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Course Outline

HIS320 Research Project in History

Course Coordinator:Marcus Bussey (mbussey@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2024Semester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

The course provides you with the opportunity to undertake independent research on a topic of interest to you and to extend your research skills. This is an excellent course if you are considering an honours year in History. It is also an excellent opportunity to undertake research that is of interest to community groups or members of the local community within the Sunshine Coast or Moreton Bay.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Three hour workshop (for individual student consultations and student-to-student formative collaboration) on campus, to be scheduled centrally, Week 1 - 13. 3hrs Week 1 13 times
Online
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Three hour workshop (for individual student consultations and student-to-student formative collaboration) online, to be scheduled centrally, Week 1 - 13. 3hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

Advanced historical research

Individual and independent research topic

What level is this course?

300 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of a selected topic in history. Knowledgeable
Empowered
2 Design and implement a research project that will contribute to historical research scholarship. Knowledgeable
Empowered
Engaged
3 Communicate a clear, coherent and independent exposition of historical knowledge and ideas. Knowledgeable
Empowered

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

History Major or final year of study and permission required for enrolment - please contact the Course Coordinator.

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

HIS220

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

The student must have a strong performance in historical research and analysis. This is usually demonstrated through a grade point average of 5.5 or above in the history major.

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Timely and detailed feedback is provided for each assessment. Feedback is provided both within text and general comments to build scholarly skills. Students are able to seek feedback through face-to-face discussion with the course coordinator. Workshops will include extended discussion and review of the assessment task requirements and scope.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Written Piece Individual 15% 
1000 Words
 Week 3 Online Submission
All 2 Literature Review (or component) Individual 35% 
2000 Words
 Week 7 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Written Piece Individual 50% 
2000 Words
 Exam Period Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Project Draft
Goal: 
In order to introduce you to the research framework required for this course this task is designed for you to demonstrate your research planning. You will draft an outline of your research project that makes the case for the project and outlines how it will be implemented and communicated.
Product: Written Piece
Format: 
The project outline lays out the conceptual framework for the project and describes how the project is to be implemented and reported on.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
The conceptual coherence of your chosen research topic
 1 2 3
2 
Your ability to clearly articulate the structure of the project
 1 2 3
3 
Your ability to clearly articulate any theoretical issues that impact on your research and shape historical interpretation and analysis
 1 2 3
4 
Your ability to write clearly, accurately and to the set word count, and correct referencing
 3
All - Assessment Task 2:Literature Review (or component)
Goal: 
You will produce a literature review pertinent to the chosen subject. The review will provide an overview of the work already done in the research area and identify theoretical, conceptual and practical gaps that your proposed research seeks to address.
Product: Literature Review (or component)
Format: 
The literature review will be a component of your final assignment. It should be approximately 2000 words in length and cover approximately 20 works relevant to your research. It will fall into the following suggested sections: 

a) Introduction 
b) Key Themes
c) Theoretical Issues 
d) Conceptual Gaps 
e) Suggested directions pertinent to current research project
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
The conceptual coherence of your literature review
 1 2 3
2 
Your ability to evaluate, analyse and interpret historical information
 1 2 3
3 
Your ability to present key theoretical/historical issues
 1 2 3
4 
The accuracy and relevance of your reviewed material
 1 2 3
5 
Your appreciation of the theoretical issues that shape historical interpretation and analysis
 1 2 3
6 
Your ability to write clearly, accurately and to the set word count, and correct referencing
 3
All - Assessment Task 3:Research essay or report
Goal: 
You will produce an independently developed and designed mini research project that will allow you to develop an in-depth understanding of a specific area of Historical research.This project will be supported by your supervisor through weekly meetings, check in reports and on-going feedback. Ultimately you will demonstrate key elements of the historian's craft, awareness of themes and tensions in the historical discipline, sophisticated approaches to primary and secondary material, and key research skills pertinent to the chosen subject.
Product: Written Piece
Format: 
This is an independently designed and negotiated product which will culminate in a coherent and theoretically rigorous five thousand word monograph on a subject of historical merit. 

The details of the project are to be decided in consultation with the supervisor and the course coordinator. The course coordinator may decide that the project is to be submitted in stages, with each stage being awarded a proportion of the total marks for the project.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
The conceptual coherence of your chosen research topic
 1 2 3
2 
Your ability to analyse and interpret historical information
 1 2 3
3 
Your ability to communicate historical information and argument in a concise and structured manner
 1 2 3
4 
Your appreciation of the theoretical issues that shape historical interpretation and analysis
 1 2 3
5 
Your ability to evaluate and engage with the primary and secondary sources that you use
 1 2 3
6 
Your ability to write clearly, accurately and to the set word count, and correct referencing
 3

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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