TMA 03

The cut-off date for TMA 03 is 12:00 midday (UK local time) 1 April 2019. This is the latest date by which your TMA must reach your tutor. You must submit your TMA using the online TMA service. TMA 03 is worth 20% of your overall assessment score.

TMA 03 consists of two questions. You are expected to answer all questions in this TMA. The word limit for TMA 03 is a maximum of 1250 words. Remember, all the words you use to answer the questions, including quotations and citations, count. You should use the mark allocation for each question as a guide to the number of words required as follows:

Any words used that exceed the overall word count for the TMA will not be marked or commented on.

You must provide a reference list and a word count at the end of your work. The reference list is not included in the word count.

Questions

Question 1

In order for the civil justice system in England and Wales to save money and to be made more efficient, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) should be a compulsory first step to any claim.

Evaluate this statement, giving consideration to the advantages and disadvantages of ADR as a means of resolving civil disputes.

(90 marks)

Question 2

Identify the revision technique(s) that you plan to use in preparation for the W102 examination, and provide a timeline for your revision plan. Give brief reasons for your choice(s).

(10 marks)

Please ensure that you read the learning outcomes and the advice given for these questions.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:

• methods of alternative dispute resolution.

Skills:

• present and structure information clearly and accurately using language appropriate for the intended audience
• use legal material and other sources appropriately, including the application of appropriate referencing
• reflect, assess and learn from your own studies.

Advice

Important information

The OU Law School Undergraduate Assessment Guide (‘Assessment Guide’) contains definitions of words used in TMA questions. It also gives advice on referencing and the reference list that you must produce and include at the end of your work. You should read this guide before attempting TMA 03.

How you allocate the word count is a decision you must make as part of writing the TMA. You have been given the marks allocated to each question, which will help guide your decision about the word count for each question.

Note that Section 8 of the Assessment Guide tells you how your TMAs need to be presented and Section 14 of the Assessment Guide details the marking scale, against which your work will be assessed.

• You should answer both questions.
• You should answer each question separately.
• Read the questions carefully. Ensure that your answers concisely and clearly address each question in your own words. Advice on writing in your own words is given in Section 5 of the Assessment Guide.
• You should use numbers in brackets to identify each question.
• You do not need to start a new page for each question.

All of your answers should be written in standard English. They should not include any sort of list. In your answer to Question 1, you should not write in the first or second person (e.g. ‘I’, ‘we’, ‘my’, ‘our’, ‘you’ or ‘your’); instead you should use phrases such as ‘A person is …’ or ‘This answer will …’. In your answer to Question 2, you can write in the first person.

Question 1

This question focuses on alternative dispute resolution (ADR), which is the subject of Unit 12.

The question requires you to write an essay. You should structure your answer in accordance with the advice on writing essays in Section 3.2.2 of the Assessment Guide. Make sure that your answer is structured correctly with an introduction, main body and conclusion, as described in Section 3.2.2. In answering this question, you should:

• present your answer using a logical structure
• identify information relevant to the question
• discuss this information in the context of whether ADR should be made compulsory for civil claims.

Remember that the meanings of words used in assessments are included in Section 3.1 of the Assessment Guide. We advise you to plan your essay carefully, writing an appropriate essay plan which outlines what you will include in your introduction, main body and conclusion, as well as the sources you will use. You do not need to include your essay plan as part of your answer.

Question 2

This question requires you to show how you intend to use your revision time, covering the necessary material before the exam. You should make clear which revision technique(s) you propose to use, explaining why you have chosen it/them. You should provide detail when answering this question. You may reflect on and identify techniques that you have successfully used to memorise information or prepare for examinations in the past.

The question also asks you to provide a timeline for your revision plan. For this, you can write your plan in a table or in bullet points. Remember to indicate clearly which units or revision work you will be carrying out each week before the examination by reference to specific dates.