This capstone course represents the culmination of the Master of Digital Humanities program. Building on foundational courses in digital humanities methods and projects, and digital humanities theories and debates, this course supports students in synthesising their knowledge and skills into a comprehensive, independent research project. Students will be guided through creating a project proposal and literature review, as the basis for making a contribution to digital humanities research that relates to particular field, problem, area, topic, or challenge of the student's choosing.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. design and execute an independent research project that addresses a significant question in digital humanities;
2. identify and critically analyse relevant literature, including theoretical and methodological approaches to the chosen topic;
3. demonstrate a sophisticated application of digital humanities methods and theories to the research question; and
4. communicate research findings effectively through written and digital media.

Research-Led Teaching

This capstone course represents the culmination of the Master of Digital Humanities program. Building on foundational courses in digital humanities methods and projects, and digital humanities theories and debates, this course supports students in synthesizing their knowledge and skills into a comprehensive, independent research project. Students will be guided through creating a project proposal and literature review, as the basis for making a contribution to digital humanities research that relates to a research question of the student's choosing.

Field Trips

NA

Additional Course Costs

NA

Examination Material or equipment

NA

Required Resources

NA

Recommended Resources

NA

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Welcome and Introductions. Your research interests and goals for the course.
2	What makes a good a research question and how do you write one?
3	Designing a research project.
4	No meeting. Work on research proposal.	Research Proposal Due
5	Exploring your research problem.
6	Navigating your research field.	Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review Outline due
7	Research project writing.
8	Peer support and individual supervision.
9	No meeting. Work on research project.
10	Meeting to discuss research projects and challenges.
11	No meeting. Work on research project.
12	Meeting to discuss research projects and challenges.	Research Project Due

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Research Proposal	20 %	14/03/2025	1,2
Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review	30 %	11/04/2025	1,2,3
Research Project	50 %	30/05/2025	1,2,3,4

* 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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

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 Skills website. 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

Students are expected to attend workshops online or in person as indicated in the course outline and to meet with the convenor to discuss their research at least once in the semester.

Examination(s)

NA

Assessment Task 1

Research Proposal

A developed research proposal, with title, contextual framework, objectives, significance, and project plan. (1000 words)

Assessment Task 2

Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review

An annotated bibliography and literature review outline or literature review, presenting an argument about the relationship of the research problem to relevant approaches, debates, fields, and disciplines. This assessment should include discussion of peer-reviewed academic publications from books, academic journals or published conference proceedings. Where relevant and appropriate, it should also discuss digital projects, online repositories, non-traditional research outputs and other media. Annotated bibliographies and/or literature reviews must analyse, synthesis and discuss texts and projects, not simply describe or summarise them. (2000 words)

Assessment Task 3

Research Project

Your research project can be an essay or a digital project. An essay can be done in humanities, social scientific, or scientific styles, and will be approximately 7000-8000 words. A digital project will include an exegesis (i.e. a critical explanation or interpretation) of a non-traditional research output, such as a dataset and visualisation, a 3D model or digital map, or video and audio. In this case, the word length for the exegesis and the word-length equivalent for the non-traditional research project should be worked out in consultation with the course convenor.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

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.

Please read Wattle for instructions on submitting any traditional aspects of projects (eg files for digital visualisations, websites etc).

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 permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks 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.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Feedback on assignments will be provided through Wattle or in class. If you cannot find your feedback on Wattle please contact the convener.

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.

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 Accessibility 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 supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students