English for Arts and Humanities HKUSPACE CC/HPSHCC
A2 Case Study Guidelines

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Case Study (40%)
1. Overview
Please note that in this course, the term case study does not refer to the traditional
business case analysis. Rather, you are free to select any topic or phenomenon within the
Arts and Humanities as your “case.” You will then conduct academic research and
analysis on this selected issue, presenting your findings in a structured academic paper.
You may choose a cause-and-effect approach, an argumentative approach, or another
analytical structure suited to your chosen topic. A sample of an argumentative format is
provided in Lesson 8.
Individual research will be done using a minimum of four academic sources, such
as journal articles or government reports. Once this minimum requirement has been met,
media sources are permitted providing that they are from established, reliable sources.
Proper use of APA style citations must be used to avoid plagiarism. The length of the
research paper is a minimum of 1,000 words and a maximum of 1,200 words.
2. Components
2.1 Title Page
Please provide basic information on the title page: essay title, date, student name,
ID number and class number.
2.2 Introduction
This section should introduce the topic and contain brief background (or current)
information which helps the reader to understand the subject. This should be followed by
a clear presentation of what exactly your issue is. There should then be a statement of the
thesis or aim and a brief outline of the structure of your paper.
2.3 Body
This will vary depending on the type of essay you are planning to write. An
example of how you would structure the body of an argumentative-style essay is given
below. However, please consult your lecture notes for examples of other formats, such as
for a cause-and-effect or compare-and-contrast style structure.
Example of an argumentative structure: Present your pro-arguments (arguments
that affirm and support the thesis), counterargument (previous opinions/arguments that
are opposed to the thesis, used to show that you have a greater understanding of your
issue, not just a one-sided view) and refutations (an evaluation of the counterarguments
that shows its errors). Note that the above may be presented in any order that you like as
English for Arts and Humanities HKUSPACE CC/HPSHCC
A2 Case Study Guidelines

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long as there is a natural and logical flow of information. Be sure to cite the sources of all
the arguments/counterarguments.
The number of counterarguments and refutation/pro-arguments may vary.
However, this paper should have a minimum of three arguments and at least one
counterargument.
Note. Direct quotations cannot make up more than 10% of your total citations in the essay.
2.4 Conclusion
Restate the main ideas and the thesis (paraphrase – do not copy what you have already
written).

2.5 Word Count
State the word count of your essay after the conclusion.

2.6 References
Follow the APA style and present a list of all sources (both academic and media sources)
included in the paper. You may go to the official website of the APA style to search for
guidelines and examples: https://apastyle.apa.org/.

A softcopy must be uploaded to a Turnitin link on SOUL. The assignment
must be an original work and should not be created by any generative AI tools. You
must not reuse/recycle assignments from previous semesters or other courses, as this
also constitutes plagiarism.
3. Penalties for Late Submissions
24 hours late: Reduction of marks equivalent to one letter grade
2 to 7 days late: Highest possible mark of 40%
More than 7 days late: Failed assignment
English for Arts and Humanities HKUSPACE CC/HPSHCC
A2 Case Study Guidelines

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4. Marking Criteria
Grade Content Structure and
coherence
Grammatical range
and accuracy
Lexical resource Sources and
referencing
Excellent


The content has
strong academic
value and has been
analysed in depth,
with strong
supporting evidence.
A clear thesis or aim
is provided and a
thorough
understanding of the
structures taught in
class is shown. A
wide range of
cohesive devices is
used.
A wide range of
grammatical
structures is used.
Errors in forms are
rare.
A wide range of
vocabulary is used,
allowing for
precision in
expressing ideas.
Awareness of
idiomatic language
is shown. Errors in
word formation and
appropriacy are rare.
The minimum
requirement of
sources has been met
and has been cited
correctly in APA
format. References
are properly
formatted.
Very good


The content has
academic value and
has been analysed in
some depth, with
good supporting
evidence.
A thesis or aim is
provided, but it
could be clearer, and
a good
understanding of the
structures taught in
class is shown. A
good range of
cohesive devices is
used.
A good range of
grammatical
structures is used.
Errors in form do
occur but these do
not impede
understanding.
A good range of
vocabulary is used,
allowing for the
expression of ideas.
There are some
errors in word
formation and
appropriacy, but
these do not impede
understanding.
The minimum
requirement of
sources has been met
and has been cited
with only minor
errors made in APA
format. References
contain minor errors
in formatting.
Satisfactory


The content has little
academic value and
has been only
superficially
analysed, with weak
supporting evidence
A thesis or aim is
unclear or has been
left out, and only a
limited
understanding of the
structures taught in
class is shown. Some
cohesive devices
have been used, but
often incorrectly.
A limited range of
grammatical
structures is used.
Errors in form often
occur and may cause
strain for the reader.
The range of
vocabulary is
minimal, allowing
for a limited
expression of ideas.
There are often
errors in word
formation and
appropriacy, which
may cause strain for
the reader.
The minimum
requirement of
sources has not been
met and there are
significant errors
made in APA
citation and format.
References contain
many errors in
formatting.
Weak


The content has little
to no academic value
and there is little
attempt at analysis,
with little to no
supporting evidence.
There is no thesis or
aim and little
understanding of the
structures taught in
class is shown. Few
cohesive devices
have been used.
Only simple
structures are used.
There are frequent
errors in form, which
often cause strain for
the reader.
The range of
vocabulary is
noticeably limited.
There are frequent
errors in word
formation and
appropriacy, which
often cause strain for
the reader.
The minimum
requirement of
sources has not been
met and little
understanding of
APA citation
formatting is shown.
References have not
been given or have
major errors.
Fail


The content has no
academic value and
is often incoherent
and with no
supporting evidence.
No understanding of
the structures taught
in class is shown.
Writing is often
incoherent.
Only simple
structures are
attempted. The
number of errors
causes considerable
strain for the reader.
The range of
vocabulary is
inadequate and
causes considerable
strain on the reader.
Source requirements
have not been met
and there are no
citations and no
reference list.
Additional notes on grading: Plagiarism or use of genAI: Some instances: highest possible grade is C+; Extensive, no more than a D
or F, depending on severity.


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