Assignment
This is an individual assignment.
This paper will test your abilities, to study a particular area, write a well referenced report/ project and present an academic argument.
Write an academic essay addressing one of the topics below. The essay should be around 1500 words +/- 10% and be properly structured. There should be a brief introduction, a main body with at least three sections and a clear conclusion. Each section should have sufficient paragraphs, whose beginning statement should clearly indicate their main focus. Convincing arguments are expected to be brought forward within each paragraph. Arguments and discussions should be clearly supported and evidenced by relevant academic sources. Comprehensive and relevant research is crucial to the writing of this essay.
All sources must be referenced in the text and a full bibliography must be provided in alphabetical order in Harvard style. The essay should be typed in the Times New Roman font; size 12; with left alignment, double spacing and page numbering. A Turnitin report should be provided with the essay to ensure plagiarism is not practiced.
The content should be sourced from at least 8 unique sources, published post 2010. At least three of the sources should be an academic journal article and another should be a reputable or seminal book about the topic selected. Each source mentioned must be utilized to aid argument construction in several paragraphs. Paraphrasing is essential in all part of the essay. The whole essay should be seen as comprehensive, with an array of arguments. Consistency and cohesiveness in writing style is expected. Proper use of the written English language is to be expected. Creativity and originality is, nonetheless, recommended.
Select one topic from:
1. If you were to start a Franchised Food Business (e.g. Starbucks) near your school, which one would it be and why? Please, provide your own analysis of current food retailing and provide recommendations as to how your format could be more commercially successful than existing ones.
Use keywords food, franchise, retailing, geomarketing, business format.
2. In the light of increased Tariffs by the US on European Cheese, how can a European dairy big in the US market maintain its profitability and revenues without changing the business focus? Please, provide a critical analysis of the case and your recommendations.
Use keywords dairy, exports, trade war, business strategy
3. Review the Gillette advert supporting the Me2 campaign. Give an example of a product/ service category where the use of ethical, political or religious overtones in their communication campaigns could end up backfiring on the company. Please provide a critical analysis of recent example of such failure and your recommendations to the management of such company..
Keyword: fast moving consumer goods, controversial adds, launch failure
The current assignment is connected with the following learning outcomes:
Demonstrate understanding of key study skills. Use references, keywords and bibliography.
Explain and critically apply theories and concepts to practical business scenarios.
Explain how critical thinking can be used to promote the effectiveness of individuals, groups and organisations.
Report structure
To do so, student will produce a 1500 word report on the following items. This individual assignment will equal 100% of the final grade. The report will have an introduction, body and conclusion which will account for the word count. Bibliography will be required but will not be a part of the word count.
Referencing should abide by the Harvard rules and it is also mandatory.
STRUCTURE AND FORMAT OF THE REPORT:
This is an individual assignment.
Make sure your writing is precise and to the point. Your paper should not exceed 1500 +/-10% words per student, excluding appendices and references.
We suggest the report follow the following structure
Format of the report:
1. The report should display a coherent structure: title page should include student name, module name, lecturer name, date and school name followed by contents page, introduction, executive summary, methodology, findings, analysis, conclusions, recommendations, referencing and appendices.
2. The report should be prepared as a neatly typed Word document (Times New Roman 12 points), with double spacing and page numbering.
3. All reports will be discussed in class in a power point presentation of no more than 20 minutes. The presentation should be a summary of your work. The powerpoint presentation should be printed 4 slides per page and submitted attached to your report, otherwise submission will be rejected.
4. Tables or work/data taken from other sources may be included in an appendix.
5. All sources must be referenced in the text and a full bibliography must be provided (including visited websites) in the Harvard style referencing system. Paraphrasing or direct quotes taken from other sources must be clearly indicated with citations. No footnoting!
6. Students are reminded that depth, relevance and variety are the crucial elements of quality research. (Wikipedia is not considered to be a relevant source of information; any students referencing Wikipedia will be deducted marks! Alternatively, if you find information on Wikipedia use the original sources listed at the bottom of the article)
7. Students are reminded to use valid and peer-reviewed references to support their work. Websites should only be used if they represent an established source and only for facts and figures. Students should make the most of academic and practitioner books and articles.
