457V0014 Advanced Legal Systems, Skills and Research 1 Assignment Brief | MMU

457V0014 Assignment Brief

Assignment: Choose one of the following titles for your coursework based on comparative law analysis and provide an answer in no more that 2,000 words:

“The United Kingdom government has led the way in addressing so-called ‘honour’ killings, ‘honour’-based violence/abuse (HBV/A) and forced marriage in law”. Critically discuss this statement whilst undertaking comparative legal analysis with Turkish law.

Or

“The Burqa and hijab bans in France represent a stark contrast in comparison to English law and the protection of religious freedoms”. Critically analyse whether religious clothing should be banned in state institutions (hijab) and public places (burqa) in light of French and UK law.

Or

With reference to legislation, relevant case law and proposals for reform, critically evaluate the current state of the law on assisted dying in the UK, from both ethical and legal perspectives. Your discussion must include a comparative analysis of legal systems that have legalised assisted dying.

Or

Critically analyse the definition of “terrorism” in light of domestic and international law. What are the problems associated with the definition, and what problems do these pose for states and governments at the national and international levels?

Or

Choose your independent topic that addresses an international comparative law question. The topic and law chosen must raise comparative legal issues with regard to international law/legal systems and must be topical.

Unit Learning Outcomes Assessed. 

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

• Explain the underpinnings and sphere of application of the English, European and international legal systems through the use of advanced theoretical approaches and practical case examples.
• Critically assess the English, European and international legal systems and understand, at an advanced level, the interrelationships between them.
• Employ high-level legal skills, engage in advanced independent learning and carry out reflective practice appropriate for continuing legal and/or non-legal academic and professional development.
• Carry out and use independent research into a wide range of complex material on comparative legal systems and engage in sophisticated analysis, synthesis and evaluation, communicating thought-out conclusions clearly and coherently in writing.

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Submission Instructions:

The assessed 2,000-word coursework allows you to explore and consider the relationship between legal systems at national, European, regional and international law, and the extent to which different legal systems conflict or complement each other. Your essay will enable you to investigate and critically evaluate your chosen issue and to put forward your conclusions in writing. 

For Questions 1-4, the issues we would like you to address are narrow, and you should stick to the focus of the question. You are free to choose any of the questions put forward, or indeed, your topic for the essay (e.g. see Question 5). For Question 5, your focus may be narrow in that you may study a particular aspect of law, or it may be wider in that you may examine the breadth of an area or areas. Whatever question you decide to choose, importantly, your essay should seek to investigate the relationship, comparisons, similarities conflicts of your chosen area. Inevitably, there will need to be a discussion of fundamental human rights. Your area of study should be decided once you have started to engage in some detailed research of the area and once you have considered the principal sources of information.

The essay question is worth 100% of the marks in the subject.

As you do your research, bear in mind that your essay should include the following elements:

• a clear statement as to what you are investigating and the reasons for the investigation;
• production of sufÏcient research evidence, including discussion of law at national and international (comparative) level;
• clear arguments based thereupon;
• serious consideration of alternative arguments or explanations;
• logical & balanced conclusions;

A good essay is built around a clear structure, so you should outline the main points of your essay before you start writing. It is easier to change your outline than it is to rewrite a fully written paper, so spend some time thinking about the structure of your essay before you engage fully in the writing.

Your essay should have a clear introduction (stating the subject of the investigation or study, the reasons for doing the investigation or study,  outlining the structure of the report and conveying the main issues under consideration), a main body (in which you present your evidence and put forward comparative arguments thereupon) and a conclusion (in which you summarise your findings and draw your conclusions).

Write the essay in coherent paragraphs. Each paragraph should flow naturally and logically from the previous paragraph, and on to the next paragraph, following a clear line of argument. Good writing is clear writing. Write in simple, declarative sentences. Use the active voice, not the passive voice.

Make sure that you engage in sustained research and use all relevant paper and electronic resources available to you. Use book chapters, journal articles,  papers produced by expert bodies, as well as other sources to inform your work, but do not waste space with very lengthy quotations. Paraphrasing points and arguments, accompanied by necessary referencing, is more important. Given the nature of the questions, it is likely that students will need to engage in electronic databases that allow them to research international law and international legal systems materials.

Word Count

2000 words  (this excludes your footnotes and bibliography. Footnotes should not be used to make substantive points that may be considered to form part of your work).

What You Must Do:

• Undertake a high level of independent research.
• Use legal sources, including legislation and cases (whether national or international).
• Use OSCOLA referencing appropriately.
• Use grammatically correct English.
• Proofread your work.
• Attend supporting seminars, lectures and workshops.
• You must use your own words – the assignment is designed to demonstrate YOUR knowledge (please see the short section on plagiarism).
• Only use quotes that are short where the impact of the author’s viewpoint would be lost if it were expressed in your own words. As a general rule, it shows a much higher level of knowledge and understanding to express an author’s opinion in your own words, still referencing the source.
• Carefully check your Turnitin report.
• Inform the unit leader if you have a Personal Learning Plan which contains matters relevant to the submission of the assessment and in respect of written coursework, requires an extension before the end of the term.

What you must NOT do:

• Do not use Wikipedia or other inappropriate websites.
• Fail to comply with any of the submission instructions.