Helping students understand and implement the EE criteria is key for their development as researchers and writers. Before we dig into each criterion, check out this academic writing handbook to simplify academic writing requirements for your students!
Let us now take a look at the assessment criteria for the EE in more detail!
EE Criteria
Students’ essays are graded out of 34 marks and assessed using the following five criteria:
Criterion A: Focus and method | 6 marks
This criterion centres on students’ choice of topic, how focused their research question is, and the methodology they use to answer their question. Applying limiting factors to the question is one way students can narrow the scope. For example: Who is the essay about? Is it focused on one political leader? Is the analysis centred on one country or geographic region? What time period does the essay focus on? What are the important factors involved?
Criterion B: Knowledge and understanding | 6 marks
Within knowledge and understanding, students use the tools of the subject area in which they are writing to answer their research question. What are the key historical or current events to consider? What is the theoretical background? What is the scientific rationale? In their essays, students will need to show how deeply they understand the subject area by using subject-specific terminology. Concepts that are key to understanding the subject area are used to frame their research. A student writing in history, for example, can consider how the perception of a certain historical event has changed over time. Do historians view the event in a similar fashion 20 or 100 years after?
Criterion C: Critical thinking | 12 marks
This area is simultaneously often the most challenging for students and also the most important. Showing them what is evidence, what is analysis, and what is evaluation is a great place to begin. Analysis is breaking down an argument into its parts. Students may look at different experts’ opinions on the same issue as an example of this. One key for spotting evaluation is noticing where opinions are given based on the strengths or limitations of a source or position. What are the weaknesses of a particular argument? What about the journal or author? Once students have got the hang of this, have them go through their own essays and repeat this activity. They may notice they are well-equipped with facts but need more analysis. This also helps them begin to see how they should structure their conclusions to include points that best sum up their research findings.
Criterion D: Presentation | 4 marks
This is an area where all your students can excel. Teaching academic writing skills and ensuring students understand formatting and structuring requirements is sure to serve your students well even beyond the EE!
Download this guide for activity ideas to simplify academic writing for your students!
Criterion E: Reflection | 6 marks
The goal of this criterion is to guide students to an analytical approach to reflection. The engaged student will show what they’ve learned from finishing their essays as well as how they’ve grown as researchers during the process. This criterion is evaluated on the basis of students’ RPPF form. To learn more about reflection and the RPPF, head over to the next section.
Student Self-Assessment
In addition to how they are formally assessed, students’ self-assessment capabilities are key for developing research, thinking, and self-management skills.
To get them started, share this EE self-evaluation checklist with your students. Download the pdf version here.
