Assignment Brief
Academic Year 2020-21
Please read this document carefully. It includes the learning outcomes, assignment task, information about plagiarism and marking criteria. Please speak to your tutor if you have any questions.
| Programme | |
| Module | |
| Assessment title | Assignment 1 – Research assignment: Micro-economics |
| Deadline date | To be confirmed by your tutor |
| Weighting | This assessment counts for 30% of your overall grade for this module |
| Pass mark | 40% *please note your University may require a higher grade for progression. |
| Assignment summary | To research micro economic components of a given country |
| Submission of work | http://www.turnitinuk.com |
| Feedback | http://www.turnitinuk.com Feedback will also be communicated back to you via your tutor. They will confirm the timescale in which you will receive your feedback. |
Important details
Unless instructed otherwise by your tutor, please follow the below instructions:
| Word count | 1500 – 1800 words |
| File type | Word processed |
| Font | 12 pitch font – Arial or Times New Roman |
| Format | Double spaced and justified |
| Referencing | Harvard system |
| Notes | Your assignment must include page numbers and word count. You will receive a 10% penalty for this assignment if you go over the word count by more than 10%. If your assignment is significantly under the word count, you may not have answered the question in full. This will be reflected in your overall mark and feedback given by your tutor. The word count does not include contents, end of text references or appendices. |
| Module learning outcomes |
| Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to: Understand the basic principles of microeconomicsInvestigate the economic nature of a country assigned to youApply economic theory to a given country Conduct research and produce a research assignment / reportUse Harvard style referencing Please refer to your Subject Guide for the full list of learning outcomes for this module. |
| Assignment purpose: |
| The purpose of this assignment is for you to demonstrate your understanding of the ‘economic problem’ and apply micro-economic concepts to a given country. This country will be assigned or approved by your tutor. Each student will be given a different country to investigate. |
| Assignment instructions and Guide: |
| Use the following details to help structure your research project. One country will be assigned to each student. Alternatively, thetutor will approve the country of student’s choice, to avoid overlap between different students. Get into the habit of following the economic news about this country using different news sources. As you progress through the course apply the knowledge and economic theory to the economy/country assigned to you. Use data, tables and graphs, and/or create your own graphs and tables to help illustrate your findings. A guide has been provided below to help students to structure and complete this assignment. Each of the following four sections will be scored out of 20 marks. A further 20 marks is available for written skills, presentation, and Harvard referencing. Describe the economic nature of your given country. You should include details of the following economic terms and make links / apply to the country you are researching The type of economy (mixed free or command) Contrast this to a different economyThe distinction between needs and wantsFactors of productionRenewable and non-renewable resourcesOpportunity cost – example(s) of choice made by an economic agent, using a PPF diagram Specialisation and division of labour. You should include details of the following economic terms and make links / apply to the country you are researchingSectors of the economyThe sector(s) or industries your assigned country specialises inThe advantages and disadvantages of specialisation to the given countryDivision of labour – students to choose any business operating in the country and suggest how division of labour may be used to its advantage and the problems it may bring Supply and demand in the economy. Using diagrams students should apply the theory of supply and demand to the assigned economyUse an example(s) of a product or service demanded in the economyInvestigate the factors affecting demand for this goods or servicesUse an example(s) of a product or service supplied in the economyInvestigate the factors affecting the supply of this good or service Show understanding, using a diagram, of the impact of a shift of demand or supply on the equilibrium point Market failure and government intervention – students toresearch evidence of market failure and government intervention in the assigned country. Market failure e.g. externalities, information gap, or merit and demerit goodsGovernment intervention – research a method the government has used to intervene in the market e.g. Maximum or minimum pricing, subsidies, indirect taxation, provision of public or merit goods. In the event you are unable to find evidence, the student should suggest how the government MAY deal with market failure in the given countryThe advantages and disadvantages of the government intervention Extra Details about your assignment: You will need to provide a bibliography of at least 3 references in your essay. You will need to use Harvard referencing.Your report needs to show:Proof that you have researched and analysed data relating to your given countryUse of Economic theory which is applied to your given countryGood quality of written English and a logical flow to your essay. You must not reference any user-generated sources of information such as Wikipedia or forums. You could read these to get a general overview for your own understanding, but they should not be used in your references as they are not always reliable sources of information. If you are unsure of what is expected of you, please speak to your tutor. |
| Plagiarism |
| We expect all submitted work to be your own words (apart from in-text quotations), written in a style that reflects your English language level. If you copy other people’s work and present it as your own, this is called plagiarism and is a serious academic offence. The full details of our policy on academic misconduct can be found at the back of the Programme Handbook. You must complete a coursework submission sheet and attach this to the front of your assignment. Submissions without this sheet may be rejected and may result in a mark of 0 being awarded for this assignment. |
