English for Arts and Humanities HKUSPACE CC/HPSHCC A2 Case Study Guidelines Case Study (40%) 1. Overview Please no

English for Arts and Humanities HKUSPACE CC/HPSHCC
A2 Case Study Guidelines Case Study (40%)
1. Overview
Please note that in this course, the term case study does not refer to the traditional
business case analysis. Rather, you are free to select any topic or phenomenon within the
Arts and Humanities as your “case.” You will then conduct academic research and
analysis on this issue selected, presenting your findings in a structured academic paper.
You may choose a cause-and-effect approach, an argumentative approach, or another
analytical structure suited to your chosen topic. A sample of an argumentative format is
provided in Lesson 8.
Individual research will be done using a minimum of four academic sources, such
as journal articles or government reports. Once this minimum requirement has been met,
media sources are permitted providing that they are from established, reliable sources.
Proper use of APA style citations must be used to avoid plagiarism. The length of the
research paper is a minimum of 1,000 words and a maximum of 1,200 words.
2. Components
2.1 Title Page
Please provide basic information on the title page: essay title, date, student name,
ID number and class number.
2.2 Introduction
This section should introduce the topic and contain brief background (or current)
information which helps the reader to understand the subject. This should be followed by
a clear presentation of what exactly your issue is. There should then be a statement of the
thesis or aim and a brief outline of the structure of your paper.
2.3 Body
This will vary depending on the type of essay you are planning to write. An
example of how you would structure the body of an argumentative-style essay is given below . However, please consult your lecture
notes for examples of other formats, such as
for a cause-and-effect or compare-and-contrast style structure . refutations (an evaluation of the counterarguments that shows its errors). Note that the above may be presented in any order that you like as English for Arts and Humanities HKUSPACE CC/HPSHCC A2 Case Study Guidelines 2

long as there is a natural and logical flow of information. Be sure to cite the sources of all
the arguments/counterarguments.
The number of counterarguments and refutation/pro-arguments may vary.
However, this paper should have a minimum of three arguments and at least one
counterargument.
Note. Direct quotations cannot make up more than 10% of your total citations in the essay.
2.4 Conclusion
Restate the main ideas and the thesis (paraphrase – do not copy what you have already
written).

2.5 Word Count
State the word count of your essay after the conclusion.

2.6 References
Follow the APA style and present a list of all sources (both academic and media sources)
included in the paper. You may go to the official website of the APA style to search for
guidelines and examples: https://apastyle.apa.org/.

A softcopy must be uploaded to a Turnitin link on SOUL. The assignment
must be an original work and should not be created by any generative AI tools. You
must not reuse/recycle assignments from previous semesters or other courses, as this
also constitutes plagiarism.
3. Penalties for Late Submissions
24 hours late: Reduction of marks equivalent to one letter grade
2 to 7 days late: Highest possible mark of 40%
More than 7 days late: Failed assignment
English for Arts and Humanities HKUSPACE CC/HPSHCC
A2 Case Study Guidelines

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4. Marking Criteria
Grade Content Structure and
coherence
Grammatical range
and accuracy
Lexical resource Sources and
referencing
Excellent

The content has
strong academic
value and has been
analyzed in depth, with
strong
supporting evidence.
A clear thesis or aim is provided and
a thorough
understanding of
the structures
taught in
class is shown. A wide range of cohesive
devices
is used
. Errors in word formation and appropriacy are rare. The minimum requirement of sources has been met

and has been cited
correctly in APA
format. References
are properly
formatted.
Very good

The content has
academic value and
has been analyzed in
some depth, with
good supporting
evidence.
A thesis or aim is provided ,
but it
could be clearer, and a
good
understanding of the structures taught
in
class is shown. A good range
of
cohesive
devices is used . for the expression of ideas. There are some errors in word formation and appropriacy, but these do not impede understanding . The minimum requirement of sources has been met and has been cited with only minor errors made in APA format . References contain minor errors in formatting . been used, but often incorrectly. A limited range of grammatical structures is Errors in form often occur and may cause strain for the reader. The range of vocabulary is minimal, allowing for a limited expression of ideas. There are often errors in word formation and appropriacy, which may cause strain for the reader. The minimum requirement of sources has not been met and there are significant errors made in APA citation and format. References contain many errors in formatting. Weak The content has little to no academic value and there is little used .

attempt at analysis,
with little to no
supporting evidence.
There is no thesis or
aim and little
understanding of the structures taught
in
class is shown. Few cohesive devices
have
been used. Only
simple
structures are used . There are frequent
errors in form
, which often cause strain
for
the reader . given or have major errors. Fail The content has no academic value and is often incoherent and with no supporting evidence. No understanding of the structures taught in class is shown. Writing is often incoherent . Only simple structures are attempted . The number of errors causes considerable strain for the reader . grade is C+; Extensive, no more than a D or F, depending on severity .