pol4pir honours core
ADVANCED RESEARCH IN POLITICS, PHILOSOPHY AND GSDS
POL4PIR
2019
Credit points: 30
Subject outline
This subject aims to develop students' capacity to engage in sophisticated analysis and original research at Honours level. The first section of the subject focuses on research design, examining the nature of research at Honours level, how to develop a research question, how to locate relevant sources, and how to write a literature review, among other topics. In the second section of the subject, students will focus in depth on some of the key issues and methods involved in conducting research in their discipline. The overall aim is to ensure that students leave the subject with a strong understanding of what is required to produce first-rate research in their chosen discipline, and to help them develop the skills needed to successfully research and write an Honours thesis.
SchoolSchool of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points30
Subject Co-ordinatorNicholas Barry
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 4 - UG/Hons/1st Yr PG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites Enrolment in AHA or AHIR, or permission from Honours Coordinator or Subject Coordinator
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjectsN/A
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditions Students must be enrolled in a relevant Honours program within Humanities and Social Sciences.
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Prescribed reading wil be provided to students electronically. For the most part, this will draw on literature that is already available through the library collection. | Prescribed | Prescribed reading wil be provided to students electronically. For the most part, this will draw on literature that is already available through the library collection. | Prescribed reading wil be provided to students electronically. |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Produce written work that reflects a clear understanding of the principles underpinning good research design in Politics, International Relations, Philosophy or GSDS.
- Activities:
- Research proposal
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
- Writing(Writing)
02. Produce written work that reflects a critical understanding of important issues in contemporary Politics, International Relations, Philosophy or GSDS.
- Activities:
- Major essay; reflective written discussion of reading
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Writing(Writing)
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
03. Produce written work that reflects the capacity to engage in advanced research on an important topic in Politics, International Relations, Philosophy or GSDS.
- Activities:
- Major essay
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Writing(Writing)
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
Subject options
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Melbourne, 2019, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorNicholas Barry
Class requirements
SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
One 3.0 hours seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major essay (equivalent to 4000 words) | This assignment will require students to research and write an essay on a specific topic relevant to Honours-level research. | 50 | 02, 03 |
| Research proposal (equivalent to 2400 words) | This assignment will require students to write a research proposal for their Honours thesis, drawing on the knowledge of research design they have developed through the subject. | 30 | 01 |
| Reflective discussion of reading (equivalent to 1600 words) | The reflective discussion will test students' engagement with a range of the readings covered in the subject. | 20 | 02 |