Unit Outline

This unit is designed to assist students to advance an independent research project (their honours dissertation), and develop a suite of advanced research skills. The unit will encourage students to critically question the role and relevance of legal research and scholarship and how their project might add to the field. Students will be introduced to a range of different research paradigms and methodologies from law and other disciplines. The unit will assist students to plan a strong research project and communicate that project clearly, as a practical exercise for developing skills that can be applied to future research-driven tasks. It will provide practical tips on writing and advancing scholarly argument. It will also help students to identify potential ethical issues and possible publication and other dissemination outlets. The unit also seeks to embed essential personal skills in time management, critical reflection and the capacity to work independently.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Successfully lead an independent research project that contributes to the discipline of law.
2.	Demonstrate knowledge of a range of methods and research questions that make up the discipline of law.
3.	Create and clearly communicate a research plan that is both manageable and rigorous.
4.	Reflect on and evaluate their progress throughout their execution of a research project.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	Selective enrolment

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Assessment Task 1: Literature Review	Week 6	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Assessment Task 2: Journal	Week 9	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Assessment Task 1: Literature Review

Task Description:

AT1 Literature Review
You must undertake a literature review on the topic of your proposed honours research paper for LAW499/LAW497. Your literature review should clearly identify the topic and summarise and critically analyse the relevant literature. In doing so, the literature review should identify any gaps in the existing literature and/or areas of ambiguity that require clarification through new legal scholarship.

Task Length:

2000 words (maximum)

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Understand the scope of existing scholarship in the relevant field, and how further research will contribute to that field.	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Achieve a high standard of written expression and accurate referencing.	LO1, LO3
3	Understanding of scope of existing field of research and scholarship and how the work will contribute to that field.	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 2: Assessment Task 2: Journal

Task Description:

AT2 Research Journal.
Throughout the unit you will be expected to write entries into a research journal that records your progress in devising and advancing your honours project. You have the freedom to shape the journal to suit your individual project. However, at a minimum, you must include satisfactory answers to 5 journal questions and responses to 5 journal activities that will be posted on MyLO throughout the unit. They will relate to material covered in the unit.

Task Length:

In total, approx. 3,000 words (flexible)

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.