8. Submission should be by the deadline below and should include a hard copy to the lecturer and an electronic copy to your academic coordinator.
9. All work must conform to University regulations on Cheating, Collusion and Plagiarism’ as described in your program handbook. You are advised to use the Harvard referencing style and avoid plagiarism.
Deadline: Midnight November 24th 2019
Reports, must be uploaded on Turnitin.com by midnight on November 24th 2019. Only when this has been done will the Report be considered submitted.
Coursework must be submitted for assessment by the due date. Coursework is deemed to have been submitted once it is lodged in accordance with the assessment requirements for the module or unit.
Late submission:
Coursework may be accepted after the deadline, but 5% will be deducted from the face value mark (5 marks) for work submitted before the end of the day after the due date, and 10 marks for course work submitted up to one week after the due date. (For example, if a piece of work deserves a mark of 48pc, 43pc will be recorded if the work is submitted before the end of the day, and 38pc – fail – if the work is submitted up to a week late). If the imposition of the penalty deduction results in a fail mark, the student will be deemed to have failed the assessment. Assessments which are marked with a literal grade, or which take the form of presentation, performance or exhibition may not be submitted late. Submission of coursework arising from reassessment may not be submitted late.
If you fail to submit an electronic version of your work, your mark will normally be recorded as a non-submission. However, if on the due date for your assignment, Turnitin is unavailable due to technical difficulties, students must submit the electronic version of your work as soon as possible to the academic Office. Your tutor will be aware of the situation and may well have informed you of such problems, so you will not risk penalties. You should submit the hard copy of your work as normal by the deadline.
Oral presentations are due in week 9.
Students absent on the oral presentation date without a valid justification, will receive 0 for their oral component.
Turnitin Details: Please see submission details on the ESE Student Portal.
Innovatively addresses objectives of the assessment task, especially those components requiring sophistication of critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation.
Excellent knowledge and understanding of material and an imaginative sense of its relevance across a range of issues, and context or policy situation; excellent use of course material and other relevant information to support Very good use of course material and other information; well-chosen to support arguments relevant to question Competent use of course materials and other information to support most arguments Some use of appropriate course materials and experience to support arguments; capacity to identify relevance, but may be rather narrowly focused and miss out important areas
Little or no sign of relevance Content.
A clear and consistent line of highly critical and evaluative argument, displaying the ability to develop one’s innovative ideas from the work of others. Creative flair in theoretical and conceptual analysis.
Independent and creative, and demonstrates clear thinking; ability to analyse and critically evaluate material Good knowledge and understanding of the material, across a broad spectrum, combined with an ability to evaluate, analyse and reflect on key issues Reasonable knowledge of the material and ability to draw upon more than one source for ideas; uses key themes well.
Adequate understanding and use of course and other relevant material; mostly descriptive, but with some grasp of key course themes and issues and a capacity to discuss these in context Very limited
knowledge and understanding and the issues involved Depth.
Wide range of recommended and relevant sources used in an innovative and consistent way to support arguments. In depth use of sources beyond recommended texts, demonstrates creative flair in independent research.
A sensitive awareness of conflicting arguments and ideas and of their provenance. Clear grasp of implications.
Well organized use of most of the major points with an ability to draw upon them creatively and critically; awareness of conflicting arguments and ideas and attempt to address them in context
Capacity to grapple with conflicting arguments and ideas; beginning to draw together and synthesize ideas and perspectives from a range of theory Some attempt to address the conflicting arguments and ideas from the course, some signs of an attempt to take an evaluative, analytical and critical stance; some appropriate use of concepts, but with only limited evidence of independent hiking Lack of
awareness of conflicting arguments and ides.
Structure
Outstanding visual and written presentation. Sophisticated yet clear and accessible style. Possibly innovative yet logical and fluent organisation and development of materials. Articulate, coherent and succinct. Relationships between statements and sections are clear and precise. Referencing is accurate and, appropriate.
Excellent organisation of material; clear, logical flow of argument; good sign-posting throughout
Good, clear framework and reasoned argument with evidence of careful thought Sensible use of major points integrated into the answer; logical flow of ideas is apparent Framework is
apparent with an introduction, argument and conclusion, but the logical flow and coherence is not always consistent and may be difficult to follow Little or no evidence of planned structure and organisation.
