Disagree with essay marking

I’ve just received a mark back for a second year essay on which I got a 58, and while for some of the feedback I can see where they are coming from, other parts I just don’t understand - for example I’ve been flagged for using page numbers in my referencing because it’s not a direct quotation however for Harvard referencing it’s recently changed so we now have to use them for paraphrasing too which is what I did?
That being said, we aren’t allowed remarks unless there is extenuating circumstances, however that piece of feedback is factually wrong and therefore I find it unfair to be losing marks for referencing that I’ve done correctly.
I’ve emailed my module leader to ask for guidance and if he can clarify my feedback however he rarely responds to emails and has also been striking lately so wont be responding now too, and I am unsure who to contact about this and how to ensure it was marked correctly.
I just wanted to ask if anyone else has had something similar and who they spoke to or whether it’s even worth trying to resolve at all?

Reply 1

Scotland Yard

Volunteer Team

20

Original post

by Anonymous

I’ve just received a mark back for a second year essay on which I got a 58, and while for some of the feedback I can see where they are coming from, other parts I just don’t understand - for example I’ve been flagged for using page numbers in my referencing because it’s not a direct quotation however for Harvard referencing it’s recently changed so we now have to use them for paraphrasing too which is what I did?
That being said, we aren’t allowed remarks unless there is extenuating circumstances, however that piece of feedback is factually wrong and therefore I find it unfair to be losing marks for referencing that I’ve done correctly.
I’ve emailed my module leader to ask for guidance and if he can clarify my feedback however he rarely responds to emails and has also been striking lately so wont be responding now too, and I am unsure who to contact about this and how to ensure it was marked correctly.
I just wanted to ask if anyone else has had something similar and who they spoke to or whether it’s even worth trying to resolve at all?

Unfair/incorrect feedback happens sometimes on your uni career. Referencing is usually not a big part of the mark scheme though, so your grade is very unlikely to change significantly, even if you could query it. If your course has a course rep, that'd be the person to reach out to, they'll be able to attempt to raise it further and, at the very least, make it aware to the lecturers that referencing has changed.

Reply 2

Scienceisgood

21

I would ask for feedback and use it for future marking. It is still fairly early in the academic year so I doubt you’ll have handed in too much, so you have a chance to adapt to the new marking system from what I gather?

With regards to marking, normally work is double marked (it is already marked twice) and so, asking for a remark is unlikely to happen, sorry. So unless you have extenuating circumstances, resolving it won’t change much but adapting it will help.

Typically when I was at uni (graduated my MSc in 2024) referencing was worth at most 5% and so, I doubt your marks would have gone down by more than 2% (at the VERY most, assuming the pages numbering system was the only issue).

Try and ask the individual(s) who marked it and ask what the problem was and learn from it, it’s honestly the best you can do.

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

OP

Okay thanks guys, I think I just saw the one bad grade and spiralled but as long as I do better from this point on it’ll be fine - thank you for your help

Reply 4

LancashireRep4

Official Rep

12

Original post

by Anonymous

I’ve just received a mark back for a second year essay on which I got a 58, and while for some of the feedback I can see where they are coming from, other parts I just don’t understand - for example I’ve been flagged for using page numbers in my referencing because it’s not a direct quotation however for Harvard referencing it’s recently changed so we now have to use them for paraphrasing too which is what I did?
That being said, we aren’t allowed remarks unless there is extenuating circumstances, however that piece of feedback is factually wrong and therefore I find it unfair to be losing marks for referencing that I’ve done correctly.
I’ve emailed my module leader to ask for guidance and if he can clarify my feedback however he rarely responds to emails and has also been striking lately so wont be responding now too, and I am unsure who to contact about this and how to ensure it was marked correctly.
I just wanted to ask if anyone else has had something similar and who they spoke to or whether it’s even worth trying to resolve at all?

Hi Anom,

I'm sorry to hear you are not happy with the marking.

Sadly as the other comments have said, referencing often does not make a huge difference, however IF a few additional marks bring you up a grade this may be worth inquiring.

If you are unable to get into contact with your tutor, your options are to wait until you can see him in person again, or talk with another member of staff on the course, even better if its a tutor also on the module. There is no harm in questioning something, especially if it will make you feel better.

I hope this helps, please feel free to ask me any questions,
-Sophia (University of Lancashire)

Disagree with essay marking

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