CH3PRF-BSc Chemistry Project - Forensic Analysis

Module Provider: Chemistry
Number of credits: 40 [20 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites: CH2FA Forensic Analysis 1
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Module Convenor: Prof Matthew Almond

Email: m.j.almond@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Aims:
To give students the experience of working on an extended project in forensic analysis.

Assessable learning outcomes:
Students should appreciate how to tackle a problem which requires many steps to solve. They should know how to search the literature for previous relevant work. They should know how to implement necessary experiments to solve the problem they are tackling. They should be able to present their results in a logical and legible form in their written report, to give an oral presentation of their work and be able to respond to questions on their presentation. Students should be able to search the chemical literature and write a review on a specific topic.

Additional outcomes:
Students will further develop their numeracy, IT and communication skills. Students will develop techniques for independent learning, become familiar with the chemical literature and the methods used in research. Students will recognise the importance of time management in the planning of the project and preparation of the report and presentation.

Outline content:

The Project Handbook outlines in full complete details for delivery and assessment of the research project and the details in the handbook should be referred to. Projects may be either individual or group projects. Group projects and individual projects are carried out over the same time period of 11 weeks. Students undertaking individual projects are assigned to work with a member of academic staff within one of the research teams or project groups, wherever possible taking into account student preference. For group projects students will be assigned a group of students (4-6) to work with on an area depending upon their preferences. The group projects will be overseen by a member of staff who will appoint a project leader. Students will independently investigate different aspects of a common problem and may opt to combine results to produce their written report. All students will give a presentation.

Alternatively students may opt to undertake an individual literature review as a project or choose to carry out a project of an educational nature in the area of forensic analysis.

The research teams are: Biomedical, Molecular and Analytical Chemistry; Materials and Interfaces for the Future; and Soft Matter.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

130 hours practical work over 11 week period (practical includes computational and theory).

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	1
Practicals classes and workshops	130
Guided independent study:	149	40	80
Total hours by term	280	40	80
Total hours for module	400

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Dissertation	75
Oral assessment and presentation	25

Summative assessment- Examinations:
n/a

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Coursework

Practical work will be assessed both through work in the laboratory and laboratory notebooks and records including electronic media. In the case of all projects including literature, educational and computational projects a journal or notebook will be required and will be assessed. A literature review will be compiled prior to commencing the project. The final project report must be submitted by the named date.. The project report will be assessed by two members of staff. Students should be aware that the project report will be subject to a check for plagiarism. Instructions for submitting the report will be given in the handbook. A 10 minute talk on the project, with up to a further 5 minutes available for questions and discussion, will be given. .



Full details of project available in project handbook and on relevant Blackboard site.

Guidance on good practice on avoiding plagiarism can be found in the Handbook.



Relative percentage of coursework : 100 %

Performance during the project and laboratory records and project report 75%(to include COSHH assessments, log book/journal signed by supervisor)

Assessment of final oral presentation 25%



Submission Dates SEE PROJECT HANDBOOK

Formative assessment methods:

An interim report is required by week 7 of the autumn term for individual projects and literature projects. Group projects give a Project Review Presentation at the halfway stage in week 6. Supervisors will give feedback on the reports and presentations.

Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;

where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 40 % overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

It is not possible to retake this module in the same format. If a student fails the overall programme, reassessment will be by re-submission of the project report (or an individual section of the report) followed by an oral presentation following final examinations.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 15 July 2019