and evaluation
(Reading) Presents very little or no evidence of Presents little evidence of reflection Presents modest and/or unclear Presents clear evidence of reflection Presents strong evidence of complex,
reflection and evaluation of own and others’ and evaluation of own and others’ evidence of reflection and and evaluation of own and others’ insightful reflection and penetrating
teaching practices. teaching practices. evaluation of own and others’ teaching practices. evaluation of own and others’ teaching
teaching practices. practices.

Understanding & Presents very little evidence of, or Presents limited evidence of, or Presents modest grasp of main Presents a good grasp of main Presents an excellent grasp of main
Relevance misunderstandings of, main knowledge, flawed understandings of, main knowledge, concepts, theories, knowledge, concepts, theories, policy knowledge, concepts, theories, issues
concepts, theories, issues policy, ideas and knowledge, concepts, theories, issues policy, ideas and practice (when applicable), ideas and practice policy, ideas and practice relevant to the
(Writing) practice relevant to the topic; makes very issues, policy ideas and practice relevant to the topic and makes relevant to the topic; makes salient topic; and makes interesting and/or
few or no connections between them. relevant to the topic; makes few or some relevant connections between connections between them. compelling connections between them.
simple connections between them. them.

Reasoning Provides very few, or no hints, on the Provides little information about the Acknowledges the rationale and Makes clear the rationale and Explains the rationale and narrative arc
Structure, Argument rationale and narrative arc of the study; overall rationale and narrative arc of narrative arc of the study; submits narrative arc of the study; submits of the study; presents rigorously
submits work with very little or no structure; the study; submits work with little work with an adequate structure; clearly structured work; develops structured work; provides lucid, cogent
(Writing) develops few or no arguments, presented structure; develops weak arguments, develops and sustains some clear and sound arguments with some and sophisticated arguments that are
arguments are flawed not sustained or are and/or the arguments are not followed modest arguments; presents some defence but little evidence of well substantiated and defended;
mutually contradictory; presents very little or through; presents little discussion of discussion of the work as a whole. creativity; presents a substantive presents a thorough and critical account
no discussion of the work. the work as a whole. discussion of the work as a whole. of the work as a whole.

Independence Demonstrates very little or no independence Demonstrates little independence of Demonstrates modest Demonstrates independence of Demonstrates independence of thought
(Writing) of thought; accepts as given ideas and thought; accepts without question independence of thought; questions thought; routinely questions ideas and and argument; challenges ideas and
findings from the educational literature and most ideas and findings from the some ideas and findings from the findings from the literature and findings from the literature and
research. educational literature and research. literature and research; shows an research; shows an ability to generate research; shows an ability to generate
ability to generate practical robust recommendations. rigorous recommendations; is creative,
recommendations. innovative & goal-oriented.

Technical accuracy* Considerable error in level of technical Some errors in level of technical An acceptable, if fairly basic, level Considerable accuracy and Very few flaws in accuracy and
of presentation accuracy in written work. accuracy in written work. of technical accuracy in written correctness in technical presentation correctness in technical presentation in
work. in written work. written work.

*Technical accuracy is taken to include: punctuation, essay organisation, paragraph and sentence structure, spelling, tone, word usage, referencing.