The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield // www.forgetoday.com
Issue 21 // Thursday March 18 2010
Who gets your vote? Features page 15
FUSE
Graphic content
Interview with the student creators of a new graphic novel
Faith in marking lost in translation 4Worries final exams may not be fairly marked after student ‘test’ Rosie Taylor
Fuse pages 8-9
FEATURES
A-class cheat?
Students using stimulant drugs to get an edge in exams Features pages 18-19
Fears that final year exam papers may not be accurately marked have been raised after students carried out their own “test” of fair marking in their department. Three final year French students worked together to produce almost identical copies of a non-assessed translation, which was a copy of an exercise they are expected to complete in their final exams. They submitted the three very similar translations to three different tutors within the department to see how accurately the tutors – who will be marking their exam papers – assessed students’ work.
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TRAVEL
Explore Yorkshire
Forge Press visit Leeds, York and the Peak District to see what Yorkshire has to offer Travel pages 24-25
LIFESTYLE
Friends and Lovers When friendships and relationships collide
Send a letter to letters@forgetoday.com Each of the translations was placed in a different classification, with one receiving a first with a grade of 76.5 per cent, one receiving a 2:1 with 60 per cent and the final paper receiving a 2:2 with 53 per cent. Education Officer Holly Taylor has termed the results of the students’ test “very worrying”. She said: “Although I have not seen the feedback that each of the students received, the discrepancies here are very worrying. “For such a short piece of assessment it should be fairly easy for an academic to establish which grade bracket it falls in to, which clearly is not the case here.” One of the students, who received 60 per cent for her work, told Forge Press that she believes that some tutors may not be
Photo: Adam Harley with marking criteria and not on any personal opinions on the topic or the student. She said: “The University has issued a set of principles around assessment and feedback for students. “I would ask both students and academic staff to use these as a way of knowing what is expected of the assessment feedback process. “This should help in stamping out situations like this one.” Continued on page 6
Assault investigation following arrest at Space Paul Garbett
Lifestyle pages 20-21
The three almost identical scripts and their corresponding marks. sticking to a standard marking these tutors might be the ones system. marking our exams.” She said that she and her Another of the students who course-mates are now anxious submitted similar papers said about their final exam results. she was “really demoralised” She said: “I’m now worried after receiving 53 per cent for her about who is going to be work. marking my exam papers, She said: “I’ve lost confidence especially as I’m currently on the in my tutor. I don’t trust them borderline between two degree to mark my work now and I’m classifications. worried about who will mark my “Our test showed that there are final exam papers.” some tutors who mark fairly but Holly Taylor said she definitely others who are harder appreciated that all Arts subjects and too picky over small details. were subjective but that work “Now we are concerned that should be marked in accordance
A student has been arrested after an alleged assault at Space club night in the early hours of Saturday morning. The 21-year-old student, who does not study at the University of Sheffield, has been bailed as police continue to investigate the alleged assault. The alledged incident happened at around 2.40am inside the Octagon Centre.
The Octagon Centre was later evacuated after a fire alarm was smashed inside the venue. The evacuation forced hundreds of students to congregate outside the building, with 10 police officers called to the scene in order to control the crowd. Security staff locked the Octagon doors to prevent people from re-entering the building to collect items from the cloakroom. Some students have raised concerns about the way the evacuation was handled.
Eve Capewell, a third year English Literature student said: “They shut the doors and told everyone that they weren’t allowed back in to get their coats and things. “It was very annoying and resulted in a cold walk home.” Union President Paul Tobin said that the staff followed the correct procedure. He said: “Following the smashing of one of our fire alarms the security staff were required to get everybody out of
the building. “Procedure was followed completely and the only reason the evacuation took longer than usual was because the alarm was smashed and needed to be reset.” A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: “South Yorkshire Police have arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with an alleged assault which occurred at about 2.40am at the Octagon Centre, Durham Road. “He has been bailed pending further enquiries.”