Students

ENGL3060 – Pursuing Research in Literary Studies

2023 – Session 2, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer / tutor
Paul Sheehan
paul.sheehan@mq.edu.au
Contact via 98508757
25b Wally's Walk Room 222
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
20cp at 2000 level and ENGL3051 or ENGL3050
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This research unit offers students the opportunity to delve deeply into one particular area of literature that interests them, using the skills and knowledge acquired in ENGL3050. Students will be encouraged to develop their own topic in line with the research expertise of their supervisor. They will explore their chosen texts and associated scholarship in fields such as: medieval literature, Shakespeare, Renaissance Studies, eighteenth-century literature, Romanticism, Victorianism, modernism, posthumanism, contemporary literature, Australian literature, feminist literature, historical fiction, genre fiction, and graphic novels, as well as the interdisciplinary field of literature and film or television. Students will work on a research project with supervisors who are experts in these fields in order to develop advanced research skills.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the research in literary studies, shown through familiarity with the aims and outcomes of different lines of inquiry.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate a well-developed capacity for rigorous and independent thinking, shown through being able to select and pursue a viable line of research in literary studies.
  • ULO3: Demonstrate advanced research skills, shown through being able to locate, interpret, and, critically analyse published scholarship in the area of English literary studies chosen as a research focus.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate advanced skills in critical thinking and synthesis, shown through combining research findings and critical practice to support ideas about textual meaning.
  • ULO5: Demonstrate advanced skills in persuasive argumentation, shown through being able to organise and present information efficiently and meaningfully
  • ULO6: Demonstrate advanced academic writing skills shown through the production of reasoned, well-informed argument in written work
  • ULO7: Combine research-led practice and initiative to develop innovative ways of approaching and solving textual and interpretive problems

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participatory Task 20% No Ongoing - Weeks 1-13
Research Paper 60% No Due 9:00 Mon 6 Nov
Project Plan 20% No Due 9:00 Mon 11 Sept

Participatory Task

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 14 hours
Due: Ongoing - Weeks 1-13
Weighting: 20%

Participation in seminars, including oral presentation of project plan and oral report on completed project.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the research in literary studies, shown through familiarity with the aims and outcomes of different lines of inquiry.
  • Demonstrate a well-developed capacity for rigorous and independent thinking, shown through being able to select and pursue a viable line of research in literary studies.
  • Demonstrate advanced academic writing skills shown through the production of reasoned, well-informed argument in written work
  • Combine research-led practice and initiative to develop innovative ways of approaching and solving textual and interpretive problems

Research Paper

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 66 hours
Due: Due 9:00 Mon 6 Nov
Weighting: 60%

Written research paper: 4000 words
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the research in literary studies, shown through familiarity with the aims and outcomes of different lines of inquiry.
  • Demonstrate a well-developed capacity for rigorous and independent thinking, shown through being able to select and pursue a viable line of research in literary studies.
  • Demonstrate advanced research skills, shown through being able to locate, interpret, and, critically analyse published scholarship in the area of English literary studies chosen as a research focus.
  • Demonstrate advanced skills in critical thinking and synthesis, shown through combining research findings and critical practice to support ideas about textual meaning.
  • Demonstrate advanced skills in persuasive argumentation, shown through being able to organise and present information efficiently and meaningfully
  • Demonstrate advanced academic writing skills shown through the production of reasoned, well-informed argument in written work
  • Combine research-led practice and initiative to develop innovative ways of approaching and solving textual and interpretive problems

Project Plan

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Due 9:00 Mon 11 Sept
Weighting: 20%

1000 word plan of research project including: research question, primary text, methodology, and bibliography.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the research in literary studies, shown through familiarity with the aims and outcomes of different lines of inquiry.
  • Demonstrate a well-developed capacity for rigorous and independent thinking, shown through being able to select and pursue a viable line of research in literary studies.
  • Demonstrate advanced academic writing skills shown through the production of reasoned, well-informed argument in written work
  • Combine research-led practice and initiative to develop innovative ways of approaching and solving textual and interpretive problems

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Seminars will be conducted via Zoom.

Research areas, assessment guidelines and Zoom links can be found in the Unit Information Book.

Seminars begin in Week 1.

Unit Schedule

Seminars begin in Week 1.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

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.

Unit information based on version 2023.01R of the Handbook