PEAP 4 CELE, School of Education
Controversy Paper: Assessment Criteria (simplified descriptors)
GENRE
Whole text
Your choice of a clear and
well-focussed controversy,
and your consideration of an
appropriate range of views
Your ability to explain your
ideas in a way which can be
understood by non-
specialists (awareness of
audience)
Your ability to write sections
which directly support the title
and focus of your paper
(relating explicitly to your
chosen aspects &
arguments)
Your ability to write about the
controversy with a suitable
level of depth and detail
Text sections
The inclusion of key sections
(e.g., introduction,
conclusion) with relevant
‘moves’
Your ability to arrange the
main body, and to make links
between arguments.
Your ability to write well
developed, purposeful
paragraphs throughout and
make links within and
between paragraphs
Academic conventions
Your ability to keep within the
word count and follow the
standard formatting.
Your ability to include & use
citations and the extent to
which the required Reference
List follows the Coventry
style.
© University of Nottingham - School of Education, CELE (2021)
CRITICALITY
Developing argument
Your ability to develop your
position through use of
academic argument
Your ability to maintain
coherence of your position
and argument (across
paragraphs and sections)
Criticality
Your use of
explanations/examples to
help clarify your ideas and
your consideration of any
related implications
Your use of relevant counter-
arguments and your ability to
argue against these (when
necessary)
Your ability to draw valid
conclusions from the
evidence (throughout your
controversy paper)
Use of sources
Your choice of a suitable
range of academic sources
(with an appropriate balance
between these)
Your ability to connect your
sources directly to your
content (in order to support
the arguments)
Your ability to analyse and
critically comment on ideas
from sources
Your ability to synthesise
sources
LANGUAGE
Lexis
Your range of vocabulary.
Your level of accuracy in the
use of vocabulary and the
effect of any errors you make
on communication.
Your ability to communicate
stance (e.g., through use of
tentative language, reporting
verbs, adjectives).
Grammar
Your range of simple and
complex grammatical
structures.
Your level of grammatical
accuracy and the effect of any
errors you make on
communication.
Source Language
Your ability to paraphrase or
summarise clearly, while
retaining the meaning of the
original.
Cohesion
Your range of signalling words
and phrases
Your ability to use these
signalling words and phrases
both accurately and
appropriately.
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 PEAP 4 CELE, School of Education
Your ability to acknowledge
source information

© University of Nottingham - School of Education, CELE (2021) 2