Unit Outline

This unit allows students to complete a sustained piece of research under the supervision of an academic staff member. Together, LAW498 Honours Research A and this unit, LAW499, allow students to demonstrate, including to potential employers, that they have advanced research and legal and academic writing skills. To apply for postgraduate study programs in Australia or overseas (i.e. Masters or a PhD), students may have to demonstrate that they have completed an extended, supervised research paper such as the research paper required to complete this unit.

There are no classes in LAW499 as such; teaching takes place through interactions between the student and supervisor. Students select their own research topic in consultation with, and subject to the approval of, their supervisor. This unit is the equivalent of the Honours research project that students in other degrees undertake in a separate semester or year of study. In Law, the Honours program is embedded within the curriculum and the supervised research experience is offered only to those students who are on track to graduate with First Class Honours. Part of the learning experience in this unit is designing and planning a unique research project, which means that each supervised research paper is different. There are few boundaries on this task, provided students can find a supervisor, define a topic that falls within a broad definition of legal research, and complete their paper within the required time period.

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	Create and clearly communicate a research plan that is ethical, manageable and rigorous
2	Clearly identify and analyse gaps and/or issues in the existing scholarly literature
3	Successfully lead an ethical, rigorous and independent research project that contributes to the discipline of law
4	Write clearly, logically and persuasively in a style appropriate to legal scholarship

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:	Research Proposal	Week 3	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Honours Research Paper	Week 13	100 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Research Proposal

Task Description:

You must construct a research proposal that clearly and persuasively presents your honours research project for your final Supervised Research Paper. Your proposal should include: • an explanation of the problem that your research paper will respond to and how it adds to existing literature; • an outline of the research method(s) that you propose to use; • a list of research questions; • a timeline for completion of the research project; and • an assessment of whether any ethical issues are raised by the project. Your Research Proposal must be submitted to the MyLO page for LAW499 by 5pm Friday of Week 3. Marked as pass/fail.

Task Length:

2000 words, including references

Due Date:

Week 3

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Understand a range of research methods and ethical issues.	LO1, LO3
2	Understand the scope of existing scholarship in the relevant field, and how further research will contribute to that field.	LO2

Assessment Task 2: Honours Research Paper

Task Description:

The supervised research paper is a maximum of 10,000 words in length (including references, no bibliography required).

Task Length:

10,000 words, including references. No bibliography.

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

100 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and articulate an appropriate research question	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2	Develop a research project that effectively answers the research question	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
3	Analyse and critique literature relevant to a topic	LO2
4	Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of key legal issues, concepts, theories, problems and/or debates	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
5	Write clearly, logically and persuasively in a style appropriate to legal scholarship	LO4
6	Make an original contribution	LO1, LO2

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.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

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.