B.A.

(Hons) Staffordshire University

SUBJECT CODE: SUBJECT NAME: SEMESTER: Assessment: Due Date: Word Limit: BLB00012-3 Globalization & international institutions March 2011 Assignment 24th. June, 2011 2500 words
(excluding diagrams, data, appendices and references)

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS
Please read the following information CAREFULLY. If you are in doubt about anything, please consult your lecturer before you submit your work. (a) The nature of the assignment. This assignment consists of an Essay of not more than 2500 words. Please follow the instructions closely as outlined in this document. The marks scored for this assessment comprise 100% assessment for this module. You should word process your work. Please ensure that this assignment instruction paper contains EIGHT (8) printed pages. Learning outcomes and criteria for assessment. The following learning outcomes will be assessed in this assignment: Knowledge & understanding: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the functions and issues of contemporary international finance, trade and investment systems and institutions. 2. Analysis, problem-solving & application: Demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and critically assess the impact of international finance, trade and investment systems and institutions on the socio-economic and political environment. 3. Learning: Develop coherent lines of argument and suggest informed solutions to world socio-economic and political dilemmas. 4. Enquiry & communication: Interpret qualitative and quantitative data and communicate effectively information and arguments mainly in written form.
1.

(b)

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(c) Assignment guidelines. 1. Your presentation should be logical and coherent, such that the assignment flows. 2. The work should be concise and relevant and the meaning should be clear. 3. Analysis of book, journal and internet materials: you must show evidence of ability to interpret and deduce relevant data and information. 4. Effective presentation of the assignment. This also means that the work must be word-processed. It should be neat and demonstrate conventional UK spelling and grammar. 5. Sources of information/quotations used in the work should be properly referenced using the Harvard method, as per the guidelines given. Failure to do so may result in your work not being marked (This may mean that your work is passed to the panel that deals with Plagiarism). 6. You will be expected to research and read widely with a minimum of 5 different sources of references. (d) Assessment criteria. The highest grades will be awarded to students who demonstrate the following: clear knowledge of the main issues, terminology, structure, conduct and impact of the international finance and trade systems and institutions. Subtle and thoughtful observations will score well, as will the provision of suitable data in the essay answers. A pass grade will be awarded to students who demonstrate some knowledge of the above, but who tend to offer only cryptic or shallow responses, where it is difficult to follow their reasoning and thought processes. Students who ignore or misunderstand the above are likely to fail this assessment, as are students who do not follow the assessment instructions. 1. To gain a grade of excellent in the assessed component. The answer must meet all the criteria shown in the notes and guidelines to an excellent standard. The answer will show a very wide range of reading, research, critical thought and analysis, and a very good understanding of the issues and their implications. Use of good examples, data and information in support of arguments, ideas and concepts should be demonstrated. 2. To gain a grade of very good in the assessed component. The answer must meet all the criteria shown in the notes and guidelines to a very good standard. The answer will show a wider range than average of reading and research, some critical thought, analysis, and clear understanding of the issues and their implications. Fair use of examples, data and information in support of arguments, ideas and concepts should be demonstrated. 3. To gain a grade of good in the assessed component. The answer must meet all the criteria shown in the notes and guidelines to a good standard. The answer will show a larger range of reading than that given for a satisfactory grade although some research and analytical thought, and an understanding of the issues and their implications are expected. Use of some
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examples, data and information in support of arguments, ideas and concepts is required. 4. To obtain a grade of satisfactory in the assessed component. The answer should meet all the criteria shown in the notes and guidelines to a minimal standard. The answer will demonstrate an acceptable range of reading and some research, an attempt at critical thought and analysis, but with a basic understanding of the issues and their implications. Use of examples, data and information is not expected. 5. To obtain a grade of poor in the assessed component. The answer falls short of the criteria shown in the notes and guidelines provided in the assignment. The answer does not show an acceptable understanding of the issues and their implications. The range of reading is minimal and there is no evidence of research, thought and analysis. Work handed in after the deadline will be labelled Late and marked at zero. (c) Assignment submission. The Examination Section must receive your work by 4:30 pm at the appointed date. It will, of course, be accepted at an earlier date, but late submissions will not be awarded a mark unless you successfully make a claim under the extenuating circumstances procedure (see SU Student Handbook). Submission arrangements. You must hand in one copy of your assignment, stapled to a completed Assignment Attachment form which is available at the Academic Support Unit. Submission is at the counter of the Examination Section. During normal office hours, staff will be available to receive these assignments. You are strongly advised to keep at least a photocopy or a copy of this assignment on disk.

(d)

(e) Penalties. Plagiarism will be severely penalised. The University publishes a fully detailed description of what the term plagiarism means on the University website. Unless your claim of extenuating circumstances is upheld, late submission will not be marked and zero mark will be awarded.

A sliding scale of penalties for excess length will be imposed according to the amount by which the limit has been exceeded : 1-10% excess 11-20% excess 21-30% excess 31%+ excess no penalty 10% reduction in the mark 20% reduction in the mark the work will be capped at a pass i.e. 40% or grade point 4 *************

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B. How to present and format your assignment 1 2 Write your assignment as if you were writing an essay regarding the question you have chosen. Your essay should identify the relevant topic and provide a balanced and justified critique (pros and cons) of the issues. Ensure that you justify your arguments and recommendations with facts and/or logical reasoning. Use headings and subheadings to guide the reader if necessary. Be consistent in the type of headings you use. The list of references should be in alphabetical order, consistently presented and comprehensive (see referencing below). If you give a web address for a document, also include the date on which it was accessed.

