Faculty of Business and Law

Assignment Brief 2022/23

Unit Title: Critical Event Studies

Unit Code: 5Z7V0020 Core/Option: Level: 7
Core 15 credit
Assignment Identifier: 1CW100 Critical Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography

Unit Leader: Dr Andrew Mcloughlin

Contact Details: . Email: [email protected]. Tel 0161 247 2737. I can also be contacted
via MS Teams.
Submission Date: See date on Moodle Feedback Return Date: See Date on Moodle
Submission Instructions: Submit URL via Moodle
Feedback Return Information: See date on Moodle
Assignment Task and word count:
A 2000-word critical literature review and 1000-word annotation: Total 3000 words
Unit Learning Outcomes Assessed:

1. Appraise different disciplinary and theoretical perspectives in the study of events and
festivals.
2. Evaluate and critically analyse reading materials and synthesise perspectives.

PLOs

1.1.1 Identify and interrogate relevant data and literature sources using methods appropriate
to level of study and to discipline.

1.1.2b Critique theory in discussion and analysis

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Assignment Details and Instructions:

Critical literature review with annotated bibliography

What is an event (or festival) and how can we analyse their value to society?

Using your own background reading and classroom discussions to develop a review which
considers:
1) how events (or festivals) have been defined/conceptualised in the academic literature;
2) how they have been employed for different purposes;
3) and offer suggestions of how we might analyse them as social phenomena.

There needs to be at least 10 academic references (i.e. journal articles, book chapters, books) in
the bibliography. For each reference provide up to 100 words commentary on the main points
from this reading.

All work should be cited using the Manchester Metropolitan University’s reference style.

The work is assessing two main areas:

1) Your understanding of, and ability to, articulate a critical approach to studying events.
2) Your ability to draw on appropriate source materials and present work according to
academic conventions (i.e. formal writing style, developing arguments, referencing,
structuring etc).

Specifically you are instructed to write:

o 3,000 words (+/- 10%)
o Font size 12, 1.5 or double line spaced, justified to the margins
o Underpin analysis with a range of academic literature, relevant industry reports
and policy documents.
o Use the Harvard style of referencing (see guide above)
o Written in the 3rd person (NO mention of I, me, my or we)
o Clear reference list at the end, completed in alphabetical order by lead author’s
surname
o Word count written at the end

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Academic Integrity, Academic Misconduct and Plagiarism

Academic Integrity is about engaging in good academic practice. It means being honest and
transparent, and demonstrating rigour and accuracy in your work. This can include the proper
citation and referencing of the sources of your ideas and information, ensuring that you are
using appropriate research methods, or checking that your work is free of errors.

Additional information, video tutorials and guides to support good academic practice and
maintain Academic Integrity in your assignments can be found on the Academic Integrity area of
the Academic and Study Skills page on Moodle.

Academic Misconduct is any action that could give you an unfair advantage in coursework,
exams, or any other assessed work, which could lead to undermining the academic standards of
the University. This includes practices such as plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, contract
cheating or falsification of data. Full details of the Manchester Metropolitan University
guidelines for Academic Misconduct and definitions of terms can be found here.

Late submissions & Assessment Mitigations: [Please note: changes to this section are under
review and will be confirmed when academic regs are published for 2022/23]

Please refer to this link [to be added] for details of MMU’s late submission policy.

Please Note: Your tutor cannot grant extensions. If you think you are unable to submit on time
due to a health or some other unforeseen issue you must contact the student hub and apply
through formal channels for Assessment Mitigations: https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/student-case-
management/guidance-for-students/exceptional-factors/ [link to be updated]

Additional Resources:

See Critical Event Studies Moodle area

Marking Criteria:

Your submission will be marked using the stepped marking scheme. Your grade will show which
marking band your work is in, and whether you are at the top, middle, or bottom of the band.
Stepped marking is used to simplify the marking process for staff and make it clearer to students
in which band their work sits.

