Progress report and research assignment

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the upcoming assignment and progress report for a course. The goal is to guide students through the process of creating a progress report and research assignment, clarifying the difference between the two. The progress report allows for feedback on preliminary research to help improve the final submission. The speaker emphasizes the importance of staying focused on contract law, advising both sides objectively, and addressing the legal principles involved. Students are encouraged to submit a video presentation summarizing their approach and to adhere to deadlines.

Takeaways

• 📝 The speaker is providing an informal video update on assignments and progress reports, responding to inquiries and offering guidance.
• 📅 The progress report and research assignment are crucial, accounting for 45% of the total marks, with 15% for the progress report and 30% for the research assignment.
• 📈 The purpose of the progress report is to allow students to outline their research topics and receive feedback to improve their final research assignment.
• 👨‍🏫 Feedback on the progress report is intended to help students avoid irrelevant topics and strengthen their final research report.
• ⏰ Originally, the progress report was supposed to be submitted earlier in the semester, but the deadline was adjusted to avoid overloading students.
• 🎥 Students are required to submit a video presentation (5-7 minutes) for the progress report, where they present their preliminary research in point form.
• 💡 The presentation should include the main issues, relevant laws, and a preliminary application, and should be engaging with minimal text on slides.
• 📄 The research report itself should be detailed, following the IRAC format, with full sentences and proper referencing, focusing on Malaysian law and one additional common law country.
• ⚖️ The research should be objective, advising on the contractual rights of the parties involved in the scenario, without bias or representing any side.
• 📅 The new deadlines are September 28th for the progress report and October 4th for the research report, following university guidelines on assessment scheduling.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the progress report in the context of the assignment?

The progress report allows students to present preliminary findings, highlight issues they plan to address in their research report, and receive feedback from examiners to ensure they are on the right track. It helps avoid losing marks by identifying irrelevant areas early on.

Why was the progress report scheduled later in the semester instead of earlier?

The progress report was scheduled later to prevent students from being overwhelmed by multiple assessments, including the midterm exam and other unit assignments, which were scheduled for earlier in the semester.

What are the differences between the progress report and the research report?

The progress report is a preliminary video presentation that outlines the issues, legal principles, and application points in a concise, point-form manner. In contrast, the research report is a full written report with complete sentences, paragraphs, and proper referencing.

What format should students use for their progress report presentation?

Students should prepare a short video presentation (around 5 minutes, up to 7 minutes) that identifies issues, legal principles, and a preliminary application. The presentation can be done in point form, and students are encouraged to make it engaging by including visuals or short videos.

What should be the content focus of the research assignment?

The research assignment should focus on advising the parties involved about their contractual rights, based solely on contract law. The scope should be limited to Malaysian law and the law of one additional common law country.

Why is it important to stay objective in the assignment?

Students are asked to provide objective legal advice based on their knowledge of contract law. They should not take sides or act as a legal representative for either party, but rather give neutral advice on what the law suggests about the parties' contractual rights.

Can students use laws from countries other than Malaysia in their research assignment?

Yes, students are required to discuss Malaysian law and the law of one additional common law country of their choice. However, they cannot use laws from non-common law countries like Indonesia or China.

What legal areas should be excluded from the research assignment?

Students should focus solely on contract law and exclude other areas of law that may be relevant but were not covered in the unit. The assignment should not discuss legal principles beyond the scope of the course.

What should students consider when discussing breach of contract in the assignment?

Students should analyze whether there was a breach of contract, what terms were allegedly breached, and whether the breach was fundamental or related to a warranty. They should also consider what remedies, such as damages, are available under Malaysian and common law.

What role does the transcript play in the video presentation?

The transcript of the video presentation is required in case of differing dialects or accents. It helps examiners understand the presentation content clearly and should be uploaded alongside the video.