[GCET]

ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/25

Assessment Brief
Researching the City_UBGMFJ-15-2_Research proposal

Submission and feedback dates

Submission deadline: Before 17:00 on 3rd Dec 2024
Is eligible for a 48-hour late submission window
Marks and Feedback due on: Supply date no later than 20 working days after the
submission window date.
N.B. all times are 24-hour clock, current local time (at time of submission) in the Oman

Submission details
Module title and code: Researching the City_UBGMFJ-15-2
Assessment type: written assessment
Assessment title: Research Proposal
Assessment weighting: 60% of total module mark
Size or length of assessment: 1500 words (+/- 10% to be used)
Module learning outcomes assessed by this task:
MO1 Search, organise and evaluate academic literature.
MO2 Formulate relevant and realistic research questions, based upon academic literature.
MO3 Develop, carry out and evaluate a variety of methods appropriate to urban planning
research Completing your assessment.

Completing your assessment

What am I required to do on this assessment?
You are required to write a research proposal.
BSc Urban Planning Students This is an academic paper on the methods that you would use
in researching a planning issue related to your chosen subject area for Final Year Project
modules studied in the third year.
Degree Apprentices, you should prepare a research proposal based on exploring a particular
aspect of your job role – this could include things such as a specific policy implementation
(e.g. how green policy is implemented, or how Design policies are utilised etc.), or a
process/procedure for undertaking a task (such as investigating a breach of planning
permission or notifying neighbours of a planning application etc.). Alternatively, if you wish,
you can select a topic that you intend to use for your dissertation in year 4.
The research proposal needs to clearly state:
1. the subject being studied including a mini literature review summary of the
context surrounding the issue.
2. a specific research question, an aim and a related set of objectives.
3. the methods that will be used to investigate the issue, including their strengths
and weaknesses, supported by academic reference citations.
4. any potential ethical issues you might encounter, and how you would seek to
overcome/minimise them.
5. an indicative timescale for delivery (using 12 months).
6. all your source materials, academic and grey literature using UWE Harvard style
citations and referencing.
7. Be of high-quality academic quality, both in terms of written content and
presentation.

The assessment can provide an important preparatory link to the extended research, via
Final Year Project or later PG dissertation modules, that will need to be completed during
your later studies.
The word count is 1,500 words (+/-10%), beyond which nothing will be marked). This
includes everything in the main body of the text (including headings, tables, citations,
quotes, lists, etc). The front cover title page, list of references and appendices are NOT
included in the word count.
Where should I start?
Select a topic that interests you.
Consider what specific aspect of the topic you want to investigate. The more specific you
are, the better chance you have of preparing a coherent research proposal.
To help you do this, complete the phrase ‘I want to find out….’
In effect, that is your ‘aim’.
Then think about the things you need to understand and investigate to deliver that ‘aim’.
List 4 or 5 things. Those are your ‘objectives’.
Now think about HOW you would go about finding out that data/information. Reflect on the
research methods you have experienced during the module; and the lectures, talks and
visits you’ve undertaken. Could any of these methods be used in exploring your chosen
topic?
What do I need to do to pass?
To pass this assessment you need to get the minimum mark of 40%.
It is expected that you would draw on at least three academic sources related to RESEARCH
METHODS texts to support the points you make. You must use UWE Harvard-style
referencing. This means citing ALL your sources in the text and providing a reference list at
the end.
Help and guidance on referencing is available through the UWE online library:
https://www.uwe.ac.uk/study/study-support/study-skills/referencing
ow do I achieve high marks in this assessment?
To gain high marks in this assignment you need to critique the research methods you are
intending to use.
Please see the marking criteria below to understand more fully the characteristics of work
that achieves a 2:1 or 1st.
How does the learning and teaching relate to the assessment?
All the sessions delivered during this module have an important part in providing you with
the contexts that are specifically related to assessment.
What additional resources may help me complete this assessment?
There are opportunities in class to seek formative feedback on draft work, both with your
peers and with tutors.
Specific UWE library study skills pages i.e. https://www.uwe.ac.uk/study/study-
support/study-skills
What do I do if I am concerned about completing this assessment?
UWE Bristol offers a range of Assessment Support Options that you can explore through
Academic Support.
For further information, please see the Academic Survival Guide.
How do I avoid an Assessment Offence on this module? 2
Use the support above if you feel unable to submit your work for this module.
The most likely assessment offences that could be committed about this assessment are:

• Plagiarism – copying or rewording from a source without citing it in the text.

