ASSESSMENT
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1Your knowledge of the topic. You can demonstrate this by summarising relevant arguments efficiently (i.e. avoiding unnecessary detail) and showing that you have undertaken a breadth of reading by including all references. Tutors will pay attention to how you use referencing to demonstrate extensive reading of up-to-date literature. You will find the Bradford College Guidelines on Referencing in Academic Writing on the module moodle page.
1-5
2Your ability to analyse and critically evaluate evidence. You will need to demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of a number of positions rather than simply describing what somebody claims, and/ or accepting authors’ arguments without considering the validity of the evidence that underpins them. You are strongly advised to make full use of available research and theoretical evidence to criticise, support or refute the claims made by various authors.
1-6, 11, 12
3Your ability to undertake a logical and methodological research process, producing a relevant literature review, deciding on an appropriate methodology in consultation with your tutor, piloting and operationalising that methodology and subsequently producing a discursive, analytical report on your research.
1, 5, 7, 9
4Your ability to manage yourself competently through this project including careful selection of topic and developing an appropriate, clear focus. This is a self-directed task, with the allocated tutor acting as ‘critical friend’
1, 7-9
5Your ability produce a cohesive extended project text that is well organised, original, succinct and that is tightly focused upon the chosen topic.
1
6Your ability to express your ideas in an academic style of writing that is clearly expressed, grammatical with attention to spelling and scripting accuracy (i.e. avoidance of ‘typos’). Marks will also be lost if the text is not accurately referenced in the Harvard style.
10
The Early Years and Children’s Agenda carefully scrutinises each and every assignment within the marking process- please make sure you check your final drafts very carefully to avoid accidental plagiarism, as at level 6, the full penalties will still apply.

Process for return of assignments and for obtaining feedback:  you will normally be given feedback on your assignment within four weeks of the hand-in-date.  All feedback will be added to the turnitin site. Assessment will be based on the following:

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

The proposal provides a detailed plan of your dissertation and offers you valuable feedback on your research strategy. The word limit is 2000 words. The template in Appendix 3 should be used to present the proposal. Please cut and paste from the soft copy of the dissertation handbook on the module moodle page, and present as a word processed document. The sections are as follows:

Title: this should be concise and indicative of the topic and purpose of your research.

Introduction: this should set the scene and provide a rationale for your project. Whoever reads it should be able to tell what your research is attempting to find out and why. In setting the scene, you will need to summarise some of the relevant literature. It is expected you will be able to talk with authority at your pre-proposal submission tutorial about at least 10 different books and articles you have considered.

Proposed Methodology: here you will select and justify a methodological approach and research technique. In other words, you will propose how you intend to go about finding more out about the topic/question identified in the introduction. You will need to make reference to books and articles on research methods.

General ethical issues: this section is concerned with how you will address issues such as welfare of research participants, anonymity, informed/written consent, confidentiality etc.  You should also complete the Ethics Form attached in Appendix 6 and submit this with your proposal for consideration by the College Ethics Committee.

Please note when planning your methodology that all research carried out within the programme area must be cleared by a cross-departmental ethics committee in consultation with the module leader and dissertation tutor. Any assignment containing original photographs of children is deemed ‘unethical’ and as such, will not be passed by the ethics committee. This is a response to the national concern relating to the potential for dissemination and manipulation of digital images of children that have been captured within professional settings. It will be quite acceptable to use photographs of displays and/ or areas of professional settings in which no children are present.

Specific ethical issues: any ethical issues that you have identified as specific to your proposed methodology.

Timetable: this will require you to outline a schedule for the project, specifying what you will complete by when. You must show appropriate planning and organisation.

References: referencing should be completed according to the Harvard method (please access the Referencing Guidelines on the moodle)