• Intelligent critical analysis of evidence or sophisticated analysis of data;
• Demonstrates high level of initiative in research and reading;
• Impressive command of underlying debates and assumptions, and awareness of alternative analyses;
• Properly documented;
• Solid argumentation;
• Precise, clear writing and control of appropriate formalism;
• All criteria addressed to a high level.

Distinction 75-84

• Intelligent, critical analysis of evidence or sophisticated analysis of data
• Demonstrates initiative in research and reading;
• Good command of underlying theory, debates and assumptions;
• Properly documented;
• Solid argumentation;
• Precise, clear writing and control of appropriate formalism;
• All criteria addressed clearly, and most to a high level.

Credit 65-74

• Good analysis of evidence or data;
• Demonstrates control of research and reading;
• Shows an understanding of the underlying debates and assumptions;
• Properly documented;
• Solid argumentation;
• Precise, clear writing, and control of formalism;
• Most criteria addressed clearly

Pass 50-64

• Satisfactory analysis of evidence or data;
• Demonstrates control of research and reading;
• Properly documented;
• Work is adequately written, with some grammatical errors; adequate control of appropriate formalism, with some errors;
• Most criteria addressed adequately

Fail 0-49

• Work not of acceptable standard
• Most criteria not clearly or adequately addressed;
• Written style inappropriate to task; major problems with expression

Work may fail for any or all of the following reasons:

• Failure to demonstrate understanding of content;
• Faulty analysis (e.g., internal inconsistency or failure to account for data);

• Inadequate argumentation;
• Failure to understand the theoretical framework;
• Gross lack of control of appropriate formalism;
• Irrelevance of content;
• Unacceptable paraphrasing;
• Absence of referencing where assignment requires this
• Unreadability (including major grammatical or structural problems).