ENL8000 Master Dissertation A

ENL	8000	90661	2, 2009	EXT	Master Dissertation A	2.00	Toowoomba
Subject	Cat-nbr	Class	Term	Mode	Description	Units	Campus

Academic group:	FOART
Academic org:	FOA003
Student contribution band:	1
ASCED code:	091523

Staffing
Requisites
Synopsis
Objectives
Topics
Student workload
Assessment details
Important assessment information
Assessment notes
Other requirements
Production date
PDF version

STAFFING

Examiner: Chris Lee
Moderator: Brian Musgrove

REQUISITES

Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in the following Program: MEL1

SYNOPSIS

This 2 unit course enables students enrolled in the Masters programme to commence their dissertation under supervision. The dissertation shall consist of a 18,000 - 20,000 word assignment on a topic chosen by the student and approved by the supervisor, and may be either the result of original investigation, or embody a critical appraisal or analysis of primary or secondary source material. This course will be followed by ENL8001 Masters Dissertation B.

OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1.: Develop a research proposal, including defining a topic, developing a research design, incorporating an annotated bibliography and justifying a methodology;
2.: Undertake independent research, under supervision, on a proposed topic;
3.: Review the literature relevant to a selected dissertation topic;
4.: Develop an annotated bibliography into a full literature review;
5.: Apply and justify methodology appropriate to a research topic.

TOPICS

	Description	Weighting (%)
1.	Proposal	40.00
2.	Literature Review	40.00
3.	Methodology	20.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Directed Study	300.00
Supervisor Consultation	30.00

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description	Due date	Notes
INITIAL PROPOSAL	24 Jul 2009	(see note 1)
PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL	14 Aug 2009	(see note 2)
DETAILED PROPOSAL	23 Oct 2009	(see note 3)

NOTES

1.: An initial proposal must be received and a supervisor allocated before students are confirmed into the Masters Dissertation Course. Students successfully completing this course will normally be awarded the result of IIP and proceed to ENL8001 Masters Dissertation B. This assessment is aligned with Objective 2.
2.: Proposal 2: Preliminary Proposal and Literature Review - Students who obtained an unsatisfactory progress report at this stage may be advised against proceeding further. This assessment is aligned with Objectives 2, 3, 4 and 5.
3.: Proposal 3 : Detailed proposal, literature review, and statement of methodology. This assessment is aligned with all Objectives.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Attendance requirements:
It is the students' responsibility to participate appropriately in all activities (such as workshops and consultation with supervisors) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To successfully complete an individual assessment item, a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. This statement must be read in conjunction with Statement 4 below.
Penalties for late submission of required work:
If students submit Dissertations/Projects after the due date without prior approval or documented medical circumstances, then a fail grade will be given.
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of a passing grade, students must meet the requirements of designated examiners.
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade for Part 1 of a Dissertation/Project (where IIP is a possible grade) - If the research proposal and any possible ethics application are approved and the student's progress report is deemed satisfactory by the student's supervisor and the course examiner, the student will be awarded an interim grade of IIP, indicating satisfactory performance in the course. When the Dissertation/Project has been assessed in its entirety, the grade of IIP will be changed to the final grade.
Examination information:
There is no exam for this course.
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Given the details under (6) above, there are no deferred exams for this course. However, if any deferred/makeup work is granted, it would have to be submitted by a date set by the examiner.
University Regulations:
Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6 Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm

ASSESSMENT NOTES

9.	(a) The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must lodge the assignment at the USQ. (b) All Faculty of Arts assignments must be lodged in the Faculty Assessment Centre on the Ground Floor of Q Block no later than 12 noon on the due date. (c) In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area, such as a Show holiday, the due date for the assignment will be the next day. Students are to note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for the examiner's convenience. (d). Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be despatched to USQ within 24 hours if requested by the Examiner. (e) In accordance with University's Assignment Extension Policy (Regulation 5.6.1), the examiner of a course may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances such as documented ill-health. (f) Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in the course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of the course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded the temporary grade: IM (Incomplete-Makeup). An IM grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non-directed personal study. (g) Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or sit for an examination at the scheduled time, may apply to defer an assessment in the course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded: IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).
10.	Students are strongly advised to maintain regular contact with their supervisor.
11.	Early in the semester, the student and his/her supervisor must decide on specific objectives for the course. This would typically involve such activities as writing a first draft of the literature review, writing a first draft of the method section, completing data collection, or other research activities as specified by the supervisor.
12.	It is imperative that Dissertation/Project students check with their supervisor(s) whether they need to obtain ethics clearance for their Dissertation/Project.
13.	The dissertation shall be typed and bound and shall conform with the Faculty of Arts style guide for the presentation of theses and dissertations.
14.	Assessment of the dissertation normally shall be carried out by two qualified examiners, at least one of whom is external to the University of Southern Queensland, and none of whom is supervising the student for this thesis.
15.	If assignments in the course require the use of surveys, interviews, etc., students should be aware of the University and Faculty of Arts ethical requirements/guidelines. (The course syllabus distributed to students in the first week of teaching provides this information.)
16.	It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all chapter drafts, as well as the final draft of their dissertation, be written in an acceptable standard of English expression. If students' initial work is not of an acceptable standard, students will be encouraged to use the services of a copy-editor, or to seek assistance from a competent writer of English. It is not the supervisor's principal role to correct English spelling, expression or grammar, although appropriate advice will be given. Dissertations or drafts of chapters of dissertations that are not expressed to a standard of English expression acceptable to the supervisor will be referred back to the student for correction, and will not be submitted for examination until corrected. Students who fail to address this aspect of their dissertation risk failing the course. Any expenses incurred in having drafts checked by copy-editors will be met by the student. Please also note that while copy-editing may be carried out by someone who is not the student, all the substantial content of the dissertation must be the student's own work
17.	Students will require access to email and have internet access to UConnect for this course.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Students successfully completing this course will be awarded the result of IIP and proceed to ENL8001 Masters Dissertation B.

This version produced 11 Dec 2009.