This information is extracted from the E11RM handbook – information is identical to handbook
E11RM Coursework assessment brief
Assessment will comprise the following components:-
For the end of semester 2, prepare a detailed and well-evidenced Master͛s Project PlaŶ, (for
your proposed final semester Masters level project). This should include:
1. Your proposed aim and objectives (these should clearly define your project).
2. 300 words summarising the importance of your proposed project (to society, economy,
human wellbeing, environment, etc.) and why your proposal/approach is innovative.
Better justifications will cite at least 5 key papers (using the Harvard method).
3. A working bibliography of ALL that you have read or looked at (including journals/
websites/ images/ exhibitions, etc.). Please highlight (in colour or bold) all the references
that you have found useful and anticipate being central to your work going forward. If
you have been keeping pace with the directed activities then you will have a minimum of
60 items in your bibliography (12 x 5 papers/designs/reports). Please number, and list,
the sources in the bibliography according to the order you found them.
4. A brief but explicit description of all proposed research methods (whether theoretical or
practical and including the design process for MA students). It should be very clear how
these methods will achieve each of the research objectives AND a brief but explicit
justification of proposed research methods with reference to initial (pilot) sampling/
experimentation/data, literature, lecture notes, etc. as appropriate to the project (this
may reference work submitted to other/previous courses).
5. Identification of ethical issues connected to the project and completion of an ethics
package (including Ethics Approval form, Plain Language Statements and Informed
Consent forms ready for submission.
6. Statement of intended outputs/outcomes expected from the work, including numbers of
outputs. (Note you should not predict the results of your work but state what you hope
to produce/discover in un-biased terms, e.g. 5 mood boards showing…, etc.).
7. Gantt chart showing the milestones of each of the major stages of the project. (Showing
all major process and outcomes with an estimation of how long each activity will take in
an easy-to-read format.)
Course Assessment Criteria
The assessment criteria for each component of the assessment is:-
Your assignment will be graded based on your demonstration of competence/excellence in
achieving each of the course learning outcomes as follows:
Learning outcome 1: Exhibit significant understanding of discipline to identify areas worthy of
investigation, opportunities for innovation and an ability to define these through writing clear
project aim and objectives. This will be demonstrated through the clarity of steps 1 and 2 of
the brief as informed by step 3 of the brief. Excellent reading/background research will inform
you to be able to identify an important and innovative project area, which should then be
explicitly and clearly defined (and informed by looking at a wide range of examples).
© School of Textiles and Design, Heriot-Watt University
Page 2
Learning outcome 2: Display advanced skills in identifying methodologies (and ethical
implications) appropriate to achieving stated objectives. This will be demonstrated at steps 4
and 5 of the submission with clear reference back to the project aim and objectives (and being
informed by reading so you may also make reference to items from your bibliography).
Learning outcome 3: Demonstrate an ability to plan a course of investigation: specify research
outcomes and success criteria, anticipating all major stages, working independently in
accordance with instruction whilst also responding to feedback. This will be evidenced
explicitly in steps 6 and 7 of the submission, the submission overall and also formatively in class
and tutorial discussions.
Learning outcome 4: Communicate clearly in visual and written formats to a range of
audiences. This will be evidenced throughout the submission. The visual communication will be
assessed principally on the visual communication and clarity of the Gantt chart but also in the
layout of the whole submission and how easy that is to follow. It may also be useful to present
key images in your project justification (at 2.) and to show your research methods and pilot
testing/initial experimentation (at 4.). The written communication will be judged on the clarity
of ǁritiŶg aŶd leǀel to ǁhich you haǀe deǀeloped a clear aŶd coŵpelliŶg ǀoice as a ͚Master͛ of
your chosen topic.
Note that
Plan = A realistic, clear and well thought out Gantt chart that, if followed, should enable the
student to achieve their objectives.
Ethics = Clear, logical Ethics Approval form, Plain Language Statements and Informed Consent
forms should be submitted with the proposal if your research methods involves humans or
animals at all. If your work does not involve humans or animals then you need to only complete
the Ethics Approval form. The only use of humans that does not require a full ethics package is
for photo shoots but you should get their informed consent to allow you to use their image(s).
It is not acceptable to plagiarise the work of others. It is good practice to paraphrase and cite
the work of others in your writing, but not acceptable to copy their words. It is also good
practice to discuss your work with others, but it is not acceptable to copy the work of another
person or to respond to individual briefs in the same way. You must submit your work through
Turnitin (on Vision, in assessment folder), which will produce a ͚similarity report͛. The ͚similarity
report͛ will highlight strings of words that it recognises from its database. If you see highlighted
strings of words then this indicates a problem that you need to address. Look to your course
notes for guidance and if you have questions please ask in live class sessions.
If work that is submitted for assessment that contains sections of highlighted text that are
considered too long (more than 5 is not normally OK and considered plagiarism), in what is
supposed to be individual work, then the student is likely to be referred to an academic
standards discipline committee.
General feedback on the overall relevance and viability of the project will be provided in
addition to feedback relating to each of the learning outcomes. Note that the external
examiner particularly comŵeŶds projects that address ͚real ǁorld͛ issues in well-informed and
innovative ways.
Page 3
Assessment Submission Details
Formative Assessment (Interim Feedback) and Summative Assessment (Final Mark)
Submission Details
Formative feedback: there are 2 formal points for formative feedback (see below). There are
also informal opportunities for formative feedback in class discussions and you can create
more opportunities with your peers using the ͚open classrooms͛ in the ͚webinar͛ folder on
vision. Giving and receiving feedback to peers is a great way to develop your critical skills,
understanding of topics/ research methods/planning and improve your proposals.
Failure to engage fully in the process (laid out in semester plan) will limit your opportunities
for feedback and limit your development and understanding. I believe it is much better to
try and not succeed in the tutorials/informal discussion than to fail in the summative
assessments and some failure is normal and very useful in the journey to success! I would
encourage you all to share your ideas and share feedback (give and receive) to make the
most of this learning experience.