Write the opening section for a research proposal for a higher degree research project.
Explain the problem/question and make explicit the aim of the research project. Give your project a title. Use the referencing style commonly used in your discipline.

Length: 700 - 1500 words (typed, double spaced)

Part A (out of 15): Select (and upload) a published research article in your own field and answer the following questions:

1. How is the article structured? How closely does it conform to the standard IMRD structure? Briefly summarise what is covered in each Section & Subsection (1 sentence each section). (4 marks)

2. In a couple of sentences, summarise the message of the article: What was its thesis? Or what was the research question and what answer did it give?      (4 marks)

3. How do the authors present the topic as important? What is the motivation for their research? (Focus particularly on the introduction section.) (3 marks)

4. Citation practices (4 marks)

1. What sort of referencing style is used in this paper?
2. List the different text-types (genres) represented in the list of References, providing an example of each.
3. Which citation format is preferred: author-prominent or content-prominent? Why is that type preferred? Give an example of each type that is represented.         

Part B (out of 10): Imagine you are the author of that research article. Your head of department is encouraging all academic staff to increase their “community engagement” by sharing their research beyond traditional academic outlets such as journals and conferences.

Identify an appropriate context (outside academia) where this research could be communicated.

• Audience:                                            
• Genre (text-type):                                             

 Write a text of approximately 500 words, giving it a catchy title and illustrating it with a photo or appropriate other graphic

Choose one of the following:

a) Oral Presentation

Film yourself presenting a 5 minute talk on a piece of completed research in your field.

Your talk may report on a research project in which you were involved, or it may be based on a research article you have read (if the latter, submit the article). Present and submit at least one slide (in addition to a title slide) to accompany your talk.

OR

b) Poster
Produce a conference poster on completed research in your field. Your poster may report on a research project in which you were involved, or it may be based on a research article you have read (if the latter, submit the article with your poster).

Imagine your poster will be printed on A2 sized paper (either portrait or landscape orientation).

You need to submit four documents for this assignment.

Document 1 (5%)

Submit the written feedback you provided on a class-mate’s Assessment 1 text.

Document 2: (20%)
Length: 900-2000 words (typed, double spaced)

Submit a revised version of the text you submitted as Assessment Task 1, incorporating the feedback you received from your tutor and your class mate. 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 (at least 5 related research texts).

Documents 3 & 4: (5%)

Document 3: Submit the review you received from your classmate on your Assessment 1 text.

Document 4: Outline in a table how you have responded to each of the suggestions made by your “reviewers”. Refer to the tutor as “Reviewer A” and your class mates as “Reviewer B.”

For most weeks you will be asked to listen to the lecture, read at least one text and respond to some questions. You need to upload your response to the ilearn Discussion Forum in that week.

The weekly participation mark will be based on the extent of your engagement with the unit, as indicated by the timely & comprehensive completion of these activities. You need to complete at least 10 weeks of activities to pass the unit.