Any university lecturers here?

~Chameleon~

Luckylucy wrote: »

"You clearly violate the assignment requirement for at least five non-web references. You supply only two. You either have not read the requirement carefully, or decided not to follow the rules."


I did in fact read the assignment requirement carefully and the Module handbook which state about the assignment:

'should be appropriately referenced using ACADEMIC sources of literature (books and journals)' (Module Handbook)

and

'Your assignment must have at least five (5) academic references from books or journals. Any use of websites (including the reference for your chosen video) is additional to the five required references and all references must use Harvard referencing style as illustrated in your HUBS Study Skills Handbook.' (Assignment Brief)

Within my assignment there is at least 5 references to books or journals using the Harvard referencing style and both books are listed in my reference list.

No where in the brief or module handbook is there a mention of there needing to be five individual academic texts in the reference list specifically, just that they need to be referenced.

Even in the study skills handbook there is no (can't think of the word) clarification between referencing in text and a reference list.

From the feedback I am guessing that the lecturer wanted 5 separate sources in the reference list not 5 references from books or journals in the text.

In one book I used 3 references and 1 books I used 2 references as well as an online journal and some webpages.

It was only a 1000 essay!!

I'm first year so although it doesn't go towards my classification it count towards getting a placement for industrial year.

Ahhh this post makes it clearer. The more references you give, using different sources, especially journals which specialise in your area of study the better. Don't panic, you're in year one, just completing your first semester. It's a steep learning curve from college and you will improve as you progress. Just don't panic

Take your tutor's feedback on board and make sure you utilise it in your next assignment.

If it's any help, I probably use 20+ sources of evidence in any academic piece I write. It's all about research which probably constitutes at least 75% of an assignment. Writing it up should be the easy part

CharlieRabbit01

I totally understand your interpretation of the brief however I agree with you tutor you should have 5 books plus any additional journals and web pages.

Have a chat with your tutor as a first year this is and easy mistake to make. Dont worry too much just be aware in the future.

Luckylucy

Person_one wrote: »

This is a learning curve, don't let it get to you, now you know for next time!

The marker is right, although a bit abrupt. One 'reference' usually means one source, however many times you cite it in the text. The in text references are called citations.

That's fine, but no-one has mentioned citations. I had never even heard the word until today! That is the problem then of course that is absolutely fine but if it's something we've not been shown or had mentioned? I understand it is all about individual study now so of course take that on board.

All the study books just mention references as in the text with their examples and then the reference list is just that?

Person_one

Luckylucy wrote: »

That's fine, but no-one has mentioned citations. I had never even heard the word until today! That is the problem then of course that is absolutely fine but if it's something we've not been shown or had mentioned? I understand it is all about individual study now so of course take that on board.

All the study books just mention references as in the text with their examples and then the reference list is just that?

Does your library run any study skills sessions? Harvard referencing us something you'll have to do in your sleep by the end of your degree, so take all help available to get to grips with it.

Luckylucy

Thanks everyone. I'm glad someone saw my interpretation of it as well so I am not going mad! it's just really disheartening. There is over 20 references in the text from 8 different sources, however it was to do with very niche subject and it was really difficult to find any sources online let alone in books! Only two books in entire library even mentioned the subject briefly, which are the two I reference from of course.

So is a reference the longer bit at the end? the Author, Date, Title etc... and a Citation the (One, P., 2013) in the text?

~Chameleon~

Person_one wrote: »

Does your library run any study skills sessions? Harvard referencing us something you'll have to do in your sleep by the end of your degree, so take all help available to get to grips with it.

You beat me to it

At university you're expected to study independently, hence the numerate hours of free study afforded to you. Contact time in lectures is only a small proportion of applied learning skills so ensure you take advantage of the many hours of private study available to you.

CharlieRabbit01

Did you look at any of the recommended texts in the reading list? The library should have a limited stock of these.

Luckylucy

Also something that has been worrying me as I have got some people in the know here!

I've been diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia from the college I was at but the assessment wasn't right for university. I have had the LADS assessment done and the results throw up the need to see the educational psych for further tests. When those all come back with a diagnosis what happens with all the work I have already done, without the extra measures I am entitled to?

As you can tell from my spelling and grammar I am quite possibly going to fail the written exam I have coming up in a few weeks

Lara44

The feedback may have been a bit direct but spare a thought for the lecturer who may have written it about 30 times on different student papers.

Don't worry, this is something easy to change . Feedback is just all part of getting better.

Luckylucy

CharlieRabbit01 wrote: »

Did you look at any of the recommended texts in the reading list? The library should have a limited stock of these.

We were just given a weblink, told to pick a video from it and write a 1000 word essay on it using the Cornell notes system (which I hated haha and will never use again, it was so complicated!)