Posted: July 1st, 2015

how armed conflict effect society (recent armed conflicts)

LAW AND SOCIAL JUSTICE – SEM2 2014/2015

 

ASSESSMENT QUESTION AND GUIDELINES FOR PRESENTATION (40%) AND ESSAY (60%)

 

In order to understand the intricate link between law and social justice, it suffice to dive into our recent history, exploring ‘the true cost of our principles and how we live now’. [‘How to hold your breath’ – comment on the play from the Artistic Director]

 

Based on a topic of your choice, critically engage with the above statement and with the theories of justice studied in class or during your individual research. You will have to map out the role played by the law in defining the idea of social justice on the area that you have chosen to research.

 

To address these assignments, you need to undertake your own research, using critical and analytical skills already rehearsed during the seminars. For both presentation and essay, it is important that you make use appropriately of the various theories of justice you have studied and researched.

 

The topic of your choice may not overlap substantially with the one of a colleague. In order to provide for this restriction, an on-line forum will be open on the module Blackboard page. Here, you will have to upload your presentation/essay topic, including clearly the title and up to 200 words abstract, detailing briefly what you intend to address in your essay/presentation and how. All discussions and communications regarding the presentation topic will take place via this forum, not via emails. It is the student’s responsibility, by following the submissions and discussions in the on-line forum, to make sure that her/his topic does not overlap with the topic of another colleague that has posted earlier.

 

The module leader will approve and comment on the topics via the on-line forum.

 

The presentation and the essay will be based on the same topic. Deadline for submission of your topic and abstract via the on-line forum: Monday, 16^th of March 2015. After this deadline, the topic of the presentation cannot be changed.

 

Your essay has to be submitted via the Turnitin application on Blackboard (under Assessment).

 

 

General Assessment Criteria

 

In your research, you will need to demonstrate that you are able to:

 

• Frame a research question by identifying a problem or an issue at the confluence of law and social justice;
• Research the topic by consulting primary and secondary sources relevant to the topic;
• Make use of the various theories of justice studied in class;
• Analyse the legal and policy issues relating to the chosen field of inquiry and to the chosen topic;
• Write and communicate your ideas effectively;
• Present a succinct summary of your research and findings orally within the time allocated for the presentation (10-12min), answer the questions raised by colleagues.
• Comment constructively and evaluate other presentations
• Convey ideas clearly and comprehensively within the word-limit (3000 words);
• Engage critically with the literature on law & social justice;
• Correctly identify and cite sources;

 

 

 

Assessment Modes and Weightings:

 

Seminar Oral Presentation 40%

 

Stage 1: Each student will record the presentation digitally, using a Blackboard application (instructions will be posted via Blackboard). The presentations have to be uploaded on Blackboard by the above deadline.

Presentation deadline: 10am on Tuesday, 31 of March 2015

Stage 2: Each student will then review three other presentations and upload comments, questions and grading. This process needs to be completed by 10am on Thursday, 2^nd of April.

 

Research Essay: 60%

 

– 3000-word essay, excluding bibliography and footnotes

– Coursework deadline: Monday, 18 of May 2015, by 10am – submitted via Turnitin on Blackboard.

 

 

 

Assessment Overview

 

You are expected to apply the conceptual frameworks, themes, problems and theories learnt in class to the chosen topic or problem, while engaging with the given statement as appropriate. You will identify legal & social justice issues in the area of your choice and critically engage with the relevant material.

 

You are expected to comment and evaluate constructively each other’s presentations.

 

You are expected to choose different topics and encouraged to engage in group discussions and shared learning. Towards this end, you are encouraged to use Blackboard to communicate, brainstorm ideas and share resources.

 

 

Assessment 1 – Oral Presentation

Total Marks 40%

 

Oral Presentation, recorded digitally – Assessment Objectives

Submission path: via Blackboard (detailed instructions will be posted via Blackboard, under Assessment)

 

The criteria for assessing the presentations will be:

 

• Clear statement of the topic of research;
• Knowledge and understanding of the relevant legal and social theory concepts of justice;
• Evidence of research and analysis;
• Ability to give a clear overview/summary of the issues, questions and problems in the topic chosen;
• Ability to present an informed analysis of the issues, questions and problems in the sector/topic chosen;
• Ability to support arguments with appropriate evidence;
• Ability to provide a succinct statement of your findings and conclusions;
• Articulately and creatively deliver material in presentation format;
• Capacity to engage with comments and questions and/or capacity to comment and evaluate constructively other presentations.

 

 

 

Assessment 2 – Research Essay

Word length: 3000 words (excluding bibliography and footnotes).

Total Marks: 60%

Submission path: via Blackboard, using the specially provided Turnitin folder

 

 

Essay Assessment Objectives

 

The primary objectives of the research coursework are:

 

• To assess if your ability to critically evaluate the interface of law and social justice;
• To assess if you are able to apply the concepts and ideas learnt in class to specific problems in law and social justice;
• To assess your understanding of the meaning and nature of social justice and of the extent to which law has an impact on this;
• To assess your ability to critically analyse the ideologies and practices of law and social justice;
• To assess your ability to explore the eventual legal implications of the various theories of justice;
• To assess your ability to critically interrogate the rhetoric and the practices of law and justice;
• To assess your research and analytical skills;
• To assess your capacity to take forward comments and questions from the presentation and address them;
• To assess your capacity of presenting your work in the correct academic format;