Students

FOAR8001 – Research in History and Archaeology

2026 – Session 1, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Leigh Boucher
leigh.boucher@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
"Admission to Graduate Diploma of Research OR Bachelor of Philosophy."
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit will introduce students to research in the cognate disciplines of Ancient History, Modern History and Archaeology, exploring what characterises research in these disciplines. Students will encounter and learn to critically evaluate the key concepts, questions and issues that have shaped and/or are currently shaping research in these disciplines. This unit will equip students to analyse the disciplines’ key literature and identify the important theoretical approaches, methods, arguments and ethical considerations that characterise research within this area. This unit will prepare students to position their own developing research ideas within a disciplinary context as they prepare for future independent research projects.

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: Evaluate and analyse relevant approaches to research in your discipline, including relevant discipline specific theories, concepts, methods and arguments.
  • ULO2: Critically evaluate an advanced body of knowledge in your discipline.
  • ULO3: Analyse and evaluate arguments, texts and/or data, considering the ethics and integrity frameworks required to conduct responsible, ethical and reflective research in your discipline.
  • ULO4: Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences using appropriate discipline-specific language.

General Assessment Information

All assessment is due at 11.55pm, via turnitin on the ilearn site.

Full descriptions and instructions for each task can be found on ilearn.

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.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Historiograhic Essay 50% No 07/06/2026 Individual No Open AI
Reflective Diary 25% No 05/04/2026 Individual No Open AI
Short Essay 25% No Due the Monday following your allocated class Individual No Open AI

Historiograhic Essay

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 07/06/2026
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open AI

Write a 3000 word essay in which you address a historiographical question that you have formulated, a question that relates to any of the ideas or issues covered in the unit.  You will be required to offer an interpretation of how or why historical writing on a topic or theme has been transformed. This task will involve deep engagement with scholarship relating to your thesis topic.  A useful, though not mandatory approach, would be to critically examine and historiographically situate 4-6 key writers in your field You will be required to seek approval and feedback on your question by week 9.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and analyse relevant approaches to research in your discipline, including relevant discipline specific theories, concepts, methods and arguments.
  • Critically evaluate an advanced body of knowledge in your discipline.
  • Analyse and evaluate arguments, texts and/or data, considering the ethics and integrity frameworks required to conduct responsible, ethical and reflective research in your discipline.
  • Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences using appropriate discipline-specific language.

Reflective Diary

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 05/04/2026
Weighting: 25%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open AI

Between weeks 1-5 you are expected to write a reflection each week after the discussion has concluded of between 200-400 words, you should attempt to synthesise the key points from the weekly discussion and offer a reflection on how these have challenged, transformed or perhaps reinforced some of your ideas about historical research.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and analyse relevant approaches to research in your discipline, including relevant discipline specific theories, concepts, methods and arguments.
  • Analyse and evaluate arguments, texts and/or data, considering the ethics and integrity frameworks required to conduct responsible, ethical and reflective research in your discipline.
  • Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences using appropriate discipline-specific language.

Short Essay

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Due the Monday following your allocated class
Weighting: 25%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open AI

You will select one piece of original published historical research (book chapter or article) relating to one of the weekly topics, lead a close reading of one section from the reading of this in class, and submit a reflection about this research and its relationship to the weekly thematic topic afterward.  The weekly topics will be selected/allocated in week 2.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and analyse relevant approaches to research in your discipline, including relevant discipline specific theories, concepts, methods and arguments.
  • Analyse and evaluate arguments, texts and/or data, considering the ethics and integrity frameworks required to conduct responsible, ethical and reflective research in your discipline.
  • Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences using appropriate discipline-specific language.

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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Students are expected to complete the required reading each week before the weekly 2 hour seminar.  This seminar will take place on campus and via zoom. All relevant information can be found on ilearn.

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 connect.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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 the Service Connect Portal, 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 2026.01R of the Handbook