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FIT5210/FIT5126/FIT4441 ASSIGNMENT 1: LITERATURE
REVIEW (AND PROPOSAL)
A. Overview and Deadline
The aim of this assignment is to prepare a literature review and explore the detailed
background of your project so that you can define a focussed research problem. This
assignment is the first assessment in both the ‘minor thesis’ stream and for your honours
project. It is worth 15% of all the available marks across the project module(s) that you
are studying.1 The due date for this assignment is:
- For students on FIT5210 – Friday 3pm, Week 5.
- For students on FIT5126 or FIT4441 – Friday 3pm, Week 8.
Late assignments will have five marks deducted (out of 100 available) for each
calendar day2 that they are late, unless an extension of time is approved under the
applicable Faculty procedures. If your assignment is seven or more days late, then
you will automatically be awarded a mark of zero. (Furthermore, if your Interim
Presentation3 (a separate assignment due in Week 12) is submitted late or not at all,
then further marks will be administratively deducted, as explained in the Interim
Presentation instructions.)
B. The Assignment
You must write a report of up to 6000 words (plus a reference list) that addresses the
following questions:
A. What is the range of research conducted in the research area?
B. What does the existing research tell us?
C. What is the gap in the existing research that motivates the research project?
D. How do you plan on addressing this gap in your research project?
This report will be marked by one assessor4. It will be marked following the rubric
appended to this document in Annex A. This rubric is really important and you should
check you address all the points contained within it when you submit your report.
Warning: If the report you submit is over the 6000-word limit, then any material (asides
the reference list) after the 6000-word point will not be marked. You will also lose further
marks for a lack of concision in your writing, see Criteria 6A in the mark-scheme.
1 For students on the minor thesis program, this is three modules in succession –
FIT5126/FIT5127/FIT5128. For students on the honours program, this is four connected modules
– FIT4441/4442/4443/4444. For those on the graduate certificate, FIT5210 is the only module you
take, but that is a triple module.
2 An assignment that is submitted after 3pm is deemed
to have been submitted on the following calendar day. For example, an FIT5126 assignment
submitted at 4pm on Sunday on Week 8 would be deemed to be three days late and have 15 marks
deducted, whilst one submitted at 2pm that same day would be treated as being two days late and
have 10 marks deducted.
3 This does not apply to FIT5210 students.
4 The marks will be moderated by the Chief Examiner before they are issued.
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C. Structure of Report
Your report is required to have the following structure and section headings
(suggested word counts for each in brackets):
Title Page. This is a single page containing (i) a working title for your project, (ii) your
student ID number, (iii) your name, (iv) the course you are studying
(FIT5210/FIT5126/FIT4441) and (v) your supervisors name).
1. Introduction (750 words): This section presents an overview of your literature review,
as well as offering an indication (for your readers) of the structure to follow. It should
capture the broader topic and problem. It should also make clear the aims and objectives
of the literature review itself (rather than just the proposed project).
2. Substantive Literature Review (3000 words) 5: This should contain a number of
subsections, where different topics of the literature review are explored and discussed in
detail. In these sections you are presenting your analysis by connecting and critically
commenting upon different pieces of relevant literature. NB: you must have read and
should have fully understood each source that you cite.6
3. Summary of the State of the Art (500 words): You should present a clear ‘gap’ in the
literature based on your substantive literature review. This should be persuasively
connected to the project you propose to conduct.
4. Research Project Plan (1500 words): Provide a focussed plan explaining what
research you plan do to resolve (or at least, help address) the identified ‘gap’ you found in
your literature review. You should be able to persuade your assessors that your plan is
appropriate, feasible and realistic.
5. Conclusion (250 words). A paragraph summarising your report.
6. Reference List (unlimited word count): A list of all the references cited in the above
text. This is not a ‘Bibliography’, so you should limit this to the references you actually cited
in the sections identified above.
Warning: If the report does not have the above set of section headings, it may be returned
to you to correct, with the late penalty in Section A applying for each calendar day you
spend correcting it.7 Please use the above structure and section headings to avoid this
situation occurring.
D. Support with this assignment
This assignment is your opportunity to conduct a detailed investigation of the academic
literature related to your topic of study. Whilst you are responsible for the assignment,
your supervisor will be able to help you identify the most relevant literature and explain
how to effectively evaluate it. Provided you give them a reasonable amount of time to do
so, your supervisor is expected to provide comments on drafts you share with them,
5 The titles of the subsections in the Substantive Literature Review are chosen by the student to
align with the argument they are making and the literature that they are covering.