• Collusion – copying from another student or allowing another student to copy from
you.
• Falsification – falsely claiming to have attended one of the visits, drawing on that
fabricated experience, and writing about it in the essay as if you had attended.

Marks and Feedback

Your assessment will be marked according to the following marking criteria.
 You can use these to evaluate your work before you submit it.
Knowledge and Academic underpinnings (use of Analytical and critical thinking Communication and
understanding of literature) for the chosen research related to the research proposal presentation
Mark (%)
research methods subject area (including referencing) (applying the reading)
60% 20% 10% 10%
>80% Exceptional depth of Comprehensive up-to-date range of Exceptional critical and analytical Exceptional clarity in
Outstanding knowledge and relevant literature considered. thinking. Response to all aspects of argument and
understanding. Exceptional use of a highly relevant the brief convincingly underpinned by communication.
Exceptional application of and exceptionally wide range of outstanding, in-depth analysis and Persuasive style, creative
this knowledge to the academic and grey sources to highly sophisticated synthesis of and extremely
brief. Exceptional level of support statements, arguments, learning resources and key issues. professional standard of
independent/innovative recommendations and conclusions Extremely logical approach and presentation with no
thought. throughout the submission. The argumentation throughout the typographical or
referencing of literature and other submission. All arguments, proposals formatting errors.
sources is Exceptional, conforming to and conclusions within the
UWE Harvard requirements. submission are substantiated in an
exceptionally convincing manner.
70 - 79% Excellent depth of Comprehensive up-to-date range of Excellent critical and analytical Excellent clarity in
knowledge and relevant literature considered. thinking. Response to all aspects of argument and
understanding. Excellent Excellent use of a highly relevant and the brief convincingly underpinned by communication.
Excellent application of this Excellently wide range of academic outstanding, in-depth analysis and Persuasive style, creative
knowledge to the brief. and grey sources to support highly sophisticated synthesis of and extremely
Excellent level of statements, arguments, learning resources and key issues. professional standard of
independent/innovative recommendations and conclusions Extremely logical approach and presentation with no
thought. throughout the submission. The argumentation throughout the typographical or
referencing of literature and other submission. All arguments, proposals formatting errors.
sources is Excellent, conforming to and conclusions within the
UWE Harvard requirements. submission are substantiated in an
Excellently convincing manner.
60 – 69% Good depth of knowledge A good range of relevant literature Good standard of critical and Consistently Good
Very good and understanding. Good was considered. Good use of a wide analytical thinking. Good analysis and standard of
of this knowledge to the range of academic and grey sources synthesis of learning resources and communication and
Good brief. Good level of to underpin most elements of the key issues. Good logical approach and presentation throughout.
independent/innovative submission. Good standard of argumentation throughout. Most
thought. referencing throughout, largely arguments, proposals and
conforming to UWE Harvard conclusions within the submission are
requirements. substantiated in a convincing
manner.
50 – 59% Reasonable depth of A reasonable range of relevant Limited critical and analytical Clarity of communication
Competent knowledge and literature was considered. Use of thinking. Reasonable analysis and is reasonable overall.
understanding with some some academic and grey literature is synthesis of learning resources and The standard of
Reasonable application of this used to support most of the main most of the key issues relevant to the presentation is
knowledge to the brief. elements of the submission. brief. Logical approach and reasonable although
Independent/innovative Referencing is to a reasonable argumentation throughout. Most there may be occasional
thought is in evidence. standard, largely conforming to UWE proposals and conclusions are typographical errors.
Harvard requirements. substantiated.
40 – 49% Adequate depth of An adequate range of relevant Some elements of critical and Communication is
Adequate knowledge and literature was considered but analytical thinking, but the approach generally