| Poor (up to 5 marks) | Average (6-10 Marks) | Good (11-15 Marks) | Excellent (16-20 Marks) | Total 100 marks | |
| The nature of the economy (up to 20 marks) | Little attempt to address the requirements listed in the guide (section1) Isolated elements of knowledge and understanding Weak or limited application to the country researched Little or no evidence of research Generic in nature PPF diagram not attempted or is poor | Some attempt to address the requirements listed in the guide (section1) Some elements of knowledge and understanding shown An attempt to apply the theory to the country researched but may be weak Covers a limited number of the requirements listed in the guide Some evidence of research but limited PPF diagram attempted may lack detail | Good attempt to address all of the requirements of the assessment. (Section1) A good level of knowledge and understanding shown Good evidence that research has been conducted and demonstrates application of the theory to the country researched but may be lacking in some areas or a little vague at times PPF diagram mainly accurately | There is very good evidence of examining all of the requirements of the assessment. A very good level of knowledge and understanding shown which is applied well Good evidence that research has been conducted and demonstrates application of the theory to the country researched Uses an accurate PPF diagram to illustrate opportunity costs | Is |
| Specialisation and division of labour (up to 20 marks) | Little attempt to address the requirements listed in the guide (section2) Isolated elements of knowledge and understanding Weak or limited application to the country researched Little or no evidence of research Advantages and disadvantages of specialisation/division of labour missing/poor | Some attempt to address the requirements listed in the guide (section2 ) Some elements of knowledge and understanding shown An attempt to apply the theory to the country researched but may be weak Some evidence of research but limited Advantages and disadvantages of specialisation/division of labour vague or generic in nature | Good attempt to address all of the requirements listed in the guide (section2) Good elements of knowledge and understanding shown Good attempt to apply the theory to the country researched but may be a little vague or generic in some areas. Good evidence of demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of specialisation/division of labour | There is very good evidence of examining all of the requirements of the assessment. Excellent examples of knowledge and understanding shown Very good evidence of demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of both specialisation and division of labour which is applied specifically to the given country | |
| Supply and demand (up to 20 marks) | Little attempt to address the requirements listed in the guide (section3) Little/no attempt to use graphs or graphs incorrect Isolated elements of knowledge and understanding Weak or limited application to the country researched Little or no evidence of research | Some attempt to address the requirements listed in the guide (section3) Isolated elements of knowledge and understanding Weak or limited application to the country researched Some evidence of research but limited An attempt to use graphs but they may be partially incorrect | Good attempt to address the requirements listed in the guide (section3) Good evidence of knowledge and understanding Good application to the country researched but may be generic at times Good evidence of research Graphs used correctly but may lack some details | Very good evidence that the student has addresses all of the requirements listed in the guide (section3) Excellent evidence of knowledge and understanding of the theory Very good application to the country allocated Very good evidence of research Graphs used correctly to illustrate supply and demand | |
| Market failure and government intervention (up to 20 marks) | Little attempt to address the requirements listed in the guide (sectio4) Little/no attempt to research the country assigned Isolated elements of knowledge and understanding Weak or limited application to the country researched – if little/no evidence is available the student can be awarded for suggestions of potential Government intervention. | Some attempt to address the requirements listed in the guide (section4) Isolated elements of knowledge and understanding Weak or limited application to the country researched Some evidence of research but limited- if little/no evidence is available the student can be awarded for suggestions of potential Government intervention. | Good attempt to address the requirements listed in the guide (section4) Good evidence of knowledge and understanding Good application to the country researched but may be generic at times Good evidence of research – if little/no evidence is available the student can be awarded for suggestions of potential Government intervention. | Very good evidence that the student has addresses all of the requirements listed in the guide (section4) Excellent evidence of knowledge and understanding of the theory Very good application to the country allocated Very good evidence of research- if little/no evidence is available the student can be awarded for suggestions of potential Government intervention. | |
| Presentation and Written quality (up to 20 marks) | Numerous deficiencies in expression and presentation; the writer may achieve clarity (if at all) only by using a simplistic or repetitious style. Little / no attempt at Harvard referencing. | A simple basic style but with significant deficiencies in expression or format that may pose obstacles for the reader. An attempt at Harvard referencing but may be some errors | Competently written, with only minor lapses from standard grammar, with acceptable format. An attempt at Harvard referencing but may be minor errors | Well written, with standard spelling and grammar, in a readable style with acceptable format. Evidence of accurate Harvard referencing |
