Students

MRES700 – Research Communications

2014 – S3 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Florence Chiew
florence.chiew@mq.edu.au
Contact via 9850 9834
X5B 239
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
4cp at 700 level
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit aims to help students develop skills appropriate to the effective communication of academic research and appreciate the relationship between research communications and disciplinary knowledge creation. Students will analyse and practise different academic genres in a variety of modes (written, oral and visual), across disciplines and for both specialised and general audiences.

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:

  • Better understand the academic, linguistic, disciplinary and cultural conventions of research
  • Appreciate the relationship between research communications and knowledge creation
  • Refine your academic writing and presenting skills
  • Hone your critical thinking skills
  • Know how to acknowledge other sources and have established a referencing system
  • Understand what is involved in writing a research proposal, journal article and doctoral thesis

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Initial written task 20% 5pm, 19/12/2014
Oral or Visual presentation 25% 12/01/2015 and 15/01/2015
Revised Written Task 40% 5pm, 23/01/2015
Class Participation 15% Assessed throughout the unit

Initial written task

Due: 5pm, 19/12/2014
Weighting: 20%

Write the introduction section for a research proposal for a higher degree research project. You will be expected to explain the problem/question and make explicit the aim of the research. Give your project a title. Use the referencing style commonly used in your discipline. Length: 800-1000 words
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Better understand the academic, linguistic, disciplinary and cultural conventions of research
  • Refine your academic writing and presenting skills
  • Know how to acknowledge other sources and have established a referencing system

Oral or Visual presentation

Due: 12/01/2015 and 15/01/2015
Weighting: 25%

Present a 5 minute talk OR produce an A2-sized conference poster on completed research in your field. Your talk/poster may report on a research project you were involved in, or be based on a research article you have read. Be prepared to answer questions about the research project from your tutor/class mates. 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Better understand the academic, linguistic, disciplinary and cultural conventions of research
  • Refine your academic writing and presenting skills

Revised Written Task

Due: 5pm, 23/01/2015
Weighting: 40%

Submit a revised version of the text you submitted as Assessment Task 1, incorporating the feedback you received from your tutor and a classmate. In addition to introducing the topic, problem and aim, you will need to situate your proposed research in the field by relating it to existing research (cite at least 5 related research texts). Length: 1500 words

You will also need to submit two other documents: 

(a) the written feedback you provided on a classmate's Assessment Task 1,

(b) a copy of the review you received from a classmate on your Assessment Task 1. Outline how you have responded to the suggestions made by your reviewers. Refer to the tutor as "Reviewer A" and your classmate as "Reviewer B".  
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Better understand the academic, linguistic, disciplinary and cultural conventions of research
  • Refine your academic writing and presenting skills
  • Hone your critical thinking skills
  • Know how to acknowledge other sources and have established a referencing system
  • Understand what is involved in writing a research proposal, journal article and doctoral thesis

Class Participation

Due: Assessed throughout the unit
Weighting: 15%

Mark based on attendance at tutorials and participation in online discussion forum.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Better understand the academic, linguistic, disciplinary and cultural conventions of research
  • Appreciate the relationship between research communications and knowledge creation
  • Refine your academic writing and presenting skills
  • Hone your critical thinking skills
  • Understand what is involved in writing a research proposal, journal article and doctoral thesis

Delivery and Resources

Classes:

  • 4 hours face-to-face teaching each week: 2 x 2 hour tutorials
  • The tutorials are held on Mondays 11am-1pm in W6B 282 and Thursdays 11am-1pm in E5A 150
  • The lectures are available as Echo360 recordings via the MRES700 ilearn site.
  • Library training videos covering research search skills will be available for viewing via the MRES700 ilearn site 

Required and Recommended Reading:

Required text: A course reader has been prepared for this unit, which can be purchased at the Macquarie University Co-Op Bookshop. It is the same unit reader used in MRES700 Session 2.

Recommended texts (available in the Macquarie Library):

  • Cargill, M. and O’Connor, P. 2009. Writing Scientific Research Articles, Wiley-Blackwell
  • Carter, S., Kelly, F. and Brailsford, I. 2012, Structuring Your Research Thesis, Hampshire/NY: Palgrave Macmillan
  • Dunleavy, P. 2003. Authoring a PhD: How to plan, draft, write & finish a doctoral thesis or dissertation. Hampshire/NY: Palgrave, Macmillan
  • Evans, D. and Gruba, P. 2002. How to Write a Better Thesis. (2nd edn.) Melbourne: Melbourne Univ. Press
  • Grix, J. 2004. The Foundations of Research. Hampshire/NY: Palgrave, Macmillan
  • Hyland, K. 2000. Disciplinary Discourses: Social Interactions in Academic Writing. Pearson Education, Essex
  • Lewin, B.A. 2010. Writing Readable Research: A Guide for Students of Social Science. London, Equinox
  • Paltridge, B. and Starfield, S. 2007. Thesis and Dissertation Writing in a Second Language: a handbook for supervisors. Oxon/NY:Routledge
  • Swales, J.M. and Feak, C. B. 2012. Academic writing for graduate students: essential tasks and skills (3rd edn.), University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor
  • Turabian, K. L. (2013). A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations: Chicago style for students and researchers. Revised by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, and the University of Chicago Press editorial staff (8th Edn), Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Zeiger, M. 2000. Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research Papers (2nd Edn), NY: McGraw-Hill

Technology used and required:

As an MRES700 student, you will be enrolled in the iLearn unit “MRES700: Research Communications.” Login here. The MRES700 iLearn unit enables you to download and submit assignments; access lecture recordings and slides, library training videos and tutorial handouts; and participate in online discussion forums.

Readings for the unit other than those from the course reader will be held on Macquarie University’s eReserve under the unit code MRES700

Unit Schedule

Week TOPIC
1 Variation in research communications; knowledge creation in the disciplines
2 Written research genres
3 Research Proposals & your research problem: defining your project
4 Critical reading and citing previous literature: joining the conversation
5 Introductions: contextualising your research
6 Communicating research orally
7 Communicating research visually
8 Writing readable texts: making your text flow
9 Writing readable texts: sounding “academic”
10 Argumentation and expressing your voice

 

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

  • Better understand the academic, linguistic, disciplinary and cultural conventions of research
  • Appreciate the relationship between research communications and knowledge creation
  • Understand what is involved in writing a research proposal, journal article and doctoral thesis

Assessment tasks

  • Initial written task
  • Oral or Visual presentation
  • Revised Written Task
  • Class Participation

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

  • Appreciate the relationship between research communications and knowledge creation
  • Hone your critical thinking skills

Assessment tasks

  • Oral or Visual presentation
  • Revised Written Task
  • Class Participation

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 outcome

  • Appreciate the relationship between research communications and knowledge creation

Assessment tasks

  • Initial written task
  • Revised Written Task
  • Class Participation

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

  • Better understand the academic, linguistic, disciplinary and cultural conventions of research
  • Refine your academic writing and presenting skills
  • Know how to acknowledge other sources and have established a referencing system
  • Understand what is involved in writing a research proposal, journal article and doctoral thesis

Assessment tasks

  • Initial written task
  • Oral or Visual presentation
  • Revised Written Task
  • Class Participation

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Know how to acknowledge other sources and have established a referencing system

Assessment tasks

  • Initial written task
  • Revised Written Task
  • Class Participation

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

  • Appreciate the relationship between research communications and knowledge creation
  • Hone your critical thinking skills

Assessment task

  • Revised Written Task