Marks Received for Thesis

I received an 80/100 on my master’s thesis at the University of Edinburgh, earning the distinction award. This represents the highest level of postgraduate academic achievement, typically awarded for grades of 70% or above.

Key Feedback Received

The thesis evaluators provided both commendations and constructive criticism.

Positive feedback included:

• Recognition of the poly-ethical framework concept
• Appreciation for paper structure
• Support for ethics learning through reasoning modules versus traditional instruction

Areas for improvement:

1. Needed greater acknowledgment of existing traditions like value-sensitive design and participatory design
2. Some discussion of normative ethics, metaethics, and applied ethics was excessive or inaccurate
3. Arguments against “rules and tools” approaches were overstated; conflicting codes don’t necessarily indicate absence of correct answers
4. Missing engagement with organizational incentive structures and how they affect ethical decision-making
5. Insufficient critical examination of Claude’s limitations and built-in assumptions

Academic Context

At Edinburgh, marks of 80+ indicate “legitimate contribution to larger scholarship” with evidence of original thinking. The university marking scheme defines 70—100 as “excellent performance,” fundamentally different from undergraduate grading expectations. Graduate-level work emphasizes novel contribution over mere completion.

Personal Reflection

The achievement validated that shifting focus from task completion to meaningful contribution represents the distinction separating adequate from exceptional scholarship. The detailed critique provides direction for continued growth in ethical theory and reasoning.