6 See Paragraph 2.8 of the new Academic Integrity Procedure:
7 For example, if a report is returned to you for correction on the 25th of October and you return it
before 3pm on the 26th of October, you would lose 5 marks for the assignment.
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however they are not allowed to draft substantial chunks of text for you to include in your
report.
Your supervisor is also your point of contact if you are unclear about the assignment. If
there is any confusion or difficulties that you are unable to resolve with them, then you
can contact the Minor Thesis/Honours Co-ordinator.8
We will also offer some optional seminars this semester to support this module.
Finally, please read the rubric overleaf in detail.
E. Application for Assessment Adjustments
If you have a relevant disability or health condition, you may be entitled to ‘assessment
adjustments’ under Part 6 of the University Assessment Regime procedure.9 The process
of applying for these is to first approach the Disability Support Service, and then when
they have provided recommendations, please write to the Chief Examiner without delay.
F. Submission of Assignment
Your report must be submitted in a PDF format in Moodle in conformity with the following
instructions.
1. The file should be named in the following form: yourStudentID-
yourFirstNameSurname-yourSupervisorName-LitReviewProposal.pdf
2. The submission should be completed in line with the timings set out in Section A
of this document. Late penalties apply as explained in that Section.
Please do not leave the submission to the last minute, but allow an appropriate amount
of time to upload your completed assignment.
ANNEX A – MARKING RUBRIC
This assignment is marked out of 100. The marks are apportioned as follows:
Criteria 1: Introduction and Aims (10 Marks)
NB – this is assessed purely on Section 1 of the report ‘Introduction’ as listed in Section C.
Grade Description
N (0%-49%) No statement regarding the aim/s of the literature review. It is mostly unclear what topic the project is investigating.
P (50%-59%) There is a vague statement regarding the aim/s of the literature review. It is somewhat clear as to the topic being
investigated.
C (60%-69%) There is a reasonably clear statement regarding the aim/s of the literature review, however this has obvious omissions. It is
mostly clear as to the topic being investigated in the proposed project, with some indication given as to the project’s
importance.
D (70%-79%) There is a clear statement regarding the aim/s of the literature review, with only minor omissions. It is clear as to the topic
being investigated in the proposed project, with a clear argument advanced as to the project’s importance.
Lower HD (80%-89%) There is a clear statement regarding the aim/s of the literature review, with no notable omissions. It is fully clear as to the
topic being investigated in the proposed project, with a clear argument and mostly persuasive argument advanced as to the
project’s importance.
Upper HD (90%-
100%)
There is a clear statement regarding the aim/s of the literature review, with no omissions. It is fully clear as to the topic
being investigated in the proposed project, with a clear argument and persuasive argument advanced as to the project’s
importance.
Criteria 2: Coverage of research (20 Marks)
NB – this is assessed purely on Section 2 of the report, namely ‘Substantive Literature Review’ as listed in Section C.
Grade Description
N (0%-49%) The sources used are inadequate or inappropriate; the review does not show clear understanding or justification of sources
for inclusion in the review.
P (50%-59%) The sources used may be somewhat inadequate or inappropriate; the review does not always show clear understanding or
justification of sources for inclusion in the review. There are at least 10 references integrated into the main argument.
C (60%-69%) The sources used demonstrate acceptable selection of literature; the review exhibits reasonable interpretation of sources and
sources’ inclusion in the review is somewhat justified. There are at least 15 references integrated into the main argument.
D (70%-79%) The sources used demonstrate competent selection of literature; the review exhibits appropriate interpretation of sources
and justification for inclusion in the review. There are at least 20 references integrated into the main argument.
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Lower HD (80%-89%) The sources used demonstrate judicious selection of literature; the review exhibits perceptive interpretation of sources and
clear justification for inclusion in the review. There are at least 25 references effectively integrated into the main argument.
Upper HD (90%-
100%)
The sources used demonstrate judicious selection of literature; the review exhibits perceptive interpretation of sources and
clear justification for inclusion in the review. There are at least 30 references effectively integrated into the main argument.
Criteria 3: Analysis of literature (20 Marks)
NB – this is assessed purely on Section 2 of the report, namely ‘Substantive Literature Review’ as listed in Section C.
Grade Description
N (0%-49%) The discussion of the literature is wholly uncritical and at best describes/summarises it only.
P (50%-59%) The discussion of the literature acts primarily as a description/summary, rather than a critical evaluation of the sources
used.
C (60%-69%) The discussion of the literature includes some elements of critical evaluation of the sources used.
D (70%-79%) The discussion of the literature demonstrates the students’ ability both to describe/summarise, and to evaluate the sources
used.