A3 Essay
Due 26 May by 23:59
Points 100
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In this essay, students identify key social science themes arising from the life history interview (class,
race, gender, family, education, religion, migration etc) and analyse these themes drawing on both
theoretical and empirical material – the material covered in classes each week and found through
additional research, and the material gathered through the interview.
Students can develop the central focus of their essay through discussion with their tutor but will need
to demonstrate an ability to critically engage with both empirical and theoretical material and to
demonstrate a sound understanding of key social science concepts covered in the course.
Length: 2,000 words (including in-text references, but not the reference list at the end)
Due: Sunday, 26 May 2024, 11:59pm
Essay HD Example: RinaBrukLevy. - A3.pdf (https://canvas.uts.edu.au/courses/30743/files/7022117?
wrap=1) (https://canvas.uts.edu.au/courses/30743/files/7022117/download?download_frd=1)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an essay topic?
No. Your essay is your interview analysis. You need to develop your own central focus as part of the
task.
Please refer to the HD example. You can give it a fancy title if you wish.
How many references do we need?
Please use your own judgement and critical thinking; there is no 'magic number' of references. It is
about quality of literature, not quantity. The key is to actually read, understand and critically
implement what you are referencing. You don't get extra marks for a long reference list if you are not
fully engaging with the literature. There are great essays with 5 references and really poor ones with
20 references.
Should we use course literature or from our own research?
Again, please use your own judgement here. The task suggests you'll likely need both.
What's the referencing style?
APA 7th
A3 Rubric
How do I reference my interview data?
Please refer to page 95 and onwards on the referencing guide
(https://www.lib.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/2022-09/APAGuide_2022v2.pdf) .
If you still have questions about referencing, please use the UTS library chat
(https://www.lib.uts.edu.au/) to talk to a librarian (bottom right corner of your screen)
How many themes should I write about?
An essay of this length typically deals with up to 2 central themes; distinguish things that were
"mentioned" from things that were very "central" to the story. If there are more than 2 themes, you
might want to consider talking about intersectionality, rather than individual themes
How many interview quotes do we need?
Please use your own judgement. You want to strike a good balance between using your own data,
and secondary data.
Criteria Ratings
Depth of
analysis of
relevant
social
science
themes
from the
interview -
25%
HD: 85 - 100%
(21.25 - 25)
Selects
appropriate
theoretical
frameworks for
addressing the
topic,
demonstrates a
sophisticated
understanding of
those concepts
and conveys
nuance in
understanding
how theory and
empirical work
interact – resists
reductive binary
explanations of
complex social
phenomena.
D: 75 - 84.9%
(18.75 - 21.24)
Selects
appropriate
theoretical
frameworks for
addressing the
topic,
demonstrates an
advanced
understanding of
those concepts.
Conveys nuance
in understanding
how theory and
empirical work
interact
throughout most
of the essay.
C: 65 - 74.9%
(16.25 - 18.74)
Selects
appropriate
theoretical
frameworks for
addressing the
topic,
demonstrates a
sound
understanding
of those
concepts. Essay
is more
descriptive than
analytical.
P: 50 - 64.9%
(12.5 - 16.25)
Limited or ill-
suited selection
of theoretical
frameworks for
the topics
addressed.
Shows a limited
understanding of
the concepts
and connections
to the empirical
work are
descriptive and
sometimes
inaccurate.
F: 0 - 49.9% (0 -
12.4)
Inadequate
selection of
theoretical
frameworks.
Does not
demonstrate
sufficient
understanding of
the concepts,
has missed
opportunities for
connecting
theory and
empirical work.
Descriptive
content has
significant errors.
Coherence
of narrative
and
argument -
25%
HD: 85 - 100%
(21.25 - 25)
Essay is
exceptionally well
structured:
themes identified
clearly,
arguments
presented clearly
and developed
logically and
persuasively
throughout the
essay, drawing on
academic
literature to
support the
argument. The
interview
participant’s life
trajectory (or a
part of it) comes
through strongly
and in a lively
manner.
Conclusion is
clear, succinct
D: 75 - 84.9%
(18.75 - 21.24)
Essay is very
well structured:
themes identified
clearly,
arguments
presented
clearly and
developed
logically and
persuasively
throughout the
essay. Argument
is supported by
academic
literature. The
interview
participant’s life
trajectory (or a
part of it) comes
through strongly.
Conclusion is
clear, succinct
and draws out
the central
thesis.
C: 65 - 74.9%
(16.25 - 18.74)
Essay is
reasonably well
structured, but
themes are not
clearly identified
or, if identified are
not developed
throughout the
essay. Argument
is supported by
academic
literature, but is
somewhat
disjointed or is
not developed
consistently
throughout the
essay. The
interview
participant’s life
trajectory is either
too dominant
(minimising
opportunity for
academic
argument) or is
P: 50 - 64.9%
(12.5 - 16.25)
Essay has some
structure, and
themes are
identified but
insufficiently
followed
throughout the
essay. Argument
is only weakly
supported by
academic
literature. Too
many or too few
arguments are
introduced.
