You are required to develop and submit a research synopsis of not more than 1 page for the research paper you will be submitting at the end of semester. The synopsis must clearly set out the research topic you will be addressing, and the basic approach you will be taking.

The synopsis should clearly indicate the research question you are seeking to answer, why the topic is worthy of consideration, and the relevance of the analysis to the general principles of international law, and must clearly identify how it relates to the themes of the unit (for more guidance see the instructions for the research paper itself).

The proposal should not exceed 1 A4 page, and must cite at least 2 primary sources (eg Treaties or UN Documents) and 2 secondary sources (eg journal articles or book chapters).

This Assessment will be assessed on a Pass/Fail basis. Students must receive a Pass on this assessment to complete the unit. Students who receive a Fail on their first attempt will have the opportunity to resubmit.

Students are required to submit a research paper, based on the research paper proposal, that critically analyses a current issue or development in international law of special interest, that falls within the guidelines listed below. The maximum word limit for the research paper will be 3500 words, which will be strictly adhered to, and anything beyond 3500 words will not be read. Footnotes are excluded from the word count (but substantive text in footnotes will be counted).

Students will be assessed on their understanding, explanation and analysis of the legal issues presented, the depth of their research as well as their critical evaluation of the relevant issues.  Research should extend beyond the prescribed  books  and  course  materials  (the  recommended  books  and  journals provide   a   starting   point   for   further   research).    Clarity   of   expression, presentation  of  argument, use of legal sources and  correct  and consistent reference style will also be taken into account. The paper should be appropriately structured, with sub-headings included, a clear introduction and conclusion, and a clear central thesis. 

Students should choose a narrow topic of interest to them, but this topic should address the broader issues related to one of the following categories (which relate to the themes of the course):

1. Compliance Theory - Why Do States Comply with International Law?

2. Modern Constructions of Statehood and Sovereignty

3. Beyond the State-centric Model of International Law: The Role of Non-State Actors

4.The Fragmentation of International Law

5. The North--South Divide, and the challenges for developing countries under general international law

6. International Law in the 21st Century - the impact of technology, terrorism and globalisation

If uncertain whether a desired topic of exploration is appropriate, please contact the convenor for advice. A marking rubric for this assessment will be posted on iLearn and discussed during the 3 Day Intensive for the unit.

Online participation will involve participating in the discussion forums and related activities attached to each topic. To gain a passing grade a student will be expected to contribute substantively to each topic of the unit. Students will have until the start of the exam period to complete this task, and may contribute to topics at their own pace. Students however should be sufficiently conversant on each of the topics to be able to contribute to discussion during the 3 day intensive.

Online Participation will be assessed on the quality and substantive depth of the contributions, not on the quantity of participation. The quality and depth of the contributions will be assessed along the following criteria:

- Ability to critically discuss the material - the student is able to critically discuss the topic materials and contributes to forum discussions in a way that assists the learning of others. This will be demonstrated through the ability to respond to questions; initiating, responding to and participating effectively in debates and discussion; presenting counter arguments, and ability to link readings and topic materials to the discussion, to current events, and to hypothetical scenarios;

- Preparation  - the student is able to demonstrate reading and engagement with any other content provided for each topic. This will be demonstrated by asking questions to clarify anything not understood;by application of the readings in answering questions and engaging in discussion; demonstrated engagement with materials beyond the required readings; supporting all arguments with evidence and application or relevant literature;

- Written expression - the student is able to express their ideas about the materials in a clear, coherent, and concise manner that may be readily understood by others;

- Engaging with other students - the student engages with others in the discussion, displaying respect for others' opinions, constructive feedback and dialogue, and responsiveness to the contributions of others

Students will present a 10-15 min presentation on a topic of their choice, aligned to one of the 6 core themes of the unit. This theme must be DIFFERENT one from the one chosen for the research paper. These presentations will all be made on the final day of the intensive, the 5th January 2017.

For example, if a student were to choose to focus their research paper on the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) under international law, addressing Theme 6, International Law in the 21st Century, they cannot select another topic relating to Theme 6. Instead, the student might choose the topic of Corporate Social Responsibility and Global Governance, addressing Theme 3: Beyond the State-Centric Model of International Law. More information on the unit themes can be found in the Unit Schedule, below.

The presentation should be accompanied with a Powerpoint presentation (or using similar presentation software, eg Prezi). The presentation should clearly set out the following elements:

- The Background of the Topic - what the topic is, and relevant issues (eg 'What is Corporate Social Responsibility')

- The Significance of the Topic - why the topic needs discussion

- The Relevant International Law

- The Challenges/Problems - (eg has international law been effective in addressing the issue? If not, why not?)

- Conclusions - personal (but researched and supported) opinion on the issues

- 3 Questions to pose to the audience related to the topic

A rubric outlining the marking criteria for this assessment will be provided on iLearn.