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Unit outline_

WRIT5001: Writing a thesis 1: Starting the thesis

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This course aims to foster the writing and English language skills of postgraduate Arts and Social Sciences thesis writers. It will support students with their own thesis writing, specifically with the writing of the Research Proposal, Introduction chapter and Literature Review as well as sections of chapters. The course will be particularly useful for students who need to develop their English language proficiency and/or understanding of the requirements of thesis writing in English.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Bronwen Dyson, bronwen.dyson@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Mini assessment task 1: An Introduction paragraph to a section or chapter
Write an Introduction paragraph to a section or chapter.
4% Week 03
Due date: 04 Sep 2020 at 09:00

Closing date: 07 Sep 2020
400 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO6 LO7 LO10
Assignment Mini assessment task 2: A critical paragraph of the Body
Write a critical paragraph of the Body of a section.
4% Week 04
Due date: 11 Sep 2020 at 09:00

Closing date: 14 Sep 2020
400 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO10
Assignment Mini assessment task 3: A conclusion paragraph to a section or chapter
Write a conclusion paragraph to a section or chapter.
4% Week 05
Due date: 18 Sep 2020 at 09:00

Closing date: 21 Sep 2020
400 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO10
Assignment Mini assessment task 4: Review your peer’s writing & post your draft writing
Review your peer’s writing and post your draft writing
4% Week 06
Due date: 25 Sep 2020 at 09:00

Closing date: 28 Sep 2020
400 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5
Assignment Assignment 1: Section of a chapter, preferably a literature review
Write a critical review of the literature on your thesis topic.
35% Week 07
Due date: 08 Oct 2020 at 23:00

Closing date: 09 Oct 2020
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO4 LO3
Assignment Mini assessment task 5: Review your peer’s writing & post your draft writing (2)
Review your peer’s writing & post your draft writing
4% Week 11
Due date: 30 Oct 2020 at 09:00

Closing date: 02 Nov 2020
400 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5
Assignment Assignment 2: An expanded chapter draft
Expand the Introduction chapter or literature review chapter
45% Week 12
Due date: 12 Nov 2020 at 23:00

Closing date: 16 Nov 2020
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO8 LO7 LO4 LO3

Assessment summary

Detailed information can be found in Canvas”. 

Assessment criteria

Results given for all six assignments are either Pass or Fail, i.e., no mark or grade is assigned.

A Pass will be awarded if students show that they have:

(1) Correctly interpreted the instructions for the assignment.

(2) Completed the assignment to the best of their ability.

(3) Submitted the assignment.

A Fail will be awarded if students show that they have:

(1) Incorrectly interpreted the instructions for the assignment.

(2) Not completed the assignment to the best of their ability.

(3) Not submitted the assignment.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to the course: Overview, students' goals, the Empirical – Humanities continuum and thesis outlines Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO6 LO8
Week 02 Literature Reviews: Establishing the research territory by appropriate keywords, types of literature and Introductions to sections and chapters Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 03 Literature Reviews: Establishing the gap/s by critical paragraphs about the literature Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Literature Reviews: Establishing the gap/s by a great structure, style and conclusion Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO7 LO10
Week 05 Library skills for research writing: literature searching Independent study (2 hr) LO9
Week 06 Writing groups: Round 1 Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 07 Literature Reviews and Introduction chapters (or Research Proposals): Establishing the academic debate and academic problem Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Introduction chapters (or Research Proposals): Occupying the gap (1): Aims, research questions and arguments Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO7
Week 09 Introduction chapters (or Research Proposals): Occupying the gap (2): Frameworks and methods Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO8 LO10
Week 10 Writing groups: Round 2 Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 11 Introduction chapters (or Research Proposals): Occupying the gap: The significance of the research to the academic debate in the literature Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO8
Week 12 Wrap up seminar and certification meeting of students and supervisors Seminar (2 hr) LO8

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance is required at all sessions. Please let the coordinator know in advance  if you need to be absent from class and provide a medical certificate for illness or evidence of academic participation (e.g. conference, field study).

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Hart, C., Doing a Literature Review: releasing the social science research imagination, 1998, Sage Publications, Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore.

Paltridge, B., and Starfield, S., Thesis and Dissertation Writing in a Second Language: a handbook for supervisors , 2007, Routledge, New York. (P&R) Available from Fisher as a downloadable e-book

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Write good draft of a section of the thesis which reviews the academic literature on the thesis topic (i.e. a section of the Introduction chapter or the Literature Review chapter).
  • LO2. Write an expanded chapter draft of either the Introduction chapter or the Literature Review chapter.
  • LO3. Create a clear argument in the Introduction, Body and Conclusion of thesis sections and chapters.
  • LO4. Write critically, particularly the literature review.
  • LO5. Provide feedback regarding appropriate and correct English structure, grammar and style and revise drafts based on this feedback.
  • LO6. Use resources which develop thesis writing skills in English, particularly the MASUS (Measuring the Academic Skills of University Students) writing criteria and The Write Site.
  • LO7. Write in a well-structured manner which uses appropriate referencing, style, grammar and presentation.
  • LO8. Develop a clear understanding of disciplinary and cross-disciplinary writing requirements.
  • LO9. Conduct refined searches of the literature on the thesis topic.
  • LO10. Locate a thesis which can aid and inspire thesis writing.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the first time this unit has been offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.