NOTES FOR GUIDANCE ON THE SUBMISSION OF COURSE
ESSAYS AND RESEARCH ESSAY
Definitions
Course Essay: refers to any essay to be submitted as part of the May 2007 examinations in
each of the following subjects: Alternative Dispute Resolution; Competition Law; European
Legal Studies I; Medicine, Ethics and Law; Property II; Public Law I and all 3,000 word
essays submitted in respect of course-unit (i.e. 15ECTS) versions of LLB courses (Affiliate
and non-laws candidates)
Research Essay: refers to the compulsory final year essay.
The first four paragraphs apply both to course essays and research essays.
1.
Your course essay(s) and research essay should be submitted in the following format:
a)
State your examination candidate number on the title page (and preferably, in
addition, as a header on each page of your essay). Your examination candidate
number will consist of four letters and a check digit [e.g. ABCD1] and is available to
you via PORTICO.
Use A4 size white paper, writing on one side of the sheet only.
If possible, you should word process your work. If you do, use double spacing.
Research essays must be word processed.
For each subject you will be given a separate cover sheet to complete. The
information required on this sheet will include:
b)
c)
d)
i)
ii)
iii)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
your name
title of the essay
your exam candidate number
You should repeat the essay title at the top of the first page of writing.
Please make sure your name does not appear anywhere as all essays are marked
anonymously.
A bibliography of books and articles referred to in your answer should be included at
the end of the essay.
State at the end of your essay how many words you have used.
Staple together securely in the top left hand corner: do not bind your essay or
dissertation in any other way, e.g. with a plastic binder.
2.
Notes for Guidance on Footnotes/Endnotes and Appendices:
a)
Course Essays
Footnotes/Endnotes should be brief and kept to a minimum and must be counted in
the final word count.
Appendices must be included in the count for overall word total.
The only part of the essay exempt from the word count is the bibliography.
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b)
Research Essay
Footnotes/Endnotes must be counted in the total word count. In general, the content
of footnotes/endnotes should be confined to explanations, citations and brief
comments or quotations without elaboration of the theme or argument.
Appendices must be included in the overall word count total.
3.
Course essays and research essays are not returned after they have been marked.
You are required to keep an electronic copy of course essays for submission at the
request of the Chair of the Board of Examiners at any point between submission and
the final examinations board. In addition to submission of hard copy of research
essays, an identical version must be uploaded before or at the time of submission to
the TurnItIn site. Further details of submission to TurnItIn will be provided before
the end of the second term.
4.
Your attention is drawn to the UCL policy on plagiarism contained in the UCL
Examination Regulations. The policy can be found in the ‘Student Handbook
Online’ (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/study/plagiarism/).
Please read this policy carefully. Failure to observe its provisions may result in an
allegation of cheating and proceedings for an examination offence. You should
consult your course convenor or supervisor if you are in any doubt about what is
permissible. You should note in particular that effective means exist to check
whether material downloaded from the Internet has been incorporated into an essay
or dissertation without acknowledgement
The next four paragraphs apply in particular to course essays
5.
One aim of the course essay is to enable you to do some independent research in the
law library. For this reason, any reading lists you may be given will not necessarily
be comprehensive. You will need to use the catalogues in the library to trace
relevant textbooks and articles. The Legal Journals Index and the Index to Legal
Periodicals may be useful in tracing the latter. Bear in mind the need to strike a
balance between finding and reading literature and actually getting on with writing
your answer. You are not expected to have read everything that has been written on
the topic you are considering.
6.
Having read around the essay topic, identify what you consider to be the central
issues. Work out a logical structure for your answer and stick to it. Always be
relevant and ask yourself: how does what I am saying answer the question? The
examiners attach great importance to legibility, accuracy and clearness of expression.
7.
A good essay will be one where the candidate shows that he/she has read around the
subject and thought carefully about what others are saying. The essay is likely to
advance some sort of reasoned argument, so that the examiner knows by the end of
the essay what the candidate's own views are on the subject.
8.
Finally, keep the course essay in perspective. It counts for only a part of the final
mark for that subject. Be cautious about over-investing your time and effort into the
essay at the expense of your other subjects.
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