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Original poster

Any Open University folks about?

27 replies

Rory786 · 13/12/2018 14:33

Hi everyone, posting here for traffic.

I submitted my essay and scraped a pass (42)
I know I bungled up my referencing list, it was all correct but I put the wrong code (I'm doing 2 modules at the same time, I put the other code down)

My question is, how much is the referencing worth...the referencing was correct in the essay, and correct in itself ie the weblink, authors, chapters just the code was wrong.

I would love to hear from an O.U tutor...its really getting me down. I just had two essays back this month: in one essay I was 2 marks off a distinction and in this one I was 2 marks saved from a fail.

OP posts:
AdamNichol · 13/12/2018 14:44

DW tutors on OU; but this is a bit of a specific question - the marking guidance will change across subjects and levels. A Q for your tutor realistically.

Original poster
Rory786 · 13/12/2018 14:55

Ok thank you AdamNichol

OP posts:
FaFoutis · 13/12/2018 14:57

You would not get as low as 42 just because of the referencing. Read your feedback, it will tell you what you did wrong.

FaFoutis · 13/12/2018 14:57

I'm a tutor.

CaroloftheBalls · 13/12/2018 15:01

Do you mean the DOI code? It’ll barely be worth a couple of marks at most.

Walkingthroughawall · 13/12/2018 15:05

Check your feedback & ask your tutor if it's still not clear. They wouldn't mark you as 'scraping a pass' just because of referencing. (From an OU student).

SouthernComforts · 13/12/2018 15:08

Agreed it can't just be that. Email your tutor for more feedback.

Tomdix · 13/12/2018 15:15

Depends what level course is- by level 3 it’s critical analysis that they are looking for on essay writing. References are referred by the source so do you mean you referred to the module code in your references not the materials?

beingmumanddad · 13/12/2018 15:44

Doing an OU course

Your tutor should be providing a lot more feedback! Mine certainly does... I wouldn't be this unclear why I got a lower mark

Call the study support team

Original poster
Rory786 · 13/12/2018 16:26

Thank you everyone, I am in my second year doing two modules and I feel the feedback was so wishy washy:

1 Reference list incorrect. Only the code was.

2 She couldn't find module material I had included (So I had to comb through my essay and pinpoint exactly where I got the module material from (page numbers or online) Note: She didn't even say specifically what module material she couldn't find, nothing on my essay was highlighted in a different colour...

3 She said I should have talked about siblings but the guidance we were given said to focus on two relationships so I chose parents and peers.

4 She said I should have done the essay in a different format but the format I did, was told to us by our tutor at the online tutorial! She was there!

So fed up with how subjective it is, I poured so much into this essay and the other one. It makes me sad to hear others on my group chats say to ppl who haven't done the essay (and have a day to do it) just do it and submit it and you will at least get 40%!! I put so much time and I still got 40%. My academic writing can't be too bad judging from my other score.
I want to change tutors but others have said it takes a long time. I dread having 3 more essays marked by my current tutor.

So fed up and thank you if you managed to read it all.

OP posts:
Okki · 13/12/2018 16:52

I'm sorry that you didn't get the mark you were hoping for - it is very disappointing when that happens. But from point 2) you posted it does sound rather like your referencing was lacking somewhat. What style are you using - Harvard?

Okki · 13/12/2018 16:54

What does your assessment guide for the module state RE referencing and format?

Original poster
Rory786 · 13/12/2018 16:58

Yes Okki Harvard.

But what I meant was that I referenced all my module material correctly example Smith (2018) but she couldn't find it in the book. I could/can find it....

Oh well, will speak to her and bring up all these points.

OP posts:
AlwaysColdHands · 13/12/2018 17:06

Give it a while to sink in, then ask to have a chat on the phone with your tutor. Ask for further explanation and some examples of how things should be.

A 42 will have been arrived at due to a number of reasons. Referencing is only one small part of it. Also be assured that tutors have their marking reviewed/ moderated by more senior & experienced staff, so it’s not just a case of what one tutor ‘wants’, which is what many students se to think.

I’d be pretty miffed if one of my students didnt understand the reasons for their grade, but then also didn’t come to me to ask for further feedback. Try this in the first instance. If you’re still not happy then you can pursue your request to change tutors (although I have no idea on what grounds this is permitted)

MsRinky · 13/12/2018 17:30

Speak to your tutor about the feedback. If you're still unhappy, you can formally query the score, but this has to be done within 14 days. Info is in the Assessment Handbook.

FaFoutis · 13/12/2018 17:52

Did you use page numbers in your references? It would be easy to find if you did.

Tippexy · 13/12/2018 18:00

What exactly do you mean by referencing code? There’s no code in referencing?

Tippexy · 13/12/2018 18:01

Did you use direct quotations from the module material or did you put things in your own words? The former requires page numbers in the body of the essay (as a citation); the latter does not. Either way, that’s a citation issue not a referencing one.

Original poster
Rory786 · 13/12/2018 18:42

FaFoutis From what I understood, you only do page numbers if you are using direct quotes.

Tippexy By referencing code, I mean module like E109 and E212. So all my references are correct (book no, author, chapter, publisher etc) EXCEPT I wrote E109 for a E212 essay. Does that make sense?

AlwaysColdHands I messaged my tutor as soon as I got the result, around 10pm that please could I request a phone call.
And I was so upset I went through all the feedback and combed through the essay, clicked on each weblink in the references etc

Then in the morning, I received a text message to read through all the feedback and then see if I still want to talk.

I messaged that, yes I still want to talk and yes I read the feedback carefully.

OP posts:
Tomdix · 13/12/2018 18:58

@Rory786 the module code normally is in the header of the essay- so I have been taught- and secondary quotations ie you haven’t read original material but are citing if from a source then page numbers are included.

However feedback is to help you so tutor should go over it with you. Tutors get assessed too on their marking so maybe that influences how they mark. 40-54 considered a bare pass and 55-69 a good pass and over 70 must be excellent. Disclaimer not that I would know as never got over 68 at level 3 so far.

LucilleBluth · 13/12/2018 19:18

I'm on my last module with the OU. Do you think you grasped the question? It could be that you've not really answered the question. I have been halfway through essays in the past six years that I've scrapped when I've had a lightbulb moment iykwim.

Read the feedback and move onwards and upwards would be my advice.

fussygalore118 · 13/12/2018 20:03

I'm doing some OU courses at the mo.. that score wouldn't just be for referencing errors.. I had 82 on my recent assignment and has a lot of comments and constructive feedback. If you haven't had a lot of feedback from a score if 42 I would be cross and going straigg back to the tutor.

Original poster
Rory786 · 13/12/2018 20:13

Hi everyone

My tutor felt because my referencing was incorrect the whole essay lost its integrity because I was referring to another module.

She acknowledged that I understood the question and I wrote fluently. But that I got a 42 because of referencing.

OP posts:
Haggisfish · 13/12/2018 20:17

I would query the mark officially and ask for a remark by a different tutor. It does seem odd, though, because most ou material is online now, so it should be an url, not just book number. Did you get literally every other part of the reference correct? I say all this as an ou tutor.

Original poster
Rory786 · 13/12/2018 21:24

Thank you Haggisfish all the references in the essay were correct. She said I can't be sure you are trying to pass off another module's essay for this one. I was speechless at that.

All my end of list references were correct apart from the course code e.g. E109.

Do you think I have a chance?

OP posts: