ONPS2374 FOOD MICROBIOLOGY GUIDELINES AND MARKING RUBRIC:
POSTGRADUATE WRITTEN REPORT 2022
Please note: This is an INDIVIDUAL assignment. It must be submitted via Turn-It-In on the
canvas submission page (Assessment 4). You must use your own words. Plagiarism, if
detected (>15% similarity) will result in a loss of marks.
Choose a topic from the separate topic list. Write a short “mini-review” addressing the sub-
topics indicated for the topic you chose. Marks will be awarded as shown below.
TOTAL WORD COUNT EXCLUDING REFERENCES, TABLES AND FIGURES SHOULD BE UNDER
APPROXIMATELY 1500 WORDS (+/- 10%)
Your report will contain the following sections:
• Title page (separate) with your name and student number
• Abstract – a concise summary of your findings (up to 150 words). (together 8 marks)
• Introduction
Introduces the topic; must provide a good context so the reader knows what the cu
ent
situation is around your topic. Include a short final sentence or two stating what your
eview will cover (up to 250 words) (15 marks)
• Main paragraphs
Describe the subtopics shown in bold for the topic you have chosen from the 2022
topics page (see separate document). Use subheadings if you like (recommended). Write
in sections coherently and do not include i
elevant details within each section (up to
1000 words; that’s 4 pages double-spaced excluding tables and figures). (60 marks)
• Conclusion
Include a separate Conclusion section. Must state future prospects or outlook, and key
“take home” messages. Use bullet points if you like. Use maximum 100 words. (8 marks)
• References
Must include at least 8 scientific papers or articles in APA format. (4 marks)
Overall standard and quality (5 marks)
It will also be assessed for standard and quality, including use of illustrations.
NOTE: The use of tables and figures is recommended as these will not be included in the
word count, so are a good way to convey information. Each table or figure must be original
and contain a legend and be quoted in the text.
Criteria Marks criteria Pts
Title page and
Abstract
8 marks
8 to >6 Pts
Excellent
Neat title page with a title
that concisely describes the
content of review
Well-written Abstract covers
all relevant findings. Within
word limit (150 words)
6 to >4.5 Pts
Very good
Neat or mostly neat title
page with a title that
concisely describes the
content of review, or
possibly slightly too long
Abstract covers all or most
elevant findings. Within
word limit (150 words)
4.5 to >3.0 Pts
Good
Mostly neat title page with a
title that describes the
content of review, but
clumsy or possibly too long
Abstract covers most or >
2/3 of the relevant findings.
May be slightly too short or
too long.
3.0 to >1.5 Pts
Fair
Untidy title page with a title
that poorly describes the
content of review, or title is
clumsy or too long
Abstract fails to cover the
main findings; or it may
greatly exceed the word limit
(150 words).
1.5 to >0 Pts
Unsatisfactory
Untidy title page with a title
that poorly describes the
content of review, or missing
Abstract fails to cover the
main findings; or it may be
missing altogether.
8 pts
Introduction
15 marks
15 to >13 Pts
Excellent
Introduces the topic and
provides good context
Includes all relevant
information; does not exceed
250 words
States what report will cover
(indicates intent)
13 to >11 Pts
Very good
Introduces the topic and
provides good context
Includes mostly relevant
information, no or few
omissions; does not exceed
250 words
States what report will cover
(indicates intent)
11 to >8.0 Pts
Good
Introduces the topic but
provides only limited context
Includes mostly relevant
information, some
omissions; or may exceed
250 words
States what report will cover
(indicates intent)
8.0 to >4.0 Pts
Fair
Introduces the topic, but fails
to provide any context
Much i
elevant information
with major omissions; either
too short, or too long
May fail to state what report
will cover (omits intent)
4.0 to >0 Pts
Unsatisfactory
Does not introduce topic and
fails to provide any context
Contains mostly i
elevant or
misleading information; or
far too short or missing.
May fail to state what report
will cover (omits intent)
15 pts
3
Criteria Marks criteria Pts
Main paragraphs
Marks (Pts) shown
are inclusive for
items shown in bold
for each of the
eport topics (1-4),
i.e. What you should
include in your
eport.
