Students
LIT 870 – Research Thesis I: Preparation
2014 – S2 Evening
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Geoffrey Payne
Lee O'Brien
Robyn McCallum
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
4
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MA in (Children's Literature or English Literature)
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit involves practise-based research training aimed at developing student research skills. It focuses on the location, evaluation, management and use of research material and the development of key skills required for a research project.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Identify a suitable and unique research topic (with an appropriate scope) for a Masters research dissertation.
- Gain insight into academic research culture and learn how to align your research and writing with such a culture.
- Develop skills in critically analysing and evaluating scholarly research
- Create and maintain an accurate and effective research bibliography.
- Gain a clear understanding of academic discourse and how its linguistic style and form constitute a particular genre of writing.
- Acquire the necessary writing skills for producing an academic research dissertation.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Research Proposal | 30% | WEEK 4 |
| Thesis chapter | 70% | 21ST NOVEMBER |
Research Proposal
Due: WEEK 4
Weighting: 30%
Students must submit a research proposal which outlines their thesis topic and the scope of their project.
The objective in writing a proposal is to describe what you will do, why it should be done, how you will do it and what you expect will result. A clean, well thought-out, proposal forms the backbone for the thesis itself.
This proposal should be approximately 1000 words in length.
Proposals will be evaluated according to:
- Originality and innovation.
- Demonstrated awareness of research context (i.e. how does the proposal contextualise the project against existing research?).
- Articulation of scope (Does the proposal accurately outline the framework of the project? – its boundaries, primary corpus, etc.)
- Theoretical orientation (Does the proposal articulate a coherent and relevant theoretical framework for its main argument?)
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify a suitable and unique research topic (with an appropriate scope) for a Masters research dissertation.
- Gain insight into academic research culture and learn how to align your research and writing with such a culture.
- Develop skills in critically analysing and evaluating scholarly research
- Acquire the necessary writing skills for producing an academic research dissertation.
Thesis chapter
Due: 21ST NOVEMBER
Weighting: 70%
Students must submit a chapter of their thesis, approximately 4000 words in length. This chapter need not be the first chapter in the thesis, but it must have a coherent conceptual orientation, and this conceptual orientation must be demonstrated through relevant textual analysis.
This chapter must also be completed in conjunction with your Masters Research Thesis Supervisor. (You must meet with your supervisor at least twice before submitting this chapter.)
Your thesis chapter will be evaluated according to the criteria used for grading Masters research theses. These criteria are:
- Has the candidate addressed critical literature relevant to the thesis, doing so to an extent and in a manner appropriate for this research level?
- Does the thesis show appropriate skills in the organisation and analysis of material and in its literary presentation?
- Does the thesis show research ability and/or the capacity for independent thought?
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Gain insight into academic research culture and learn how to align your research and writing with such a culture.
- Develop skills in critically analysing and evaluating scholarly research
- Create and maintain an accurate and effective research bibliography.
- Gain a clear understanding of academic discourse and how its linguistic style and form constitute a particular genre of writing.
- Acquire the necessary writing skills for producing an academic research dissertation.
Delivery and Resources
*PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO CLASSES FOR THIS UNIT.
REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS
There are no set texts for this unit.
To complete LIT 870 students must:
- Attend at least two meetings with your thesis supervisor (these meetings are an attendance requirement of the unit).
- Complete all prescribed assessment tasks.
- Reach a satisfactory level of achievement in the prescribed assessment tasks.
**Students enrolled externally can make alternative arrangements if a face-to-face meeting with the supervisor is not possible. (These meetings can be conducted on the phone or via a series of emails.)
Unit Schedule
Week 1: Identifying a research topic and writing a research proposal
Week 2: Research – How to Use the Macquarie Library
Week 3: Research Methods
Week 4: Writing a Dissertation – Academic Writing Style
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify a suitable and unique research topic (with an appropriate scope) for a Masters research dissertation.
- Gain insight into academic research culture and learn how to align your research and writing with such a culture.
- Develop skills in critically analysing and evaluating scholarly research
- Create and maintain an accurate and effective research bibliography.
- Gain a clear understanding of academic discourse and how its linguistic style and form constitute a particular genre of writing.
- Acquire the necessary writing skills for producing an academic research dissertation.
Assessment tasks
- Research Proposal
- Thesis chapter
PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify a suitable and unique research topic (with an appropriate scope) for a Masters research dissertation.
- Gain insight into academic research culture and learn how to align your research and writing with such a culture.
- Develop skills in critically analysing and evaluating scholarly research
- Create and maintain an accurate and effective research bibliography.
- Gain a clear understanding of academic discourse and how its linguistic style and form constitute a particular genre of writing.
- Acquire the necessary writing skills for producing an academic research dissertation.
Assessment tasks
- Research Proposal
- Thesis chapter
PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify a suitable and unique research topic (with an appropriate scope) for a Masters research dissertation.
- Gain insight into academic research culture and learn how to align your research and writing with such a culture.
- Develop skills in critically analysing and evaluating scholarly research
- Create and maintain an accurate and effective research bibliography.
- Acquire the necessary writing skills for producing an academic research dissertation.
Assessment tasks
- Research Proposal
- Thesis chapter
PG - Effective Communication
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Develop skills in critically analysing and evaluating scholarly research
- Gain a clear understanding of academic discourse and how its linguistic style and form constitute a particular genre of writing.
- Acquire the necessary writing skills for producing an academic research dissertation.
Assessment tasks
- Research Proposal
- Thesis chapter
PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative
Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify a suitable and unique research topic (with an appropriate scope) for a Masters research dissertation.
- Gain insight into academic research culture and learn how to align your research and writing with such a culture.
- Develop skills in critically analysing and evaluating scholarly research
- Create and maintain an accurate and effective research bibliography.
- Gain a clear understanding of academic discourse and how its linguistic style and form constitute a particular genre of writing.
- Acquire the necessary writing skills for producing an academic research dissertation.
Assessment tasks
- Research Proposal
- Thesis chapter