Interview
participant’s life
story is
significantly too
dominant,
significantly
under used or
too disjointed for
the argument to
cohere.
F: 0 - 49.9% (0
- 12.4)
Essay lacks
structure, and
themes are not
identified or
followed
throughout the
essay.
Argument is not
clearly
articulated and
insufficiently
supported by
academic
literature.
Interview
participant’s life
story is
significantly too
dominant,
significantly
under used or
not linked to the
argument.
Criteria Ratings
and draws out the
central thesis.
partially lost
through too much
focus on
academic
argument.
Clarity of
Writing -
15%
HD: 85 - 100%
(12.75 - 15)
The essay has no
grammatical or
spelling mistakes,
sentences are
clearly structured
and convey
nuance and
meaning clearly.
Essay is the
correct word
length and word
limit has been
used to good
effect. Uses
sociological terms
accurately and
appropriately.
D: 75 - 84.9%
(11.25 - 12.74)
The essay has
very few
grammatical or
spelling mistakes,
sentences are
clearly structured
and convey the
meaning clearly.
Uses sociological
terms accurately
and appropriately.
Essay is the
correct word
length and word
limit has been
used to good
effect.
C: 65 - 74.9%
(9.75 - 11.24)
The essay has
some grammatical
and spelling
errors. Sentences
convey meaning,
but with some
confusion or
repetition. Uses
sociological terms
appropriately but
with some minor
inaccuracies.
Essay is within
10% of the word
length. Word limit
has been used
reasonably well,
but some
repetition or
omissions.
P: 50 - 64.9%
(7.5 - 9.74)
The essay has
numerous
spelling and
grammatical
errors. Meaning
of sentences is
sometimes
difficult to
discern and
does not
convey nuance.
Essay is 10%
or more under
or over length
and is repetitive
in places.
F: 0 - 49.9% (0
- 7.4)
The essay has
many spelling
and
grammatical
errors.
Sentences are
poorly
constructed
and meaning
is difficult to
discern. Essay
is significantly
under/over
length.
Extent and
relevance
of research
beyond
course
reading list
20%
HD: 85 - 100%
(17 - 20)
Has conducted
extensive and
targeted
research
directed by the
themes
addressed in the
essay and is
able to explain
and support
arguments and
observations
made using this
research.
Demonstrates
excellent
understanding of
different types of
sources (peer-
reviewed
academic,
reports, media,
other) and the
uses of each.
D: 75 - 84.9%
(15 - 16.9)
Has conducted
very good and
targeted
research
directed by the
themes
addressed in the
essay and is
able to explain
and support
arguments and
observations
made using this
research.
Demonstrates
very good
understanding of
different types of
sources (peer-
reviewed
academic,
reports, media,
other) and the
uses of each.
C: 65 - 74.9%
(13 - 14.9)
Has conducted
some research
mostly directed
by the themes
addressed in the
essay. Uses this
research some
of the time to
explain and
support
arguments and
observations
made.
Demonstrates
reasonable
understanding of
different types of
sources (peer-
reviewed
academic,
reports, media,
other) and the
uses of each.
P: 50 - 64.9% (10
- 12.9)
Has conducted
only limited
research beyond
the reading list
and not
specifically
directed by the
themes. Makes
insufficient use of
the research to
support
arguments and
observations.
Relies too much
on course
readings, lectures
and tutorial
discussion.
Demonstrates
limited
understanding of
different types of
sources (peer-
reviewed
F: 0 - 49.9% (0
- 9.9)
Has conducted
inadequate
research
beyond the
reading list.
Demonstrates
insufficient
understanding
of different
types of
sources (peer-
reviewed
academic,
reports, media,
other) and the
uses of each.
Criteria Ratings
academic,
reports, media,
other) and the
uses of each.
Accuracy of
referencing
15%
HD: 85 -
100% (12.75 -
15)
Has used the
APA
referencing
with no
mistakes in
either in text
or end of
essay
referencing.
D: 75 - 84.9%
(11.25 - 12.74)
Has used APA
referencing with
only a few minor
errors such as
incorrect
punctuation in
reference list or
italicising the
wrong part of
the reference.
C: 65 - 74.9% (9.75 -
11.24)
Has used APA
referencing with a
number of errors in
text and/or in the
reference list. Errors
might include
inconsistency with
including author first
names, names not
listed in alphabetical
order or page
numbers omitted.
P: 50 - 64.9% (7.5
- 9.74)
Has used APA
referencing with
significant errors
such as incomplete
references (journal
title or volume
numbers missing),
references cited in
text but not
included in the
reference list,
works included in
reference list not
cited in text.
F: 0 - 49.9%
(0 - 7.4)
Has not used
APA
referencing or
has used it
with multiple
significant
errors
throughout.