• Research essay – the primary item of assessment is a research essay of 4000 words, due in Friday of week 13 (Friday 3 November 2023 at 12 noon), and worth 75%. The essay will be based on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with the unit coordinator. As outlined below, submission of the essay will be preceded by two formal formative steps, namely submission of an essay plan in week 5 and student presentation of their research in week 8. The research essay, due in week 13, allows the student to focus on a topic of interest, and to develop independent research and analytic skills. The cover page and bibliography do not count towards the 4000 word limit, nor do references, though substantive content in the footnotes does.

  Research outline – Students will be required to submit an outline of a proposed topic for their research essay, accompanied by a preliminary literature review, in week 5, Friday 1 September 2023, (300-500 word abstract, 5-8 initial references). The submission of the research outline in week 5 enables feedback on the initial formulation of the essay question and the initial research in support.

  Research presentation – The final day of classes in the unit, in week 8 (Friday 22 September 2023), will be devoted to a workshop designed to generate peer and unit coordinator feedback. Each student will address their argument and research to date.

  Class presentation – Each student will be required, in one rostered seminar during weeks 1-5 or 7, to present on the required material or an aspect or aspects of that material to the class. Criteria for this assessment includes evidence of preparation, including knowledge and analysis of the relevant reading. The presentation is worth 15% of the final mark.

  Class discussion leadership (on call) – Each student will be rostered as on call in one or two seminars (in weeks 1-5 and 7; with each Friday having three seminars). For a seminar(s) for which they are rostered, a student must be  ready to answer questions and lead discussion on the required material. The on-call component is worth 10% of the final mark.

 Word count: A research essay which exceeds the prescribed word limit will attract a penalty of 2 marks of the total marks (75) allocated to that piece of assessment (2.7%) for every 100 words, or part thereof, over 4100 words.  The total word count for essay and other written assessments will exclude: bibliography; footnote numbers; footnote citation; cover page and include: body text; headings and sub-headings; quotations; anything other than numbers and citations in footnotes.

Use of editors or proof-readers: The use of assistance in preparing and editing assessment tasks in this unit of study is strictly prohibited. Assistance includes human and automated writing tools (not including spell checking).

Special consideration: 

Research essay: Extension of time.

Research outline and presentation: Extension of time (these are formative assessment to assist with research essay).

Structured participation (on call):  Subject to the following, students will be assessed on their contribution in the seminar(s) for which they are rostered as on call: (i) mutually agreed swaps may be arranged directly between students and advised to the coordinator in advance of the first seminar affected by the swap; (ii) if a student is unable to attend their rostered seminar(s) due to illness or misadventure, they must as a priority email the coordinator who will advise if rescheduling to a later class is viable; (iii) if rescheduling to a later class is not viable, students affected by illness or misadventure should apply for special consideration which, if granted, will be an alternative assessment, namely a personal presentation on some aspect of the teaching materials, by zoom or in person, on a date to be arranged in weeks 10-12.

Class presentation: Subject to the following, students will be assessed on their contribution in the seminar(s) for which they are rostered to present:(i) mutually agreed swaps may be arranged directly between students and advised to the coordinator in advance of the first seminar affected by the swap; (ii) if a student is unable to attend their rostered seminar(s) due to illness or misadventure, they must as a priority email the coordinator who will advise if rescheduling to a later class is viable; (iii) if rescheduling to a later class is not viable, students affected by illness or misadventure should apply for special consideration which, if granted, will be an alternative assessment, namely a personal presentation on some aspect of the teaching materials, by zoom or in person, on a date to be arranged in weeks 10-12.

Assessment requirements to pass a unit of study: A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks set out in this Unit of Study in order to obtain a Pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this Unit of Study.