Guidelines for 3000 word essay HE778

Guidelines for 3000 word essay HE778

Objectives

This essay provides an opportunity for you to explore an aspect of the clinical implications of pain that interests you, and further develops your understanding, using relevant literature. Critical evaluation of the literature is of paramount importance, descriptive text is not appropriate at this level of study.

You are asked to consider the evidence available regarding a particular clinical problem that you encounter within your work, you have two options

1)Your essay could be based on a specific clinical encounter with a person in pain. You should use appropriate literature to discuss and evaluate your interaction with them. This may be a person encountered in your normal working environment and should include an evaluation of an aspect of their management supported by appropriate literature.

2)Alternatively you may write about a more general aspect of pain management, but your chosen topic must be placed into a clinical context.

Please ensure that any individuals or institutions you mention in your essay are anonymised and unidentifiable. Failure to ensure this can lead to failure of the module.

General guidelines for the written assignment

The body of the essay includes all the information and, if appropriate, the arguments you wish to put forward. As this section will be lengthy it will often be divided into sub units which may be several paragraphs long. Each sub unit will highlight the salient points and there will be obvious connections to what has gone before and what will follow. Vague generalisations are best avoided. It is usually best to say what you mean clearly and concisely. Controversial statements will be supported by evidence or referenced to some authority. Statements of facts that are not well known, or the inclusion of data, will be referenced to the source document. The conclusion briefly summarises what has been said and indicates what can be deduced from the arguments. New information will not be introduced at this stage. The conclusion is very important, if it is well written it will leave the reader with a lasting and favourable impression of your work. It is certainly worthwhile spending plenty of time on this section.

PLEASE DO NOT USE ABBREVIATIONS, unless they are commonly used such as LBP.

Word count refers to the main body of the text and excludes the reference list and appendices. Where the word count is exceeded, the examiner reserves the right to reduce the students marks by 10% of the given mark. The examiner has the right to use discretion in applying this penalty. For assessments that are marked with a distinction/pass/fail, it is at the discretion of the examiner to judge whether the assignment should be passed or failed.

Draft reading by lecturers

Students may submit an early draft of their coursework to the module leader. This will be commented on by a member of the module team. Normally only one draft of your essay will be commented on; you may subsequently want to discuss the lecturers comments in person, on the phone or by email. Lecturers may take up to 15 working days to return comments to you.

Draft essays need to be submitted to the module leader before.

Presentation

• The document must be word-processed

• Text size should be the same size or near to the size printed here

• In the footer please page number the assignment and have your student number on each

• Leave one-inch margin on the left-hand side of the page

• Spacing between sub-sections may aid clarity

• Use 1.5 spacing between lines.

• Justify left hand margin

• All diagrams should be numbered and have a title and reference if appropriate

• Referencing style: the student may choose a referencing style and will use it consistently throughout the text and within the reference list. Accuracy of the full reference is important.

• The front sheet of your essay needs to include the following information:

School of Health Sciences,

Faculty of Health,

University of Brighton.

HE778 Exploring Pain

Title of Essay.

Your student number.

Word count.

PLEASE DO NOT WRITE YOUR NAME. If you are re-submitting a piece of work you must include RESUBMISSION on the title page and on the marksheet.

Hand in

• You must submit an electronic copy of your assignment to the dropbox The drop box button can be found on the main menu of each relevant module. It is your responsibility to make sure that the coursework is handed in by the set deadline. The drop box will close at 4.30 and you will be unable to submit after this time.

• The hand in date is 5pm 3^rd April

Extension to the deadline

If you think you will be unable to meet the deadline (for coursework or practical examination) then you need to complete an application for extension to deadline form. It must be received by the school at least one full working day before the deadline. Contact the Sam Turner for the form to be sent to you. You will find information on the university regulations for extensions in GEAR (General Examination and Assessment Regulations for Taught Courses); this can be accessed via studentcentral.

Mitigating circumstances

If you think that there are any circumstances beyond your control which have affected your assessed work or examination then you may request this to be taken into consideration when your mark is ratified by the examination board. Reasons may include absence from an assignment, failure to submit or undertake work, failure to submit work by the deadline or poor performance. You MUST provide documentary evidence from an independent professional source (eg medical practitioner or counsellor); it should not be a member of your family, or a close friend or partner. Without this evidence your claim will not be considered. Complete the Mitigating circumstances form and return along with the documentary evidence. It must be received by the school at least 2 weeks prior to the Area Examination Board. You will find information on the university regulations for mitigating circumstances in GEAR (General Examination and Assessment Regulations for Taught Courses); this can be accessed via studentcentral.

Receiving feedback and marks for coursework

The coursework is marked online by internal markers (with a percentage cross marked) and a sample of scripts is then sent to the external examiner. The provisional mark and feedback will be sent to your Unimail account only. The module mark is then ratified by an Area Examination Board' (AEB). Following the AEB the coursework is returned to the student, with a letter from the School confirming the mark awarded. If the student has been referred or failed in a module the letter will inform the student what action is required. The 'Courses Examination Board' (CEB) meets a few weeks later to clarify the students profile, and where necessary confirm the exit award. Following the CEB, students will be notified by the Faculty Office.