Unit Outline

The supervised Reading Course covers a topic selected by the student in consultation with a designated member of staff. Students will undertake a program of guided reading and discussion led by an academic expert.

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	Identify and critically discuss the key concepts and theories, substantive issues and/or debates within the specified field of inquiry.
2	Apply theoretical knowledge and research to contemporary issues and/or events within the specified field of inquiry.
3	Communicate ideas coherently in written and oral formats, and in conformity with discipline standards.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

No changes.

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 Topic Abstract	Week 6	15 %	LO1, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Annotated Bibliography	Week 9	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Research essay	Week 12	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Research Topic Abstract

Task Description:

Write an abstract that concisely describes the disciplinary relevance and importance of your proposed reading course research topic (for this unit) and outlines the main concepts and or theory you plan to explore and apply.

Students should choose a research topic to focus the guided course of reading they will undertake their supervisor. This topic should be relevant to their proposed thesis topic.

Task Length:

500 words

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe your reading course research topic, explain the disciplinary relevance of this topic and identify the key concepts and major theory/theorists you plan to explore and apply.	LO1
2	Communicate your ideas clearly and in conformity to disciplinary conventions	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Annotated Bibliography

Task Description:

Select 8 theoretical/substantive written sources (articles and/or book chapters) relevant your research topic. Provide full bibliographic citations for these sources.

Aim to select sources that focus on key concepts, research, debates and/or theories that are relevant to your honours research.

Choose two sources from this list and write a 400 word annotation. This annotation should summarise the content, explain the major disciplinary contribution, analyse the strengths and limitations and discuss the relevance of this source for your own research topic.

This assessment task will assist you in writing the third assessment task and your thesis.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identification of key authors, approaches, concepts, theories, arguments. Development of a coherent disciplinary based account of the contribution of the two key sources selected.	LO1
2	Evaluation of two key sources that includes discussion of content, disciplinary contribution, strengths and weaknesses and the relevance of the sources for your own research. Apply theoretical knowledge and research relevant to the research topic.	LO2
3	Clarity of written expression, a coherent argument and conformity to academic conventions. Acknowledgement of sources and conformity to Harvard or APA 7 referencing.	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Research essay

Task Description:

Develop an essay question with your supervisor and write an essay in response to this question. The essay should critically review and synthesise a relevant body of literature and discuss the relevance of this literature for your own research. This task builds on Assessment Task 2.

Task Length:

2500 words

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critically discuss key concepts and theories, issues, and/or debates relevant to the research topic	LO1
2	Apply theoretical knowledge and research relevant to the research topic	LO2
3	Communicate clearly in written form, and in conformity to disciplinary conventions	LO3

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.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

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.