Presentation of Written Reports

Since most of what you learn is tested in written form, it is essential that you learn to write effectively. You are required to research, prepare and write the research abstracts and field trip reports. Organisation is the key to achieving this, and the following steps should assist you.

Preparation of reports:

1. Determine what is required in the case study report. Make sure you understand each word used to ensure that you are writing to the topic set, not to one of your own invention.

2. Read the relevant unit material and generate a list of key words, which will help you locate other references in the Library. Do this early. Remember that reference books may be hard to find if you leave your library research too late. 

3. When taking notes from a reference always note the bibliographical information and Call Number. If you write down a quotation, take a note of the page it was on. There is nothing more frustrating than having to look back through a book for one sentence.

    

The Drafts (at least one — more probably two or three)

1. Keep referring back to the question — have you strayed from the topic?

2. Single sentences or paragraphs should not express too many ideas. A logical

   development of your theme should be the aim throughout the essay.

3. In your initial draft, do not worry too much about the word limit. It is a simple matter to cut

   extraneous or repetitive material in subsequent rewrites — in fact this should be your

   aim.

4. Support your statements with facts and references.

5. References: quotations should be used only if the point being made is vital to your

   argument and if you could not express it better yourself. 

Formatting 

1. All typed text submitted for case studies is to be 12 point font at 1.5 line spacing. Margins should be approximately 2cm. Place your name and student number in the header and number each page.

2. Page limits should be strictly adhered to.

3. * All text-based assessments are to be submitted electronically (via Turnitin) * Students must keep a copy of their reports. 

4. In all that you hand in, marks will be given for “communication”; that is how effectively

   you communicate your ideas. This will include how well your text/maps/profiles/sketches convey your concepts, and how well written your report is (including correct use of English and of referencing procedures).

Extensions

Extensions for reports and workshop submissions will be given only for illness or misadventure, which must be supported by documentation and a written request. This request should also indicate the extension period required.

For Tasks 10% or above - No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 5% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 10% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for disruption of studies is made and approved. No submission will be accepted after solutions have been posted.

If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the interval between the regular exam period and the start of the next session. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. You can check the supplementary exam information page on FSE101 in iLearn (bit.ly/FSESupp) for dates, and approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

Feedback

Feedback on assessment tasks is given in this unit in the following ways:

1) Our primary mode of assessment feedback: the assessment marker will present overall feedback to the class, at either a lecture or in a tutorial, on what aspects of the assignment were done best and where improvement is needed in general.

2) Scoring full marks for a given component indicates that you did exceptionally well. Alternatively, scoring poorly in a component strongly suggests it required further work. 

3) Students are strongly encouraged to seek further feedback (at the time it is given or by making an appointment with the assessment marker) if they are unsure of any aspect of the feedback or if they want further feedback.

4) In the instance of scoring very poorly overall, you will be provided with written feedback on the assignment indicating where you could improve. 

During this unit we will explore the geology of Australia from Archaean cratonic shields to Proterozoic fold belts and sedimentary basins of the western two-thirds of Australia, and discover the immense continental growth during the Phanerozoic evolution of the eastern margin of Australia. You will also learn about the main concepts of metamorphic and structural geology, U-Pb geochronology and explore appropriate computer tools to solve problems related to geochronology.

This unit integrates projects, lectures and laboratory classes to develop theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience needed to map, describe and interpret rocks in the field and laboratory. Field studies involve ground-based observations of rock types, rock structures and the relationship between geology and topography. 

Contacts and Communication

Convenors: A/Prof. Nathan Daczko (nathan.daczko@mq.edu.au)

School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University.

Please post questions to iLearn, but if sending email, please include GEOS2126 in the subject line.

We will communicate to you mainly through your student email account/iLearn at Macquarie University. Please make sure you check this email at least weekly.

Late Enrollments

If you enroll late in the unit, you will have already missed one or more lectures and workshops. It is your responsibility to catch up. Also, you will still be expected to submit all assignments within the remaining time.

Lectures, availability of lecture material and attendance requirements

It is the policy in this unit to encourage students to attend one workshop per week, and make their own notes from the recorded lectures. Recorded lectures will be particularly useful for revision purposes.

Hours

This is a 10 credit point unit. It is anticipated that you will spend >9 hours per week involved with the unit, including the 3-hour class contact time per week. It is particularly important that you spend plenty of time preparing the major assignments: Research Topic Abstract and Video Presentation, and the field work. 

Set Textbook and Background Reading

• There is no set textbook for this unit. Instead, we have set weekly readings.

• You will need access to iLearn for quizzes and unit resources: Unit Guide, Unit Reader, lectures and

  self-directed practicals

• You will use computers in some workshops

• You will need to be able to access books and journal papers in the library

• You will be exposed to a variety of materials and concepts in the practicals 

See schedule in unit reader available in iLearn.

This unit was last run in 2020 and changed significantly in that year. We expect you to complete five things most weeks:

1) Listen/Watch a recording of the lectures; 2) Read a text resource; 3) Complete a Self-Directed Study practical exercise; 4) take a Quiz in iLearn; and 5) attend the Workshop.

See the schedule in the unit reader for which weeks we expect you to attend campus.