The proposed assessment system is aimed at promoting the student's understanding of the specific contents of the subjects of each module as well as the execution of the Master's Degree Final Project, since only by its realisation will the training objectives of the Master in Contemporary Philosophical Thought be completely fulfilled.

• 1. Subjects’ assessment: They will be evaluated based on the participation in class and a written text, which can be of two types: an essay in which an issue that is reasonably related to the content of the subject is developed or a report explaining the topics approached in class. Both options can lead to the maximum qualification. The student must submit an essay in at least three of the nine optional subjects. The student can choose those three subjects after consulting his or her academic tutor.

In the event that the students do not enrol in all the subjects of the master's degree during and academic year, they must present an essay in at least 1/3 of the subjects in which they have enrolled. It is intended to ensure that at the end of the master’s degree at least three of the optional subjects have been evaluated by writing an essay.

• 1.1. Rules for writing an essay: An essay consists of writing a text in which the author makes a relatively original proposal and bases or defends it in a detailed way. The essays should have some connection with the syllabus of the subject, but it is appropriate that both its subject matter and its methodology are oriented to the execution of the Master's Degree Final Project. For this, the student will have the advice of the tutor of TFM as well as with the collaboration of the teachers of the chosen subjects.

The essays will have an extension of not less than 3,000 nor more than 4,500 words. The papers must fulfil the formal conditions of an academic work in terms of grammatical correctness, rigour of expression, citation system and bibliography.

The writing of an essay can be substituted by the presentation in class of an topic agreed with the professor of the subject and the subsequent writing of a brief text (1500-2000 words).

• 1.2. Rules for writing a report: A report consists of the writing of a text that reflects the syllabus and the argumentative thread displayed in a subject. A report cannot consist of a mere list of juxtaposed ideas or of a summary or outline, instead it must be written in a finished and coherent way, in order to appreciate the conceptual connections between the issues mentioned in it.

The reports will have an extension of not less than 3,500 or more than 5,000 words. In addition, they must fulfil the formal conditions of an academic work in terms of grammatical correctness, rigour of expression, citation system and bibliography.

• 2. Research Seminar: will consist of two one-week courses taught by invited professors that will be announced in due course. Attendance to the research seminar is mandatory.

For the evaluation of the subject, the student will be able to choose between writing two reports (between 2,000 and 2,500 words) about the courses given or to undertake to attend regularly the 4th Research Seminar of Postgraduate Students and present a work in that seminar (whose final version will be uploaded to the enabled assignment in the Virtual Classroom corresponding to the subject). The final mark in any case will be either distinction (9.5), pass (7.5) or fail (4).

• 3. Closing dates for the submission of essays and reports:
  • 3.1. First semester subjects: 
    • 1st call: until 29 January 2017
    • 2nd call: until 9 June 2017
  • 3.2. Second semester subjects: 
    • 1st call: until 30 June 2017
    • 2nd call: until 2 September 2017
  • 3.3 Research Seminar

Recommended submission date for reports: 31 March 2017 (closing date for 1st and 2nd calls coincide with other second semester subject’s calls)