This course provides a forum for students to reflect on and critique their writing and arguments as they work towards the completion of their research thesis. Coursework will be framed around the enrolled students' individual honours projects, and course meetings will be focussed on developing effective strategies for communicating thesis results, including through intensive workshopping of thesis chapters in progress.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. present logical, structured and supported arguments both orally and in writing;
2. understand how to present data effectively in text, tables and figures;
3. communicate effectively with peers and colleagues about sophisticated concepts in seminar and presentation contexts; and
4. provide and respond to peer-reviews of draft texts.

Research-Led Teaching

The course provides a forum for students to reflect on and critique their writing and arguments as they work towards the completion of their research thesis. Coursework will be framed around the enrolled students' individual honours projects, and course meetings will be focussed on developing effective strategies for communicating archaeological results, including through intensive workshopping of thesis chapters in progress.

Required Resources

There are no required resources for this course. However, you may find some of the following references useful for general information on conducting research:

General research

Dunbar, R. (1995). The Trouble with Science. London: Faber & Faber.

Ford, E.D. (2000). Scientific Method for Ecological Research. Cambridge University Press.

Day RA. 1998. How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper (5th ed). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Pechenik JA, Lamb BC. 1994. How To Write About Biology. London: HarperCollins.

Bell J. 2005. Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First Time Researchers in Education and Social Science (4th Ed.). Open University Press.

Bernard HR. 1995. Research Methods in Anthropology (2nd ed.). AltaMira Press.

Silverman D. 1997. Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice. London: Sage Publications.

Emerson RM, Fretz RI, Shaw LL. 1995. Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. Chicago: University of Chicago Press

Staff Feedback

• Mark sheets including written feedback for the oral presentation will be provided via Wattle. Individual feedback will be locked to your ID numbers to maintain privacy.
• Written feedback on draft chapters and peer reviews will be provided via the Wattle Turnitin feedback studio.
• General verbal feedback will be provided in class following the assessment post dates.
• Individual verbal feedback may be obtained through making an appointment with the course convenors.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction Session (DO and SW)
2	Thesis Structure Workshop (DO)
3	Student Presentations (DO and SW)	30 Minute Oral Presentation due Tuesday 10 August 12:00pm
4	Data Visualisation Workshop (DO)
5	'Shut Up and Write' Session (SW)	Draft Chapter Due Monday 6 September 9:00am
6	'Shut Up and Write' Session (DO)
7	Progress Update and 'Shut Up and Write' (SW)	Chapter Peer-Review due Monday 27 September 9:00am
8	How to Critically Edit Your Thesis and Working with Feedback (SW)
9	Student Seminar on Peer Review (SW and DO)
10	'Shut Up and Write' Session (DO)
11	'Shut Up and Write' Session (SW)
12	Debrief (SW and DO)

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
30 Minute Oral Presentation	30 %	10/08/2021	13/08/2021	1, 2, 3
Draft Thesis Chapter	60 %	06/09/2021	17/09/2021	1, 2, 3
Chapter Peer Review	10 %	27/09/2021	08/10/2021	1, 3, 4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Participation is not assessed. However, students are expected to contribute to discussions, to raise questions, and to support their peers during presentations and in discussing their developing research.

Examination(s)

There is no examination for this course as all assessment is conducted throughout the semester.

Assessment Task 1

30 Minute Oral Presentation

For this assessment you will give a 30 minute presentation on ONE section of the preliminary results of your thesis. You will discuss how these results address a specific question(s) or part of your thesis, the methods you have used to produce these results and their suitability in addressing your research question, provide a preliminary interpretation of these results, and outline the significance of these results in relation to your thesis aim. At the conclusion of your talk there will be a brief question and answer session. Presentation times will be allocated in Week 1.

Value: 30%

Due Date: 12pm Tuesday 10th of August 2021 (please note this is in class time)

Estimated return date: 5pm Friday 13th of August 2021

Assessment Task 2

Draft Thesis Chapter

For this assessment, students must prepare a draft thesis chapter. Prior to commencing writing, students will consult with their supervisors and discuss the topic and structure of the thesis chapter to be submitted, as well as how this will fit in with their existing thesis timelines. The aim of this assessment is to help students meet thesis writing milestones and enable them to get feedback on thesis content from a wide range of researchers. Chapters must be submitted via the Turnitin submission portal available on the class Wattle page.

Value: 60%

Due Date: 9am Monday 6th of September 2021

Estimated return date: 5pm Friday 17th of September 2021

Assessment Task 3

Chapter Peer Review

Students will prepare a 1000-word review of a draft chapter provided for Assessment Task 2. Students will swap chapters with a peer and each will produce a short piece of writing that will help their peer improve their work. The review process will also encourage the reviewer to think more reflexively about their own writing and research. This piece of writing should be accompanied by an annotated copy of the chapter. Remember to keep your criticism constructive, as the aim here is to help each other to achieve a better result and motivate each other to produce the best work possible. One copy of your report will go to the student whose work you critiqued and one to the course convenors. Peer reviews must be submitted via the Turnitin submission portal available on the class Wattle page. Peer review partners will be selected in Week 1.

Value: 10%

Due Date: 9am Monday 27th of September

Estimated return date: 5pm Friday 8th of October 2021

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assesment items is permitted for this course. Please note that assessment tasks that are submitted late without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations. To learn more, please visit https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/document/ANUP_004604

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

All grades will be recorded in the Wattle Gradebook. Grades will be made available to view after the assesment 'post' dates listed above.

Assignments and feedback for the draft thesis chapters and peer reviews will be returned digitally through the Turnitin Feedback Studio.

Presentation mark sheets will be returned via Wattle as outlined under 'Feedback.'

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission of assessments is not permitted for this course.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students