Submitting work and accessing feedback
Submitting assessed work
Most of your coursework (there are occasional exceptions for non-credit bearing formative work and special subject portfolio pieces, where your tutor will clarify what you need to do) is submitted via electronic submission and feedback software called Turnitin. You can submit work from any electronic device. You can also submit multiple times before the deadline, so if you accidentally upload an incorrect file, you can simply upload the correct version and this will overwrite your previous submission. All History Turnitin deadlines are 12:00 noon.
You will usually need to include a coversheet.
You will find the Turnitin link to submit your work on the module page in Blackboard. It will usually be on the left hand menu under Assessment and Feedback (UG) - Assignment Submission Click on the link, and then follow the instructions here to upload and submit.
Top tips for a successful submission:
Don't forge to copy and paste a coversheet to the front of your submission. Among other things, the coversheet offers the chance to request tailored feedback.
If you are submitting summative coursework for anonymous marking, please enter your registration number in the 'submission title' box
If you have a Specific Learning Difficulty or a disability which affects written communication, you can inform the marker of this using a virtual 'yellow sticker' - simply type 'Yellow sticker' after your registration number in the submission title box. (See: Yellow stickers for more information)
Don't forget to press the final 'submit' button!
It is a good idea to get into the habit of checking your submission has uploaded correctly. You should download your submission receipt as you will no longer receive an emailed submission receipt. You can also check by going to the original submission link and clicking 'view'. If you can't see your essay there, it hasn't been correctly submitted and you should begin the process again.
Feedback
Read the History Hacks What to Expect from Feedback resource
See History Hacks guides to responding to common feedback
Feedback on your work is provided in various ways. Comments on your progress and how you might improve will often be given in the form of written feedback when your work is returned to you. Many tutors also arrange 'feedback sessions' which provide an opportunity on a one-to-one level to discuss oral presentations to the class, seminar participation or essay work. In addition, all tutors have weekly term-time office hours during which they are available to give feedback and discuss your academic progress.
Some generic points arising from coursework may be covered in general feedback to the class as a whole, by e-mail, as part of seminar discussion that week, or delivered through Blackboard. Some tutors also use elements of peer-feedback and assessment in their teaching.
All feedback is most effective as part of a dialogue, so if there are things you want clarified or areas on which you would like more guidance, please do not feel shy about asking your tutor. Your personal tutor will be a good point of contact for discussing how to improve aspects of your academic performance. It may seem an obvious point to make, but make sure that you read the comments on your work, and don’t just look at the mark! Even a very good mark will normally be accompanied by suggestions for improvement and further development.
Consider logging your feedback so you can spot patterns and identify areas for improvement. Using the MySkills tool to keep a record of what you're doing well and what you want to work on can make for more productive discussions with your personal tutor. It can also give you a sense of your own personal development.
Providing good feedback takes time but we will endeavour to get your work returned to you in a timely fashion. We aim to return formative (not credit-bearing) written work within two weeks. Credit-bearing coursework will be returned after three weeks, which gives us time to mark and moderate while fulfilling our other duties. Work submitted in assessment periods will be released according to university timetables: typically March for semester 1 and July for semester 2. Where staff are unable to return feedback to you on time for any reason - e.g. illness - we will let you know.
Accessing your feedback in Turnitin
There are two ways to access your grade: via the Grade Centre, or via the initial submission link. We recommend reopening your essay via the original submission link - your marker will have left feedback explaining how they decided on your mark, and may also have completed a rubric which breaks down the mark further.
For instructions on accessing your feedback, please see this link.
Appealing a mark
If you feel that a mark does not adequately reflect the merit of a piece of assessed work, you should speak to your module tutor in the first instance to request additional clarification on the feedback they have given, and how it relates to the mark you have received.
Students can only appeal a mark on a few specific grounds: that there has been a procedural error (e.g. a mis-calculation); that you have new evidence of extenuating circumstances that you could not have provided or informed the department about at the time of your assessment, or that there has been a failure of supervision. All coursework worth over 20% of a final module grade in the department is moderated - that is it is often second-marked, and marks and feedback are checked by another academic member of staff to ensure consistency and fairness.
The University has an official Appeals procedure to handle student grievances. Details may be found in the University Calendar.
You may also find useful information in the Charter for Students on the University website.
Please email history.ugenquiries@sheffield.ac.uk with any questions about preparing or submitting your coursework.