understanding. confined mainly to teaching to the literature and key issues is adequate/competent.
Adequate/competent material. Use of literature to largely descriptive. Logic is generally The standard of
application of this support the main elements of the sound, but not consistent presentation is
knowledge to the brief. submission is generally throughout. Synthesis is generally adequate/competent,
Some evidence of adequate/competent, but overly adequate/competent, but lacking in but there are
independent/innovative relies on a limited range of sources depth. The approach to inconsistencies and
thought. and/or some elements of the report substantiating key proposals and occasional faults (errors
not underpinned sufficiently by an conclusions is generally in syntax, spelling and
evidence base. Referencing is adequate/competent, but some punctuation and minor
generally accurate and appropriate elements are not convincing or formatting errors).
but with minor omissions or neglected altogether.
inaccuracies.
30 - 39% Weak/poor depth of Very limited range of literature Critical and analytical thinking is very Weak/poor standard of
Weak knowledge and considered. The use of literature to limited, superficial or unconvincing. communication and
understanding. Limited or support submission statements, Logical approach is largely absent. presentation.
inappropriate application arguments, recommendations and Attempts to synthesise key aspects of
to the brief. conclusions is patchy with over- submission are very limited or
reliance on non-academic sources. unconvincing. Very little or
The standard of referencing is unconvincing attempt to substantiate
weak/poor with many inaccuracies key ideas/recommendations/
and omissions. conclusions.
<30% Knowledge and Consideration of relevant literature Critical and analytical thinking, logical Extremely poor standard
Very poor understanding are is extremely limited or non-existent. approach and synthesis are absent. of communication and
extremely superficial or Little or no attempt to adopt the No attempt to substantiate ideas or presentation.
absent altogether. There UWE Harvard system. recommendations.
are many factual errors,
inaccuracies,
misconceptions and
omissions. Attempts to
apply knowledge to the
brief are extremely
limited, non-existent or
highly inappropriate.
1. In line with UWE Bristol’s Assessment Content Limit Policy (formerly the Word Count
Policy), word count includes all text, including (but not limited to): the main body of text
(including headings), all citations (both in and out of brackets), text boxes, tables and
graphs, figures and diagrams, quotes, lists.
2. UWE Bristol’s UWE’s Assessment Offences Policy requires that you submit work that is
entirely your own and reflects your learning, so it is important to:
• Ensure you reference all sources used, using the UWE Harvard system and the
guidance available on UWE’s Study Skills referencing pages.
• Avoid copying and pasting any work into this assessment, including your previous
assessments, work from other students or internet sources
• Develop your style, arguments and wording, so avoid copying sources and changing
individual words but keep, essentially, the same sentences and/or structures from
other sources
• Never give your work to others who may copy it
• If an individual assessment, develop your work and preparation, and do not allow
anyone to make amends on your work (including proof-readers, who may highlight
issues but not edit the work) and
When submitting your work, you will be required to confirm that the work is your own,
and text-matching software and other methods are routinely used to check submissions
against other submissions to the university and internet sources. Details of what
constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it can be found on UWE’s Study Skills pages
about avoiding plagiarism.

Attendance Requirements
Flexible (Working) Students
Students who are enrolled in a flexible mode due to work commitments must provide valid
evidence of their employment status during the admission/registration stage.
The minimum attendance requirement for flexible students is 50% of scheduled classes,
practical sessions and live online sessions.
Full-Time, Non-Flexible Students
For students enrolled in a full-time, non-flexible mode, the minimum attendance
requirement is 70% of scheduled classes, practical sessions and live online sessions.
Attendance will be monitored regularly by the staff during the session. Students will receive
a first warning after Week 4 if their attendance falls below the required minimum stated
above. A second warning will be issued after Week 8 for continued non-compliance with the
attendance policy.