Course Handbook - Faculty of History - University of Cambridge

context, and to current debate); research content (i.e. identification and study of primary sources);
use of quantitative methods, where appropriate the work should demonstrate knowledge and
confidence in the use of the taught research methods; quality of argument (i.e. analysis of historical
sources, development of analytical arguments demonstrating knowledge of qualitative methods, or
reconsideration of existing accounts); and awareness of limits of knowledge.
Candidates are also expected to present work which is clearly and correctly written and which has an
adequate scholarly apparatus. The decision to balance judgment on content and presentation in
marking MPhil essays, on how to mark relatively for weaknesses either of argument or of prose and
presentation rests with the examiner. Examiners should consider the organization of the narrative
and the argument; capacity to summarise findings; style and clarity of prose and precision in
documentation (including footnotes and bibliography).
SPECIAL NOTE ON PLAGIARISM, FOOTNOTES AND WORD COUNT:
The word limit of 20,000 may not be breached under any circumstances.
The word count must include appendices and statistical tables at 150 words per table, but excludes
all footnotes, references and bibliography. Candidates are required to note the total word count on
the cover sheet bound with the dissertation and to submit an electronic version of the dissertation on
a CD so that if necessary the word count may be verified; examiners should note any failure to do so
in their report. The Economic and Social History Course Handbook stipulates:
‘No penalty will be imposed for an excess of 50 words (for an essay) or 150 (for a dissertation) over
the maximum word limit, but this allowance should not be abused. The MPhil sub-committee acting
as a Board of Examiners has the discretion to penalise essays and dissertations which exceed the
word limit. The word limit (within the 50 / 150 words grace allowance) must therefore be
strictly observed. Students can expect to be severely penalised for exceeding the word limit.
Normally the penalty will be the deduction of up to 5 marks from the essay/dissertation, but in
severe cases the work may be marked as failed.
Footnotes should be restricted to the documentation of claims and the registration of relevant caveats
or observations in relation to the literature. Footnotes must not be used to circumvent the word limit
of the essay or dissertation. Students can expect to be severely penalised for abusing the proper use
of footnotes in this way. Normally the penalty will be a deduction of up to 5 marks from the essay or
dissertation, but in severe cases the essay or dissertation may be marked as failed.’
The Course Handbook, which is available on the Faculty website, also gives clear instructions to
candidates about avoiding plagiarism.
Examiners who believe that a dissertation infringes the course rules in respect of plagiarism,
use of footnotes, or word count, are required to state this in their report but to award a mark
independent of these issues. An Examiner must not penalise an essay. The MPhil Sub-
Committee sitting as Board of Examiners will then make a determination of whether violation
of the rules has occurred and, if so, impose the appropriate penalty. Normally the penalty will
be up to 5 marks, but in severe cases the dissertation may be marked as failed.
4. PART I: INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS OF ASSESSMENT
4.1 Central Concepts Essay (10%)
This is a term paper of up to 3,000 words based on questions dealing with themes discussed in the
sessions, and handed in at the end of the Michaelmas term. There will be approximately two
questions per session. The purpose of these essays is to examine a central problem or issue discussed
in the relevant secondary literature in a critical way. They should demonstrate sound knowledge of
the literature in question, but should be more than a narrative summary. The essays are generally
quite broad ranging and should be based both on readings listed in the individual bibliographies for
each session as well as additional more specific readings supplied by the session teachers.
19