Page 64 - CAPE Financial Services Syllabus Macmillan_Neat

MANAGING THE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

The research is worth 20 per cent of the student’s total mark. Teachers should ensure that sufficient
time is allowed for teaching the skills contained in the syllabus, explaining the requirements of the
School-Based Assessment, discussing the assessment criteria and monitoring and evaluating the
research activities.

Planning

It is important to start planning for the research activities early. A schedule for completing sections of
the report should be constructed by teachers and students working cooperatively together. Dates for
the following activities should be set:

1. identification of the issue and submission of research topic;

2. description of research project;

3. completion of information collection;

4. submission of first draft; and,

5. completion of research report.

Length of the report

The length of the report should be NOT MORE THAN 1500 words, not including bibliography,
appropriate quotations, sources, charts, graphs, tables, references and appendices. Wherever a
student exceeds the maximum length for the project in any Unit by more than 10 per cent, the teacher
must impose a penalty of 10 per cent of the score that the student achieves on this assignment. On
the report, the teacher should clearly indicate the student’s original score – that is, the score before
the deduction is made – the marks which are to be deducted, and the final score that the student
receives after the deduction has been made. Only the final score is to be indicated on the record
sheets which are submitted to CXC.

Guidance

The teacher must:

(i) inform students of appropriate topics in the syllabus that are suitable for research;

(ii) approve students’ research proposals;

(iii) advise students about the final date for completion and submission of the research paper;

(iv) ensure that themes relevant to the project are adequately covered;

(v) advise students of the nature of the task, the scope and depth required to fulfil it and the
availability of resource materials;

(vi) monitor students’ progress by advising them of the quality of their work and recommending
ways to improve the quality of the research paper;

CXC A38/U2/16 59