1.5 Amount of information

Some assignments can be completed by consulting your lecture notes...

... while other assignments require more detailed and comprehensive information.

How much is enough?

The question of how much information is required is a matter of judgement.

To ensure you meet the requirements and present an appropriate depth of coverage of your topic, refer to the marking and assessment criteria set by your lecturer.

The length, weight, marks, and task should guide the amount of information required.

Example assignment criteria

Due: Week 7
Weight: 20%
Length: 1000 words
Task: There are many forms of gambling, including casinos, lottery, poker machines and TAB. Write an essay which discusses the practice of offering inducements to encourage people to gamble. Examples of possible inducements include: free alchohol, free food, free accommodation, free chips or tokens, increased jackpots. Apply two ethical theories to explore whether these practices are ethical.

Marking criteria

Criterion	Description	Marks
*Content*	Addresses the question	30
	Use of information	20
	Synthesis of ideas	20
	Justification of conclusions	15
*Presentation*	Spelling, grammar, flow of ideas, correct citations and referencing, appropriate use of tables, figures and charts	15

Assessment criteria

Criterion			Performance
	1	2	3	4	5
*Use of information*	No information cited.	Some information cited. Cited information is not always relevant.	Reading is limited to information supplied by lecturer. Information cited covers some crucial arguments and points of view.	Evidence of additional reading. Information cited covers most crucial arguments and points of view.	Evidence of wide reading. Information cited covers all crucial arguments and points of view.

Some assignment specifications are more detailed than others. For clarification, check with the person who will be marking your assignment - usually your tutor.

Have you identified the best sources for your information need?