Identify and justify a legal research project, including its aims, scopes and objectives and critically review the extent and nature of existing legal research on this legal topic.

Description

 

Assessment tasks Instructions:

Produce a literature review which critically analyses a legal issue of your choosing.

The following is a basic structure for the literature review:

1. Introduction

2. Body – headings and sub-headings

3. Conclusion

4. Bibliography

Where to Start:

You first select a topic

You then select your research question(s) accordingly

Remember: Topic ≠ research question

A good literature review evaluates a wide variety of sources (academic articles, scholarly books, government/NGO reports). It can also evaluate literature reviews that study similar topics.

When reviewing sources, be mindful of:

• Their authority: Who is the author? what is his/her credentials–what university he/she is affiliated? Is his/her area of expertise?

• Their usefulness: How this source related to your topic? How current or relevant it is to your topic?

• Their reliability: Does the information comes from a reliable, trusted source such as an academic journal?

Intended learning outcomes The assessment is intended to assess your achievement of the learning outcomes for the Module as follows:

1. Identify and justify a legal research project, including its aims, scopes and objectives and critically review the extent and nature of existing legal research on this legal topic.

2. Self-manage research by applying acquired research skills and knowledge of advanced legal research methods to the design and conduct of the research project on the chosen legal topic.

3. Present the findings of a research project on a legal topic in a logically structured, well-reasoned and well-written manner, by reaching critical conclusions.

4. Present a scholarly plan of research in an adequate format and with proper referencing.

Marking guidelines / mark bands

You will be expected to show:

• A clear understanding of what the question is asking you to do and close attention to the requirements of the question

• Appropriate research in preparation for your answer

• A structured and methodological approach to writing and structuring a literature review

• A structured discussion of the relevant issue(s)

• An effective and precise use of spoken and written English.

• The proficient use of legal and other information and materials

• Skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation of relevant legal rules, doctrine, policy, principles and concepts

• The appropriate literature review form for your answer

• Proper referencing using OSCOLA and a full bibliography (the latter should be on a separate but attached sheet)

Use this Checklist to “assess” yourself:

• Do I understand the issues raised by the question?

• Have I planned my answer so that the final result is logical and makes sense?

• Have I introduced the issues properly?

• Is all the material relevant?

• Are my arguments clear?

• Does the reasoning develop as the answer progresses?

• Have I tried to take to critical approach to the material I am using?

• Have I balanced descriptive material with analysis and argument?

• Is the answer repetitive?

• Have I written a proper conclusion which draws the threads of my answer together?

• Have I acknowledged all sources?

• Have I included a full bibliography?

• Have I met the word limit?

• Have I checked spelling, punctuation and grammar?

Other information

You should check your work very carefully for spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Argument should be appropriately referenced, and your work should include a full bibliography of texts, journals etc. referred to in your work. Your footnotes and bibliography should follow the OSCOLA referencing style.

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