Maximum 1000
words
60 marks
60 to >50 Pts
Excellent
All paragraphs have a well-
defined focus and items in
old are all covered
All sentences are coherent
and logical with good idea
development and
interpretation of data
High quality research
(database searching)
50 to >40 Pts
Very good
Most or all paragraphs have
a well-defined focus and/or
items in bold are well
covered, or mostly covered
Most sentences are coherent
and logical with good idea
development and
interpretation but some
omissions or mistakes
High to good quality
esearch (database
searching)
40 to >25 Pts
Good
Most paragraphs have a
well-defined focus and items
in bold are adequately
eviewed but a few key
points are missing
Most sentences are coherent
and logical but only basic
idea development and
interpretation with some
mistakes and/or omissions
Good quality research
(database searching)
25 to >10 Pts
Fair
Most paragraphs lack a
defined focus, and some are
i
elevant, with only
udimentary coverage of
items in bold
Most sentences are coherent
or logical, but poor idea
development and there are
major omissions and/or
mistakes in interpretation
Fair quality research (some
database searching)
10 to >0 Pts
Unsatisfactory
Most or all paragraphs lack a
defined focus or are
i
elevant, and only
udimentary coverage of
items in bold
Most or all sentences are
incoherent or illogical, no
idea development plus major
omissions and mistakes in
interpretation
Poor quality research (little
or no database searching)
60 pts
Conclusion
Maximum 100
words
8 marks
8 to >6.0 Pts
Excellent
Clear well-presented conclusions
Co
ect length or may be slightly too long or too
short (approx. 100 words)
No new facts, ideas or arguments are introduced
6.0 to >3.0 Pts
Very Good to Good
Clear well-presented conclusions
Co
ect length or may be slightly too long or too
short (approx. 100 words)
May introduce new facts or ideas or arguments not
covered in main body of text
3.0 to >0 Pts
Fair to Unsatisfactory
Conclusions not well-presented
Significantly too long or too short with important
information missed
May introduce new facts or ideas or arguments not
covered in main body of text
8 pts
4
Criteria Marks criteria Pts
References and
overall standard
References (4)
Overall standard (5)
9 marks
9.0 to >7.5 Pts
Excellent
At least 8 references
co
ectly cited in text and
formatted
Co
ect English grammar
and spelling with good
scientific writing
Excellent use of tables and
figures with informative
legends co
ectly placed;
tables and figures refe
ed to
in the text
7.5 to >6.0 Pts
Very good
At least 8 references
co
ectly cited in text and
formatted
Co
ect English grammar
and spelling with good
scientific writing
Very good use of tables and
figures with informative
legends mostly co
ectly
placed; tables and figures
efe
ed to in the text
6.0 to >4.5 Pts
Good
At least 8 references
co
ectly cited in text and
formatted, or some
inco
ectly cited or formatted
Reasonable English grammar
and spelling with reasonable
scientific writing
Good use of tables and
figures with generally
informative legends; some
may be inco
ectly placed or
not refe
ed to in the text
4.5 to >2 Pts
Fair
At least 8 references, but
many are inco
ectly cited in
text or not at all, and may be
inco
ectly formatted
English grammar and
spelling only fair, with poor
scientific writing
Tables and figures absent; or
where included legends are
inadequate and/or misplaced;
most or all are not refe
ed to
in the text
2 to >0 Pts
Unsatisfactory
Fewer than 8 references,
and/or very poor formatting,
and/or references are not
cited in text
Poor English grammar and
spelling, writing makes no
sense or inappropriate for
scientific report
Tables and figures usually
absent (none included)
9pts
Total points: 100
This assignment is worth 20 % of the overall course mark.
ONPS2374 FOOD MICROBIOLOGY: (POSTGRADUATE CLASS) ASSIGNMENT 4 2022
Below are four different topics that have been selected from over 30 planned Special Issues of the
journal Microorganisms, to be published over the next 12 months.
Choose any ONE of these four topics for writing a minireview (1500 words). Information from