Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Steve Chavura
Ian Tregenza
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MPPP or MIntRel or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MPICT or MCPICT or MIntSecStud or GradDipIntSecStud or MIntPubDip or MIntCommMIntRel or MIntBusMIntRel or MTransInterMIntRel
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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 examines general aspects of academic research including purpose/aims, questions and 'problems', organisation and design, the philosophy of science and associated debates, as well as specific methods and materials applied to pursue a research project including archives, interviews, surveys, quantitative, and discourse analysis.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Internals: Class presentation | 15% | No | Ongoing from Week 2 |
Externals' Short Essay 15% | 0% | No | 27 March (Week 5) |
Quantitative methods | 20% | No | 1 May (Week 8) |
Research project proposal. | 40% | Yes | 29 May (Week 12) |
Test | 25% | No | Week 13 (see below) |
Due: Ongoing from Week 2
Weighting: 15%
Internal students only
Each student will be placed into a group of two or three on Week 1. Each group will be assigned a week in which it will lead a class discussion based on that week's topic. The group is expected to:
The group's presentation can extend throughout most of the duration of the 2 hour seminar (good presentations often will). The Lecturer will also facilitate by interjecting with questions, comments, and thoroughly unhelpful asides.
Due: 27 March (Week 5)
Weighting: 0%
External students only
Length: 1000 words
Summarise and evaluate the argument in the following online article: 'Is a Science of Politics Possible?' - James Skillen
Your evaluation should draw on at least four sources used in class (the textbook counts as a source).
Article available at: http://www.metanexus.net/essay/science-politics-possible
Due: 1 May (Week 8)
Weighting: 20%
Task to be confirmed
Due: 29 May (Week 12)
Weighting: 40%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
The task entails writing up a detailed, professional research proposal of 8 pages (no less, no more, including references) (12 point font, 1 ½ spacing). Write concisely and with clarity. The individual items include:
Think of this proposal as a plan for a long master’s thesis (40 000 to 50 000 words). You have one year to complete the project. This would mean that any field work you do (should your project require it) would have to be undertaken in the first few months.
In choosing a topic you are able to build on work you have done in previous units, but you must not substantially replicate this work. All essays are now processed through turnitin. Proposals that substantially borrow from other essays will be penalised. Depending on the seriousness of the plagiarism, this can involve anything from the loss of a few marks to failure in the unit.
Guidelines for writing research proposals can be found on the ilearn site (under the assessment tab).
Due: Week 13 (see below)
Weighting: 25%
Internal students will sit a 2 hour (closed book) test during class in week 13 (5 June).
External students will receive test questions at 4pm Monday (5 June) and will submit their answers via turnitin by 11:59pm Wednesday 7 June. External students are expected to use essay-style referencing as it is a non-invigilated examination.
Both Internal and External students will be marked fairly with none being advantaged or disadvantaged owing to their mode of examination.
More details to come.
Compulsory textbook: David Marsh and Gerry Stoker (eds.), Theory and Methods in Political Science, (Palgrave, 2010). Third Edition.
Other weekly reading available online.
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_2016.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html
Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
Date | Description |
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02/03/2017 | Dates for assignments updated |
23/02/2017 | Changes to due dates for Externals' assignments |