Academic Writing for MHSES 2025

MHSES criteria for assessing written work

The standard criteria used for assessing MSc written work at Moray House are as follows:
 Knowledge and understanding of concepts
 Knowledge and use of the literature
 Critical reflection on theory and practice
 Application of theory to practice
 Planning and implementation of research/investigation (to be applied as appropriate)
 Constructing academic discourse.
Each of these criteria contains detailed descriptors which are used to apply grades A-E to
written work.
However, it is important to note that some programmes apply these criteria and descriptors
in specific ways, for example through wording the descriptors differently.
For this reason, always check the assessment criteria on your programme and course. Ask
your course organisers or check the Learn pages and handbooks for your programme and
course.

Extract from the Taught Postgraduate Generic Handbook 2024-25 (pages 19-23). This
handbook is on the Learn page PGT General Information MHSES 2024-25.

Knowledge and understanding of concepts

A The assignment shows that the student has understood the main concepts and
theories dealt with in the course, without any misunderstanding, and has been able
to integrate this understanding into a coherent framework.
B The assignment shows that the student understands the main concepts and theories
dealt with in the course, without any misunderstanding.
C The theories and concepts dealt with in the assignment reflect a major part of the
content of the course, and are handled in a way that demonstrates that the student
understands these concepts, although there is some misunderstanding.
D There is evidence of a degree of understanding at the conceptual and theoretical
level in what is assessed in the assignment but there are some omissions or
misunderstandings in the student’s handling of the theories and concepts dealt with
in the course.
E There is little or no evidence of understanding of the theories and concepts dealt with
in the course, or the theories and concepts are handled in a way that shows
considerable misunderstanding or omission.
Knowledge and Use of the Literature
A The student has used most of the key references in the reading list for this course,
without necessarily referring to every item on the list, and has in addition drawn on
other sources, and has integrated the ideas from all this material into a coherent and
analytical framework.
B The student has drawn on a wide range of appropriate sources, recommended for
this course, and has integrated the key ideas from these sources into a coherent and
analytical framework.
C The assignment shows that the student is familiar with a sufficient range of key
sources recommended for this course, and has been able to use these sources
relevantly and with a degree of critical understanding.
D The student has drawn on a limited range of sources recommended for this course
and these texts have been used for the most part relevantly but with superficial
understanding.
E There is little or no evidence of familiarity with any of the sources recommended for
this course, and/or those sources that are used are largely used irrelevantly or with
misunderstanding.

Critical Reflection on Theory and Practice

A There is extended critical discussion of most of the issues dealt with in the course;
these issues are brought together into an overall and coherent framework; the issues
are examined from several relevant perspectives; there is generalisation beyond the
immediate topic.
B There is extended critical discussion of most of the issues dealt with in the course;
the issues are brought together into an overall and coherent framework; the
discussion examines issues from more than one perspective.
C There is extended critical discussion of most of the issues dealt with in the course,
without there being an overall integration of the issues, and/or the discussion is
largely conducted from one perspective.
D There is some critical discussion of some of the issues dealt with in the course, but
this discussion is not very extensive, or is not pursued to any depth, or shows
evidence of inconsistency.
E The assignment largely consists of anecdotal or descriptive content, or of
unsupported assertions or unquestioned assumptions.

Application of Theory to Practice

A The implications of theory for policy and/or practice are thoroughly discussed and
their limitations fully specified.
B The main implications of theory for policy and/or practice are outlined and their
limitations specified.
C The main implications of theory for policy and/or practice are outlined.
D Superficial awareness of the implications of theory for policy and practice is
demonstrated.
E The assignment fails to identify any implications of theory for policy and practice.

Planning and Implementation of Research/Investigation

A The research question(s) is/are clear and operational definitions fully specified; data
collection methods are justified with detailed evaluation of alternatives; both reliability
and validity are evaluated; presentations of findings are clear and thorough;
conclusions are drawn and evaluated.
B Research question(s) is/are clear and there is some discussion of operational
definitions; data collection method is justified with some reference to alternatives;
some awareness of validity and reliability; clear presentation and findings; a range of
conclusions is drawn.
C Research question(s) is/are clear; data collection method is justified but with little
evaluation of alternatives; some awareness of data limitations; adequate
presentation of findings; some conclusions are drawn.
D Research question(s) is/are only sketchily outlined; some justification for data
collection method; lack of critical evaluation of data; unclear presentation of findings;
conclusions are unclear.
E Research question(s) is/are not specified; no rationale for data collection method; no
evaluation of data; confused or incomplete presentation of findings; no attempt to
draw conclusions.

Constructing Academic Discourse

A The quality of the writing, expression of ideas and conformity to conventions of
referencing are consistent with the quality required for publication in an
academic/professional journal.
B Consistent understanding is demonstrated in a well-structured, clear and appropriate
manner, which conforms to conventions of academic writing.
C The assignment demonstrates understanding and expression/application of ideas in
a style which is mostly logical, coherent, fluent and appropriate to the conventions of
academic writing.
D For the most part the assignment demonstrates a logical and coherent
understanding of the subject matter but sections of the argument become confused
 or undeveloped, or stylistically inappropriate, and do not conform to the conventions
of academic writing.
E The assignment lacks a logical and coherent framework or the expression of the
ideas is confused or underdeveloped, or stylistically inappropriate, or does not
conform in any way to the conventions of academic writing.