GY315 2021-22 Assignment 2 Instructions v1.0
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1. Introduction
Glaciated landscapes such as Ireland’s contain a variety of glacial sediments and landforms
that have previously been described in many publications. However these have usually (but
not exclusively) been without specific reference to hypothesised presence of any particular
‘glacial landsystem’.
Landsystems are a collection of evidence (sediments and landforms) that are proposed to be
associated with a particular ice mass or ice mass structure or behaviour. Thus they are a
means to help us arrive at an interpretation of glacial sediments and landforms, based as they
are on modern observations of ice masses and their products.
2. Title
This essay (1500-2000 words max.) asks you to briefly critique the application of your choice
of a glacial landsystem model to your choice of area of Ireland i.e.
‘A critically assessment of the applicability of the [your choice] landsystem model to the
glacial geomorphology of [your choice]’
Essays will be graded and feedback organised along the grading criteria listed in Section 6 of
this document below.
3. Landsystems
Landsystems are collections of published observations on the sediments and landforms
associated with a wide range of glacial sedimentary environments and processes. See Evans
(2005) for a details of glacial landsystems.
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/nuim/detail.action?docID=564801
The research needed to successfully complete this assignment will comprise a desk study of
previously published literature. This literature should be evaluated for the presence of
evidence that indicates the former operation of a particular glacial landsystem in a particular
area or region of Ireland.
It would not be possible discuss the applicability of all landsystems models to all of the
evidence in Ireland in one essay. You are thus asked to limit your review to the published
evidence of the glacial geomorphology in a smaller region. You are however free to choose
which area of Ireland to focus on in your essay (see a list of possible areas to consider
researching below):
• the Irish Midlands;
• Sperrin Mountains ;
• Bann Valley lowlands;
• Co. Down;
• Cos Armagh-Monaghan-Louth;
• Clew Bay;
• Donegal Bay;
• Galway Bay;
GY315 2021-22 Assignment 2 Instructions v1.0
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• Wicklow uplands;
• Glengesh Plateau, SW Donegal.
Thus a possible essay title might read: ‘The application of the palaeo-ice stream landsystem
model to the glacial geomorphology of Donegal Bay’
You are free to review and critique a different area than any of those listed above, as it is not
meant to be an exhaustive list.
Note, the published literature on different areas will not be equal in quantity and/or age, but
that should not influence your decision unduly, as it will not be possible to review and discuss
all the possible evidence in some of the better studied regions in any case. What you are
looking to do is use published literature on Ireland to identify the main glacial features, and
then see if a particular landsystem model fits this and other evidence you can find.
GY315 2021-22 Assignment 2 Instructions v1.0
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4. Essay structure
4.1. Introduction and Description Sections
The essay should introduce the evidence and interpretation associated with the landsystem
model chosen.
The description section should summarise evidence of relevant landforms and sediments
from previous publications illustrated with relevant and informative figures. Additional credit
will be given for images you have derived personally of relevant landforms from Google Earth
Web or similar imagery platforms to illustrate your essay.
4.2. Discussion
To achieve higher grades in this Assignment, it is important that the essay should also contain
a discussion section (see guidance criteria below in Section 6).
In the discussion section, the applicability of a glacial landsystem to the evidence listed and
illustrated in your essay should be critically reviewed i.e. tested. Evidence not included earlier
in your essay cannot form part of the material to be critically reviewed.
In writing critically, what is meant by that is to be questioning; to perhaps ask yourself
questions such as: are enough elements of the chosen Landsystem present to justify it’s
application? If not, what does that mean? Could they been removed since if their
preservation potential was poor? What does the Landsystem mean in terms of our
understanding of past glacial processes in this area or wider? Does the Landsystem model
approach lead to new or different interpretations than those reached by previous authors?
What critical analysis does not mean in this context is to just be negative in your opinion about
what you’ve come acrossin publications e.g. “I could not understand this” or “that was poorly
explained” in such and such an article. That is not what is meant by or relevant critical
analysis.
5. Assignment submission
You should submit you essay via the Turnitin.com link on the GY315 Moodle page on or before
the online deadline displayed there. No hard copy version is required.
SI scores of 50% or above will automatically be investigated in conjunction with the
Geography HoD and may lead to disciplinary action. Information on how to avoid plagiarism
in writing is available on the GY315 Moodle page.
Unauthorised late submissions will be deducted 5% of the assessed grade per day or part of
late.
Applications for late submission permission will only be accepted via the standard
Departmental process of completing a PMC form submitted to the Departmental Office via
Moodle.
GY315 2021-22 Assignment 2 Instructions v1.0
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6. Grading Criteria and feedback categories
Grades awarded will depend on the degree to which the criteria listed below are met
successfully. For example, to be graded as Excellent (grades of 70% +), an essay will contain
the majority of these essay elements (in terms of relevant illustrated content and writing
structure), presented for grading to a high standard.
Feedback will be provided mirroring this assessment schema.
1. MARKER’S GENERAL VIEW OF WORK
• Does the work address the essay topic in a coherent way?
• Is the essay well-structured by subdivision into sections accompanied by appropriate
section headers (e.g. Introduction, Description, Discussion sections) and relevant subheadings to help the reader understand what is being written about?
2. MAIN POINTS
Description Section
• Has this work focused well on, and developed in some detail, a number of key
points/ideas/arguments that are relevant to the topic?
• Have these different points/ideas/arguments been supported with evidence from the
literature such as previous published research and/or Google Earth or similar imagery or
personal field observation data?
• Has this work (where appropriate) drawn appropriate/relevant ideas from a sufficiently
wide and detailed literature to back up the main points being developed?
Discussion Section
• Has the evidence presented in this essay (and only in this essay) been critically assessed in
terms of its fit to a published landsystem model, based on this analysis?
3. OTHER FEATURES –
Illustrations
• Have illustrations been provided to support the essay text that are relevant and clearly
legible (e.g. not too small)?
• Are all figures/illustrations accompanied by appropriate and informative captions below
the figure?
• Are figure numbers provided and used to link into the essay text?
Citations and References List
• Are all citations in the text properly formatted (as the ‘Reference Point’ booklet guidance)?
• Is there a reference list at the end containing full details of all work cited in the essay
including those in figure captions?
Care in presentation
• Has care been taken to avoid grammatical/expression errors in the text by avoiding these
errors and checking grammar and spelling using word processing tools?