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5 You must thoroughly cite all key data/theory/quotations used in your report. You must use in-text referencing (i.e. the Harvard System). Refer to the lecture on referencing or to the following URL: http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/files/Harvard_referencing.pdf Use an essay format and begin with an introduction followed by the body of the essay and ending with a conclusion. Please indicate at the end of your essay the total number of words (This includes words in all sections and the introduction. However, it does not include diagrams, tables, footnotes, appendices, etc.).

C. Assessment of the Assignment Your assignment will be assessed using attachment 1. The use of this form ensures that students assignments are marked by the same standards and criteria no matter who is marking the assignment. These criteria are given to you in advance so that there are no surprises for you about how your assignment will be marked! Reminder: Include the above form in your assignment submission for the markers convenience!

D. Plagiarism warning Plagiarism occurs if you use somebody else's work in an assignment or exam answer, but fail to state where you got the material from.

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It can happen in any type of assessment where you are given the questions or tasks in advance. If another student uses your work in his/her answer(s), both you and the student will be punished for copying. Please note: Plagiarism is a form of cheating in which students use the work of others and present it as their own. The University publishes a fully detailed description of what the term plagiarism means on the Universitys main web-site under the heading Procedures for dealing with suspected cases of academic dishonesty. We strongly recommend that you go and read the full document at the above address. Meanwhile, here is an extract of some of the relevant content. You will have committed plagiarism and may be caught, reported and punished (as described below) if you:

Punishments for committing plagiarism can be very severe.

Copy extensively from the work of others (from sources such as books, magazines, journals, web-sites for example) and submit the work as your own. NB It is acceptable to refer to the work of others as long as you do not use too much, and reference your sources properly. If you do not know how to do this, please follow the guidelines given in the document entitled Adding quotations and references to your written work at this web-site address: http://www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/business/bsadmin/staff/s3/jamr.htm

Copy another students work and submit it for assessment under your own name. Allow other students to copy your work and then they submit them for assessment under their names.

This last item is of particular importance; few students seem to understand what it means. If, for example, you allow another student to borrow your work and he/she subsequently copies some of that work and present it as his/her own, you and that person will both be punished even though someone else copied your work. The risks of working with other students Some assessment tasks are explicitly designed for group work, and it will be made clear that a group answer is expected from you. All other tasks are intended as an assessment of your individual comprehension and performance, and group answers are not permitted. In individually assessed forms of assessment your work must be different from that of every other student. Plagiarism can occur in assignments and any examination where the questions are issued to students in advance. In both cases it is possible for you to ask other people about how best to answer the questions or complete the necessary tasks You should be aware that different modules and subjects may have different requirements. In some subjects, answers to questions may, for example, require every student on a module to employ or refer to the same diagram(s), concepts and the like in order to construct an
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acceptable answer. You should note, however, that even in these circumstances your explanations of what the diagrams mean, and any other writing referring to any common diagrams and concepts should all be in your own words. Moreover, the situation may be very different on other modules, where the submission of work that has a very similar structure, or the use of very similar materials such as concepts, diagrams, quotations and the like, to that of another student, may lead to you being accused of plagiarism. The picture is complicated and, unfortunately, it is not possible to give advice that is directly relevant to every module you study. If you are unsure about how to avoid plagiarism in any specific module, then rather than hoping and guessing, you should ask for guidance from the member of staff who delivers that module. Our overall advice is straightforward; by all means discuss how best to answer questions or complete tasks with your colleagues, but when it comes to actually writing your answers DO IT ALONE! What happens if you get caught? Contrary to some student rumours, getting caught and being punished for committing plagiarism is not an extremely unusual student offence. The Business School typically uncovers and reports for disciplinary action 25 to 30 students each year for plagiarism Examination Boards may punish offending students in any manner that they deem fit. Typical punishments Boards may choose range from reducing grades, making students re-sit modules, through to failing students on a module or an entire award. The University regards this form of cheating as a serious offence. Full details of the range of likely punishments can be found on the Universitys web-site under the heading Procedures for dealing with suspected cases of academic dishonesty. Please consider yourself warned!

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Globalisation and International Institutions

Write an essay of up to 2500 words on one of the following questions:

1. The WTO Doha development round of talks has reached an impasse. Why? What are the future implications for WTO, global trade and developing countries? 2. What causes exchange rates to fluctuate? Is foreign exchange rate stability important to the economy of a country? Discuss. 3. Examine the impact of private foreign direct investment in developing countries. Have international financial institutions played a role in influencing the pattern of global FDI?

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ATTACHMENT 1 Assignment Assessment Sheet

Total mark Name ID
(out of 100)

1. Comprehensive analysis of the relevant topic and issues. 2. Provide well justified critique (pros and cons) of the issues. 3. Application of appropriate conceptual frameworks/models/ theories supported by scholarly references. 4. Quality of argument in support of recommendations. 5. Recommendations for changes that address the issues identified. 6. Quality of report presentation including clarity of expression professionalism of layout and formatting, grammar and spelling. Adequacy of citations and reference list.

Poor 5 Poor 7 Poor 2

Satis. 7 Satis. 10 Satis. 3

Good 10 Good 15 Good 5

Very Good 15 Very Good 22 Very Good 7

Excellent 20 marks Excellent 30 marks Excellent 10 marks

Poor 5 Poor 2 Poor 2

Satis. 7 Satis. 3 Satis. 3

Good 10 Good 5 Good 5

Very Good 15 Very Good 7 Very Good 7

Excellent 20 marks Excellent 10 marks Excellent 10 marks

Overall Comments:

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Markers initials: _________________________

Date:

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