The Student Room Group

Do I dispute my grade? (Difference between a first and a 2:1)

I'm 2 modules away from a first, this is one of them. Single semester module, assessment worth 100% of grade and 15 CATS. I received my grade back today of 52%, usually I average around 70%. Portfolio assignment, 3000 words split into 4 parts, a movie critique, self reflection, blog post, and lit review. My module attendance is not great as I've been working full time since summer (retaking these 2 modules, part time SFW is about 2k every semester). For the self reflection (200 words) I had to talk about the class I attended, and used a similar topic through a post-colonial lens for my lit review (1000 words), however since I used the same topic in both, and seperate topics for my other parts. Due to using the same topic (Northern Ireland) twice I've been given just over 50% as I haven't met the requirements of an "analytical account of power and social change in the globalised world" - I'm struggling to see how a self reflection on how I engaged in class and a separate lit review on post-colonialism on the topic discussed IN class has led to such a low mark. I was also marked down for not including seperate reference lists for each section, and not including which lecture I am referencing in the section titles, despite this not being stated anywhere in the submission requirements. I was on track for a first before this, and not sure if it's worth challenging
Original post by Ahrodsn
I'm 2 modules away from a first, this is one of them. Single semester module, assessment worth 100% of grade and 15 CATS. I received my grade back today of 52%, usually I average around 70%. Portfolio assignment, 3000 words split into 4 parts, a movie critique, self reflection, blog post, and lit review. My module attendance is not great as I've been working full time since summer (retaking these 2 modules, part time SFW is about 2k every semester). For the self reflection (200 words) I had to talk about the class I attended, and used a similar topic through a post-colonial lens for my lit review (1000 words), however since I used the same topic in both, and seperate topics for my other parts. Due to using the same topic (Northern Ireland) twice I've been given just over 50% as I haven't met the requirements of an "analytical account of power and social change in the globalised world" - I'm struggling to see how a self reflection on how I engaged in class and a separate lit review on post-colonialism on the topic discussed IN class has led to such a low mark. I was also marked down for not including seperate reference lists for each section, and not including which lecture I am referencing in the section titles, despite this not being stated anywhere in the submission requirements. I was on track for a first before this, and not sure if it's worth challenging

I don't think this is worth challenging. It's quite possible that expectations like not using the same topic for the self-reflection and the lit review, "including seperate reference lists for each section" and "including which lecture I am referencing in the section" were all specifically discussed in one of the (many?) lectures you didn't attend.

Can to get your weighted average back up to the magic 70% by doing really well in the final module? Or does the maths make this impossible now?

Reply 2

Original post by DataVenia
I don't think this is worth challenging. It's quite possible that expectations like not using the same topic for the self-reflection and the lit review, "including seperate reference lists for each section" and "including which lecture I am referencing in the section" were all specifically discussed in one of the (many?) lectures you didn't attend.
Can to get your weighted average back up to the magic 70% by doing really well in the final module? Or does the maths make this impossible now?

Ah you're probably right, I'm just frustrated that 200 words on class engagement has led to my grade reflecting that I have a fundamental misunderstanding of power in the globalised world (this was the LO it was marked against). I would totally understand if I'd used the same topic for two of the large portions of the portfolio but for literally 7% of the total word count to merit such a low grade feels so harsh. I would need 84% on my final assignment to reach that first, not totally impossible but not entirely likely. I guess time will tell but I'm just a little crushed. Thank you for taking the time to reply!

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