The law on hearsay should be abolished. Discuss

The law on hearsay should be abolished. Discuss OUTline for the essay: . SLS ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR ESSAYS When marking assessed work, SLS markers and examiners will look for evidence of the following PRIMARY indicia: • KNOWLEDGE of the area/topic • UNDERSTANDING of the area/topic • RELEVANCE and FOCUS • Recourse to relevant PRIMARY SOURCES • Engagement with SCHOLARLY MATERIALS • Levels of ORIGINALITY, ANALYSIS, EVALUATION & CRITIQUE in argument • Skilful APPLICATION of sources to the question (where relevant) • Well STRUCTURED, COHERENT and CLEAR answer • Quality of WRITTEN ENGLISH • Use of appropriate REFERENCING system Marks will be awarded taking into account the PRIMARY indicia above, appropriate to the level of study, as follows. 85% - 100% A first class mark in excess of 85% will be awarded for outstanding work which excels in most of the following: ? Extensive knowledge and understanding, evidencing an almost complete command of the subject and any other relevant areas with no factual errors. ? Highly focused answer with no extraneous material or discussion. ? Meticulous appreciation of relevant primary sources. ? Evidence of engagement with a wide range of critical reading that goes significantly beyond the module reading list. ? A clearly developed and cogent argument which is both alert to the nuances and assumptions of the question, and which demonstrates highly original and critical thought, analysis, evaluation and application (where relevant). ? Thoughtful structure, excellent communication skills, fluently written with confidence and judiciousness, which will be lively, engaging and stimulating to read. ? Excellent presentation with complete and accurate referencing. 70% - 84% A first class mark between 70% - 84% will be awarded to work which evidences excellence in most of the following: ? Thorough knowledge and a detailed understanding, showing a strong command of the subject and any other relevant areas, with no factual errors. ? Very well focused answer with almost no irrelevant material or discussion. ? Comprehensive engagement with and understanding of relevant primary sources. ? Evidence of engagement with a wide range of critical reading that goes beyond the module reading list. ? A clear, developed and responsive argument which shows an awareness of subtleties within the question and which includes some original and critical ideas, analysis, evaluation and application (where relevant). ? Thoughtful structure fluently written, which will be lively, engaging and stimulating to read. ? Excellent presentation with complete and accurate referencing. 60% - 69% An upper second class mark will be awarded to good to very good work which will generally demonstrate some of the following: ? High levels of knowledge and clear understanding of the subject and key principles, showing a command of the subject but may be unaware of some relevant areas, mostly free of factual errors/omissions. ? Well focused answer which is supported with relevant material. ? Evidence that primary sources have been located, read and understood. ? Reading of academic and critical sources taken from the module reading list and beyond. ? A well organised and developing argument which provides evidence of some personal interpretation, with attempts at some original and critical thought, analysis, evaluation and application (where relevant), and which goes beyond the reproduction of discussion found in the standard texts. ? Coherent structure, well written and comprehensible. ? Good presentation and competent referencing. 50% - 59% A lower second class mark will be awarded to satisfactory to good work which will generally demonstrate some of the following: ? Sound or reasonable knowledge with a secure understanding of the subject and principles, may contain a number of factual errors/omissions and/or some minor confusions. ? Mostly focused on the question, answer may contain some irrelevant material. ? Relevant primary sources are identified but inadequate evidence that they have been read and/or fully understood. ? Limited evidence of any independent research or wider reading beyond the module reading list. ? Line of argument evidences that the subject matter is understood, but some key issues will not be identified or dealt with, lacks original or personal interpretation, attempts at critique, analysis, evaluation and application (where relevant) may be basic, descriptive and predictable. ? Satisfactory structure and a competent standard of written English, some minor problems in spelling, grammar or vocabulary may be present. ? Reasonably well presented, work should exhibit use of appropriate referencing system. 40% - 49% A third class answer will be awarded to passable to satisfactory work which will generally demonstrate some of the following: ? Basic factual knowledge with uncertain and limited understanding of the subject and principles, will contain a number of factual errors or omissions and show signs of confusion. ? Some key issues not identified and discussion not adequately related to the question, some irrelevant material which is used in a way which belies a genuine understanding. ? Relevant primary sources may be identified but little or no evidence that they have been read and or fully understood, heavy reliance on secondary sources. ? Evidence only of limited and basic reading, little or no evidence of independent research, little or no engagement with wider literature. ? Line of argument may report subject related views although may demonstrate little or no appreciation of the debates or different interpretations which might be drawn from such views, no meaningful attempt at critique, analysis, evaluation and application (where relevant). ? Poor structure although answer makes sense, mediocre standard of English, some problems in spelling, grammar or vocabulary which may be tolerated provided that they do not produce unintelligibility. ? Satisfactory presentation, attempt made to reference appropriately, but may be inconsistent, incomplete and/or inadequate. 30% - 39% A fail mark of 30% - 39% will be awarded to work which is below the standard pass mark and which will generally demonstrate some of the following: ? Some very limited basic factual knowledge with uncertain and limited understanding of the subject and principles and of the question being addressed, will contain significant errors/omissions, gaps, and or signs of confusion. ? Lack of focus, answer not sufficiently related to the question, parts of the discussion may be very general, descriptive and irrelevant, answer may be too short. ? Little or no evidence that relevant primary sources have been identified or read or understood. ? Reliance on basic reading with possible inclusion of inappropriate sources. ? An unclear or ineffective argument which displays weak critical, analytical, evaluative or application skills (where relevant), some arguments made will be irrelevant to the question, general discussion may be uninformed. ? Disorganised and or disjointed structure, difficult to read, does not always make sense, weak spelling, grammar and vocabulary may be present. ? Sloppy presentation, inadequate or absent appropriate referencing system. 15% - 29% A fail mark of 15% - 29% will be awarded to weak work which will generally demonstrate some of the following: ? Inadequate basic factual knowledge with erroneous understanding of the subject and principles and of the question being addressed, will contain major errors, gaps, and signs of misunderstanding. ? Complete lack of focus or mistaken focus, discussion will be essentially irrelevant, answer may be very short. ? No evidence that appropriate primary sources have been identified, read or understood. ? No evidence of pertinent independent research or engagement with academic sources either from or beyond the module reading list, any reading undertaken will be from unsuitable non-academic sources, it will be irrelevant and or tangential, the discussion will evidence mistaken interpretation of question. ? No argument or totally ineffectual argument which does not evidence any critique, analysis, evaluation and application (where relevant), discussion shows that question has not been understood. ? Structure is disordered, does not make sense, standard of written English is weak, poor spelling, grammar and vocabulary makes the discussion almost unintelligible. ? Sloppy and careless presentation, insufficient primary or secondary sources used, where sources used, no adequate references or bibliography. 0% - 14% A fail mark of 0% - 14% will be awarded to extremely weak work which will generally demonstrate some of the following: ? Seriously deficient knowledge and understanding of even the very basics. ? No focus, answer may have fragments of irrelevant knowledge, answer may be very short. ? No primary sources have been identified or mentioned no evidence that they have been read. ? No independent reading or research, no evidence that basic reading from the module has been undertaken. ? No arguments presented, very weak attempt, if any, to engage with the question or attempt to answer or address it, no attempt at any critique, analysis, evaluation and application (where relevant). ? No structure or incoherent structure, standard of written English, taking into account spelling, grammar and vocabulary, may be very weak rendering the piece unintelligible. ? Comprehensive absence of any referencing or citation system.