Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

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 non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Annotated Bibliography

Assessment Type ¹: Annotated bibliography

Indicative Time on Task ²: 40 hours

Due: 23:55, 18-08-24

Weighting: 30%

You will create an annotated bibliography of modern works on the subject of your research together with a plan outlining your proposed project. Your plan will not be assessed: the annotated bibliography is the only assessible element of this task. A marking rubric, task outline, and word limit will be provided on the unit homepage. Submission: Turnitin Assignment.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• acquire knowledge of historical developments and historiography relevant to chosen topic
• evaluate ancient source material and modern interpretations of that source material at an advanced level
• formulate arguments and express ideas at an advanced level
• manage an extended research and writing project
• reflect upon the process of research and on scholarly debates

Podcast

Assessment Type ¹: Media presentation

Indicative Time on Task ²: 30 hours

Due: 23:55, 6-10-24

Weighting: 30%

This task asks you to create an oral presentation on your research topic & question, context, design & method, and preliminary results. A marking rubric, task outline, and time/word limit will be provided on the unit homepage. Submission: Adobe Creative Cloud (Podcast Recording) & Turnitin Assignment (Verbatim Script). (You will receive instruction in creating your podcast during Week 1 of the teaching session.)

On successful completion you will be able to:

• evaluate ancient source material and modern interpretations of that source material at an advanced level
• formulate arguments and express ideas at an advanced level
• manage an extended research and writing project
• reflect upon the process of research and on scholarly debates

Research paper

Assessment Type ¹: Essay

Indicative Time on Task ²: 56 hours

Due: 23:55, 3-11-24

Weighting: 40%

You will present disciplinary knowledge in support of a thesis or proposition relating to your chosen research focus using structured written communication. A marking rubric, task outline, and word limit will be provided on the unit homepage. Submission: Turnitin Assignment.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• acquire knowledge of historical developments and historiography relevant to chosen topic
• evaluate ancient source material and modern interpretations of that source material at an advanced level
• formulate arguments and express ideas at an advanced level
• manage an extended research and writing project
• reflect upon the process of research and on scholarly debates

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

FINDING A SUPERVISOR

You will undertake research on a topic arising from an Ancient History or Archaeology unit which you have previously undertaken. A member of academic staff from the department of History and Archaeology who teach Ancient History or Archaeology will be allocated to provide you with guidance and support. Unless otherwise negotiated, you will meet with your allocated supervisor in Weeks 4 and 8. It is your responsibility to contact your supervisor and arrange meeting days/times.

Your supervisor will be allocated on the basis of your research proposal (submitted during Week 1). If you wish to secure the supervision of a particular member of staff before the teaching session begins, then you are strongly advised to make contact with the relevant member of staff as soon as the unit guide is published (week commencing 8 July 2024) and to set up a meeting as soon as possible to gain a staff member's approval to act in a supervisory capacity and to discuss a potential topic. NB Names of staff who are unavailable to act as supervisors will be provided on the AHIS/AHIX3000 iLearn site. The unit homepage will go live on 15 July 2024.

The general rule is that staff members should not supervise more than four AHIS/AHIX3000 students at a time. You must submit your research proposal (topic and abstract) and the names of any preferred (or pre-arranged) supervisor(s) by the end of Week 1 (28 July 2024). Detailed instructions will be provided on the unit homepage.

CLASSES

There will be FOUR cohort meetings in this unit: Week 1, Week 3, Week 8, and Week 12. These meetings will be delivered in 4 Western Road, Room 320. NB External/OUA students can audit the recording of the meeting on ECHO360.

1. 12:00-2:00pm, Monday 22 July 2024. This meeting will consider how the Capstone will help you to consolidate your learning from previous units of study in Ancient History and Archaeology, rather than learning new content; reflect on the knowledge, skills and capabilities you have acquired and how to demonstrate these in your transition from final year to workplace or further study; stimulate thinking about realistic and feasible topics for your Research Paper; and explain how you will develop and capture both your learning process during the unit (campus and online discussion) and your final learning products (annotated bibliography; podcast presentation; research paper)
2. 12:00-2:00pm, Monday 5 August 2024. This meeting will consider how your Weeks 1-3 Capstone activities have helped you to consolidate your learning from previous units of study in Ancient History and Archaeology; reflect on the knowledge, skills and capabilities you have acquired in your degree and how you will demonstrate these in your Week 4 Assessment 1; prepare for your first meeting with your Research Supervisor; and review how you have developed and captured your learning process in the online Research Forum and your future learning products (podcast presentation; research paper).
3. 12:00-2:00pm, Monday 9 September 2024. This meeting will consider how your Weeks 4-7 Capstone activities have helped you to consolidate your learning from previous units of study in Ancient History and Archaeology; reflect on the knowledge, skills and capabilities you have acquired in your degree and how you will demonstrate these in your Week 9 Assessment 2; prepare for your second meeting with your Research Supervisor; and review how you have developed and captured your learning process in the online Research Forum and your future learning products (podcast presentation; research paper).
4. 12:00-2:00pm, Monday 21 October 2024. This meeting will consider how your Weeks 8-11 Capstone activities have helped you to consolidate your learning from previous units of study in Ancient History and Archaeology; reflect on the knowledge, skills and capabilities you have acquired in your degree and how you will demonstrate these in your Week 13 Assessment 3; and review how you have developed and captured your learning process in the online Research Forum and your future learning products (research paper).

ADDITIONAL NOTE ABOUT SUPERVISION

You should consult with your supervisor about your research if you have any questions about your research topic that you cannot resolve using your own knowledge or skills. It is also essential for you to have met at least twice with your supervisor and obtain feedback on your developing research project by the end of Week 8.

REQUIRED READING AND TEXTS

You should consult with your supervisor regarding required and recommended reading.

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

The unit has an iLearn page which can be accessed at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/. PC and internet access are therefore required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement. You will also use a digital software application (Adobe Audition or equivalent) to create your podcast presentation. Please consult teaching staff for any further, more specific, requirements.

EXAMINATIONS

Please note that there are no formal examinations in this unit.

Week 1: The 13 Steps & Choosing a Research Topic/Supervisor | Cohort Meeting #1

Week 2: Literature Review

Week 3: Research Plan | Cohort Meeting #2

Week 4: Annotated Bibliography | Supervisor Meeting #1 | Assessment #1 

Week 5: Information Search

Week 6: Outline Ideas and Reading

Week 7: Outline Ideas and Reading

Week 8: Introductory Notes and Podcast Preparation | Cohort Meeting # 3 | Supervisor Meeting #2 

Week 9: Podcast | Assessment #2 

Week 10: First Draft

Week 11: Second Draft

Week 12: Final Draft | Cohort Meeting #4

Week 13: Research Paper | Assessment #3

1. Adjustment of Assessment One (Annotated Bibliography), excluding research plan from marking rubric.