Faculty of Law
Bachelor’s Thesis/Writing seminar
Subject
Teacher
Name and Date of the Seminar
Author of the Thesis
Student number
Name of the Thesis
Maturity Exam Date
(NB. Only exceptions)
Language of the Maturity Exam
In a Bachelor’s thesis/ writing seminars the student is expected to demonstrate his/her
familiarity with legal thinking and his/her ability to process legal problems with legal
methods in a written form. The grading is always based on an overall evaluation and the final
grade is not necessarily the average of the parts.
The Bachelor’s thesis/ writing seminar is evaluated on the scale of 1-5, where 0=fail,
1=passable, 2=satisfactory, 3=good, 4=very good, 5=excellent
EVALUATION CRITERIA
0
1
2
3
4
1. Setting and delimitation of the topic
2. Clarity of the structure
3. Use of sources
4. Argumentation and consistency of conclusions
5. Presentation and written expression
6. Seminar participation
Grade based on overall evaluation:
Comments:
Place and date
Signature, name in block capitals, position
5
Evaluation of Bachelor’s thesis/ writing seminar
In a Bachelor’s thesis/ writing seminar the student is expected to demonstrate his/her
familiarity with legal thinking and his/her ability to process legal problems with legal
methods in a written form. A thesis is 15-20 pages long and is conducted within a writing
seminar. Because Bachelor’s theses are written within writing seminars, where other kinds of
theses are also written, the same evaluation criteria apply to bachelor’s theses and to other
theses.
The purpose of the common evaluation criteria of the faculty is to clarify the goals of the
Bachelor’s thesis/ writing seminar and to connect these goals to the grading of the theses. The
aim is to accomplish a sufficiently uniform grading system within different subjects of the
faculty and to guarantee the student’s protection under the law. For the students the criteria
provide information on the matters that the student should pay attention to when writing the
thesis. The evaluation criteria are public.
The Bachelor’s thesis / writing seminars is evaluated on the scale of 1-5, where 0=fail,
1=passable, 2=satisfactory, 3=good, 4=very good, 5=excellent. An evaluation form is used in
the evaluation. In the form, there are five parts, which are taken into consideration in the final
grading. The final grade is not necessarily the average of the five parts. The thesis is
evaluated as a whole, meaning that for example an independent and insightful approach is
rewarded. The length of the thesis does not compensate quality. The degree of difficulty is
taken into consideration in the evaluation. If one of the parts is graded with 0, the thesis is not
ready for final evaluation.
Elements of a good thesis:
1. Setting and delimitation of the topic
The topic of the thesis is set clearly. The purpose and the aims of the thesis are defined. The
delimitation of the topic and the chosen point of view are successful. The research is based on
appropriate material.
2. Clarity of the structure
The structure is well thought-out and the presentation proceeds systematically. The research
question and the answer posed to it are presented clearly.
3. Use of sources
The thesis is based on an adequate amount of versatile legal material. The hierarchy of legal
sources is perceived suitably. Mere summarizing of legal literature is not enough.
4. Argumentation and consistency of conclusions
The observations and ponderings of the thesis are consistent and the research material is
evaluated also critically. The results and conclusions form a logical whole. The thesis
includes independent discussion on conclusions.
5. Presentation and written expression
The language used is clear, understandable and polished. The thesis forms a coherent,
compact whole that emphasizes what is essential. The presentation and style are at the level
of professional legal prose and follow the practices of the science in question. References
follow the practices of the field. References and bibliography and other indexes are prepared
carefully.