Assessment
The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or 'formative' assignments. Each module has one or more formal or 'summative' assessments which are graded and count towards the overall module grade.
Assessment is largely coursework. Assessment methods include: written news stories, features and commentaries; audio and visual news and feature inserts; newsdays; portfolios with reflective log books; production tasks involving a range of media technology; group and individually produced projects; research exercises; critical self and peer review; work-based learning reports and external placement opportunities. There are two examinations in the Law and Ethics modules in years one and two.
The precise assessment requirements for an individual student in an academic year will vary according to the mandatory and optional modules taken, but a typical formal summative assessment pattern for each year of the course is:
Year 1
6 practical journalistic pieces / portfolios and learning reports
1 formal examination of 1hour duration
2 essays
1 individual or group presentations
Year 2
7 practical journalistic pieces / portfolios and learning reports
1 formal examination of 1 hour duration
1 reflective and skills portfolio relating to work placement
2 essays
Year 3
Major independent final project, which is a journalistic production of your choice
5 practical journalistic pieces / portfolios
3 essays
1 reflective and skills portfolio relating to work placement