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Unit outline_

WRIT5003: Writing a Thesis 3: Completing a Thesis

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

This Unit aims to foster the thesis writing and English language skills of Arts and Social Sciences students who are writing postgraduate theses. As the sequel to 'Writing a thesis chapter 1: Starting a thesis' and 'Writing a thesis chapter 2: The Middle chapters', it further supports students with their own writing by focusing on the completion of the thesis, including the Introduction and Conclusion chapters, Front Matter (including abstracts), the argument of the thesis and proofreading and editing. The course will be particularly useful for students who need to develop their English language proficiency and/or understanding of the requirements of English thesis writing.

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

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Bronwen Dyson, bronwen.dyson@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Drafting/ revising a clear line of argument across chapters
Revise the consistency of chapters arguments.
9% Week 02
Due date: 10 Mar 2021 at 23:00

Closing date: 17 Mar 2021
250 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2
Assignment Drafting/ revising the Table of contents
Draft or revise the Table of Contents.
8% Week 04
Due date: 24 Mar 2021 at 23:00

Closing date: 31 Mar 2021
500
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5
Assignment Drafting/ revising an Introduction chapter
Draft or revise the Introduction chapter of your thesis.
25% Week 04
Due date: 24 Mar 2021 at 23:00

Closing date: 31 Mar 2021
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5
Assignment Main chapter
Draft or revise a main chapter.
25% Week 06
Due date: 14 Apr 2021 at 23:00

Closing date: 21 Apr 2021
2000
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Assignment Conclusion chapter
Draft or revise a Conclusion chapter.
25% Week 08
Due date: 28 Apr 2021 at 23:00

Closing date: 05 May 2021
1500
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Thesis abstract
Draft or revise the thesis abstract
8% Week 10
Due date: 12 May 2021 at 23:00

Closing date: 19 May 2021
250
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

Detailed information can be found on 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 Lecture and tutorial: (i) Overview of the course and (ii) Drafting/ revising a clear line of argument across chapters Assignment 1: Drafting/ revising a clear line of argument across chapters Seminar (2 hr) LO2
Week 02 (i) Peer feedback on drafting/ revising a clear line of argument across chapters. (ii) One-to-one feedback on drafting a clear line of argument across chapters. (iii) Redrafting/revising a clear line of argument across chapters. Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO5
Week 03 Discussion: Discussion: How clear is your line of argument across chapters? Lecture and tutorial: (i) Drafting/ revising Table of Contents/thesis outline and (ii) Drafting/ revising Introduction chapters and/or Introductions to chapters. Assignment 2: Drafting/ revising the Table of Contents/thesis outline. Assignment 3: Drafting/ revising Introduction chapters. Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 (i) Peer feedback on Introduction chapters and Tables of content. (ii) One-to-one feedback on Introduction chapters and Tables of content. (iii) Redrafting/ revising Introduction chapters and/or Introductions to chapters and Tables of content. Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 05 Discussion: How good is your Introduction chapter & Introductions to chapters/ sections?How good is your Table of Contents? Lecture and tutorial: Drafting / revising main chapters. Assignment 4: Drafting/ revising main chapters. Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 (i) Peer feedback on a main chapter. (ii) One-to-one feedback on a main chapter. (iii) Redrafting/ revising a main chapter. Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 07 Discussion: How good is your main chapter? Lecture and tutorial: (i) Drafting/ revising Conclusion chapters and (ii) Drafting/ revising conclusions to chapters/ sections. Assignment 5: Drafting/ revising Conclusion chapters & conclusions to chapters/sections. Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 (i) Peer feedback on Conclusion chapter & conclusions to chapters/sections. (ii) One-to-one feedback on Conclusion chapters/sections. (iii) Redrafting/ revising Conclusion chapter & conclusions to chapters/sections. Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 (9) Discussion: How good is your Conclusion chapter and conclusions to chapters/ sections? Lecture & tutorial: Drafting/ revising thesis abstracts and other front matter. Assignment 6: Drafting/ revising thesis abstracts. Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 10 (i) Peer feedback on abstracts. (ii) One-to-one feedback on abstracts. (iii) Redrafting/ revising abstracts. Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 11 Discussion: How good is your abstract and front matter? Lecture and tutorial: (i) Proofreading and editing, (ii) criteria for thesis examination and (iii) student forum on their overall thesis. Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 (i) Peer feedback on proofreading and editing. (ii) One-to-one feedback on proofreading, editing and the entire thesis draft. (iii) Revising proofreading, editing and the entire thesis draft. Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

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

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 a good draft of the thesis, specifically: (i) The Introduction chapter, (ii) The thesis argument throughout the chapters, (iii) A main chapter, (iv) The Conclusion chapter, (v) The thesis abstract and other front matter and (vi) The overall proofreading and editing.
  • LO2. Create an original argument based on critical writing.
  • LO3. Display an understanding of disciplinary and cross-disciplinary writing requirements.
  • LO4. Write in a well-structured manner which uses appropriate referencing, style, grammar and presentation.
  • LO5. Provide feedback on thesis writing and revise writing in response to feedback.

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.

For an individual consultation, please send an email to the following address and arrange a time:

bronwen.dyson@sydney.edu.au

 

 

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.