Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

During your postgraduate study in law, you may find an area that is of particular interest to you or that has specific relevance to your current or intended professional expertise. This unit gives you the opportunity to explore aspects of your coursework or professional interests in more depth as well as assisting you in the continual process of refinement of your critical and analytical research skills.

Aims

The aims of this unit are to expose you, as postgraduate students, to the rigour of independent research under the guidance of an academic supervisor and to enable you to write a publishable paper on a topic of your choice that makes a contribution to the body of knowledge in your chosen area of interest or professional expertise.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit you should be able to:
(a) identify and refine, for further study, an area of research worthy of critical analysis,
(b) demonstrate the ability to work ethically and independently in that research;
(c) formulate relevant research questions and hypotheses for discussion, analysis and evaluation in your research paper;
(d) identify and justify a research methodology appropriate for the resolution of the research hypotheses;
(e) indicate an ability (if relevant in any particular case) for flexibility and change in developing and utilising relevant research questions in a changing framework;
(f) demonstrate the capacity to complete a sizeable piece of independent research work by drawing appropriate conclusions from that research using the skills of synthesis, analysis and critical reflection; and
(g) write a paper that critically analyses and evaluates the research topic, and demonstrates a mastery of written communication skills through the use of plain language, appropriate grammar and punctuation, and the application of a practice of reflection.

Content

This will be arrived at in consultation with your academic supervisor.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

While most of the time you will work independently, you are required to communicate regularly with your academic supervisor during the semester. You will need to have an idea of your general topic when you approach your chosen academic supervisor before the semester begins as that person will need to agree to supervise your research project, and sign the Research Project Proposal Form for forwarding to the sub-committee of the Faculty Learning and Teaching Committee for approval. You will be expected to meet (if possible) and talk with your supervisor about your approach to the research project, the research questions and any other matters before you submit your written research proposal to him or her setting out the research questions to be addressed, the research methodology and any other pertinent matters.You are also expected to send a draft of your final paper to your supervisor for his or her critical comment, before you submit your final paper. You must comply with the timelines established in the guidelines and you must apply using the research project application form both forms can be found on the Law and Justice Publication page. Once approval is granted you will be enrolled in this unit by Postgraduate Programs Office.

Assessment

Summative assessment
This takes the form of a research paper, worth 100% of the marks allocated in the unit. The paper must be between 18, 000 and 24, 000 words in length. It will be marked by your academic supervisor and will be due on the Monday of the second week of the exam period at the end of the relevant semester of study. This summative assessment is designed to address Objectives (a) - (g).This is continuing throughout the semester and is achieved by a process of discussion, reflection on and review of your work in progress between your academic supervisor and you. For any formative assessment to be effective, there needs to be regular communication and you need to speak to or meet your academic supervisor at least three times during the semester.

Assessment name: Research Paper
Description: The paper must be between 18, 000 and 24,000 words in length.
Relates to objectives: This summative assessment is designed to address Objectives (a) - (g).
Weight: 100%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: 2nd wk exam period

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Prescribed Materials
Recommended References
Hutchinson, Terry, Researching and Writing in Law, 2nd ed LawBook, Sydney, 2006
Wolski, B, Legal Skills, ThomsonLawbook Co, Sydney, 2006
Hyams, R, Campbell, S, Evans, A, Practical Legal Skills, 3rd ed Oxford, 2007
Macdonald, R and Clark-Dickson D, Clear and Precise: writing skills for today's lawyer, 2nd ed, Thomson Custom Publishing, Sydney 2005
Blackboard site
Online resources for this unit are available on the unit blackboard site.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 16-Oct-2012