Mark PGT
Classification
95-100% Distinction
90%  
85%  
80%  

3
 75%  
72% Marginal Distinction
68% Merit
65%  
62%  
58%  
55%  
52% Marginal pass 
48% Marginal Fail
45%  
42%  
38% Fail
35%  
32%  
28%  
25%  
22%  
18%  
15%  
12%  
8%  
5%  
2%  
0%  

See Moodle for Unit Specification

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Assessment Marking Criteria Rubric

This is how your work will be graded. You will receive an overall grade that will be GUIDED by each of the criteria. The mark will fall into a 2, 5,
or 8. This grade may be achieved by the demonstration of strengths in different areas. There will be specific workshops in class where we will
explore this rubric in detail.

0-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-85 86-100

Fail Fail Pass Merit Distinction High Distinction
LO1. Appraise No or weak The student has The student has The student has The student has The student has
different understanding of the demonstrated demonstrated an consistently demonstrated a demonstrated an
disciplinary and role events and festivals inadequate understanding of demonstrated an thorough exceptional
theoretical in society. understanding of the role of events and understanding of understanding of understanding of role of
perspectives in Key theories and role of events and festivals in society. events and festivals role of events and events and festivals in
the study of
concepts have not been festivals in society. Key theories and in society. Key festivals in society. society. Key theories,
events and
examined or applied at Key theories and concepts have been theories and Key theories and and concepts have been
festivals. all. concepts have not applied but shows concepts are well concepts have been applied in depth with a
been examined or limited ability. applied but tends to very well applied strong critical analysis of
PLO 1.1.1 where they have be more descriptive and critiques of these developed and
Identify and been they have been than critical. these developed wider implications
Interrogate incorrectly applied. and wider considered and
relevant data implications critiqued.
and literature considered.
sources using
methods
appropriate to
level of study
and to
discipline.

LO2: Evaluate The student has not The student has The student has The student has The student has The student has
and critically demonstrated a use of displayed an over- demonstrated the selected, evaluated, thoroughly demonstrated an
analyse reading sources. They have not reliance on limited ability to select, and commented on selected, critically excellent ability to
demonstrated an range of sources. evaluate and background research evaluated, and select, consider,
materials and
adequate ability to They have not comment on and reading commented on evaluate, comment on,
synthesise select and evaluate demonstrated an background reading sometimes beyond background reading and synthesise a broad
perspectives. reading and research. adequate ability to and research the set reading and and research, range of background
select and evaluate however there is a from a wider range usually beyond the reading and research
5
PLO 1.1.2b The student has not reading and research. limited range of of sources. set range and from from a very wide range
produced evidence of sources applied in a wide range of of sources.
Critique theory background The student has not places. The student has sources.
investigation, analysis, produced sufficient argued logically, The student has made
in discussion
research, enquiry evidence of The student has with supporting The student has consistent, logical,
and analysis. and/or study. background shown the ability to evidence, and has demonstrated the coherently developed,
investigation, devise and sustain demonstrated the ability to make and substantiated
analysis, research, an argument. There ability to consider coherent, arguments, and
enquiry and/or study. is an adequate and evaluate a range substantiated demonstrated the
conclusion offered of views and arguments, as well ability to systematically
but the points made information. They as the ability to consider, critically
throughout tend to have clearly and consider, critically evaluate and synthesise
be descriptive. consistently evaluate and a wide range of views
explained the theory synthesise a range and information.
and chosen topic of views and
and come to a good information. They They have
conclusion. have demonstrated demonstrated critical
a thorough, insight and
perceptive, and interpretation of theory,
thoughtful industry insight and the
interpretation of chosen topic. The
the theory and student has conducted
chosen topic and independent, extensive,
have drawn a well- and appropriate
developed investigation, analysis,
conclusion. research, enquiry
and/or study well
beyond the usual range,
together with critical
evaluation to reach a
very well-developed
conclusion.