Additional Course Outline Information
All forms of cheating and dishonest practice are taken seriously and penalties will result. Students should refer to Regulation J of the General Course and Examination Regulations.
The following assessment information should be read in conjunction with the Assessment Guidelines for Students and relevant UC Policies and the UC Calendar General Course and Examination Regulations. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with this information.
(i) Overall Course Grade
Final results for the course will be reported using the 11-point University Grading Scale except that a C- grade will not be awarded for any College of Education course. The course grading scale is therefore: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D and E.
(ii) Individual Assignment Assessments
Each submitted assessment will however be graded using the following scale.
Grade GPA Marks
A+ 9 90 – 100
A 8 85 – 89
A- 7 80 – 84
B+ 6 75 – 79
B 5 70 – 74
B- 4 65 – 69
C+ 3 60 – 64
C 2 55 – 59
C- 1 50 – 54
D 0 40 – 49
E -1 0 – 39
The criteria used to assess students’ work vary according to the type of assessment. The following broad definitions of grades on the scale may help you understand the standards used by lecturers.
A/A+ Excellent: Work is of outstanding quality in all respects.
B+/A- Very Good: Work is of a very high quality in most respects. It may fail to be outstanding in several criteria.
B-/B Good: Work is of a reasonably high quality, meeting most/all of the criteria to a satisfactory standard.
C/C+ Fair to reasonable: Work at this level is acceptable and just meets most or all of the criteria. A grade of C is a minimum pass standard. Students who maintain an average grade of a C will pass at the end of the year.
D grades Poor: Work at this level is just below a pass standard. An average grade of D+ for the year’s work will result in a fail for the course as a whole.
E grades Very Weak: Work which is clearly deficient in almost all respects
F Not Submitted: When the required work has not been done or is not submitted by the specific deadline.
Calculating the final mark in a course
The final mark for the course is calculated by averaging the grades obtained for the year’s work (and for the examination, where relevant) using the numerical equivalents indicated earlier and taking into account the weighting assigned to each piece of work.
Example:
This course requires a document analysis (30%), a research proposal (30%), and a final report (40%). A student obtains a C+, B- and A- respectively. That student’s final mark is calculated thus:
Document Analysis C+ = 8 x 30% = 2.40
Proposal B - = 9 x 30% = 2.70
Report A- = 12 x 40% = 4.80
9.90 = Final mark for the course.
At School examiners’ meetings the final marks are converted to grades on the University’s 11-point scale for reporting results. The grades awarded are based on students’ final marks, calculated as in the example given. The student in that example would probably be awarded a B- or B for that course.
Students are expected to be thoroughly prepared for each class, to contribute to class discussions and activities, and provide feedback and support to other class members.
Course and teaching surveys will be completed annually.
A sample of each set of marked assignments will be sent for moderation before assignments and grades are returned to students. The sample will be indicative of the full range of grades awarded.
If an extension has not been sought late work will not be accepted.
Refer to CIS website, www.canterbury.ac.nz/courses.
Presentation of assignments
The length of all assignments has been specified. There is a marking rubric for each assignment which identifies how the work is to be graded.
Presentation of assignments should adhere to the APA referencing format. Other details are specified on page 12: “Guide to the presentation of assignments” in the MTchLn prospectus and handbook.
If you cannot complete an assignment by the due date, you must consult the course co-ordinator regarding an extension before the assignment is due.
Reasonable extensions of time are normally granted. Time available for an extension is limited, regardless of individual circumstances. It is University policy that no assignments can be accepted for marking after other students marked assignments have been returned to them.
A part or section of an assignment may be required to be resubmitted in order to meet the course requirements. However only one resubmit will be allowed for each student throughout the course.
A student applying for an aegrotat must have attended at least 50% of the clases in which attendance is recorded and submitted at least 50% of the assessed work. Please refer to the following for more information: http:www.canterbury.ac.nz/acad/exams/aegrotats.shtml.
Work will be submitted at the lecture on the stated date, to the Course Lecturer. Work will be collected from the lecturer’s office.
