This is a research essay.  You are required to develop an argument (a thesis) on a question of constitutional interpretation. You must conduct your own research beyond the textbook to engage with secondary authority (e.g. journal articles).  As the assessment description provides, a good essay will analyse both case law and academic arguments. 

Essays must be 2,000 words or less, excluding footnotes.  Content over 2,000 words will not be marked.

Footnotes must not include substantive argument (ie only references are permitted).  A bibliography should not be provided.

The essay must comply with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (3rd ed).  The Guide is available here <http://mulr.law.unimelb.edu.au/go/AGLC3>. Essays must be submitted in double line spaced text, 12 point font. 

The essay is due Friday 15 April 2016, 10pm.

All work is to be submitted via Turnitin on iLearn. Late submissions will not be marked and will receive a grade of 0.

(See iLearn for further details and assessment guidance.)

For internal students:

Presentations start in Week 5.  You have the option of presenting individually or as a pair. 

If you present by yourself, the presentation must be 10 mins long followed by questions and answers. 

If you present in a pair, the presentation must be 15 mins followed by questions and answers.  For pair-based presentations, you must also each submit in-class before your presentation a (maximum, it could be shorter) two page double-spaced reflection.  This reflection will:

• Detail your contribution to the research and presentation – giving yourself a grade of 1-5;
• Detail your partner’s contribution to the research and presentation – giving your partner a grade of 1-5;
• Include a reflection on whether and how you worked well as a team or not, and why.

All presentations must include a handout for the class.  AV facilities are available. 

As an individual or pair, your task will be to:

1. Formulate a question, based on that week’s topic, to be discussed before the class.  Presenters must check their question with the convenor prior to presenting.
2. Develop a thesis.  The individual student or group must present an argument that answers the question they have chosen.  This should include: presenting the question and why it is important; addressing counter-argument (where relevant); reaching well-reasoned conclusions.
3. Deliver the presentation in a coherent, correct, accessible, and engaging manner; involve the entire presenting group (where relevant); and provide a legally correct and helpful resource for the class.
4. Be able to answer subsequent questions from the convenor and/or class members.

For external students: an individual presentation will be required at either the first compulsory on campus session or the final, voluntary on campus session.  Topics will be allocated online; students should then check their chosen question with the convenor.  The requirements are the same as those set out above.

(For both internal and external students, see iLearn for further details and assessment guidance.)

This is a take-home exam, completed online.  It will consist in two questions – one fact pattern problem, asking you to apply constitutional law to a new set of facts; one general essay question asking you to develop an argument appealing to constitutional doctrine, principles, and theory.  The questions are equally weighted.

The exam can cover any material in the unit.

Students will be able to access the examination paper on iLearn from 9am, Friday 17 June and must submit their answers by 1pm, Friday 17 June. All work is to be submitted via Turnitin on iLearn.

A student's answers to the exam questions cannot exceed 3,000 words (combined). This is an upper word limit.  A student need not write 3,000 words if he or she can answer the questions in less than 3,000 words.

A bibliography is not required.  While referencing is required; footnoting is not.  Rather, a student may reference for the exam in this manner:

e.g. ‘The High Court has held that the race power permits the Commonwealth to pass laws for the benefit or detriment of indigenous persons (Kartinyeri).’

Late submissions will not be marked and will receive a grade of 0.

(See iLearn for further details and assessment guidance.)