This core course for HASIA and HPAST offers research training for Honours students working on projects in the Asian and Pacific humanities. It introduces important historical and current debates in the critical humanities, exposes students to trans-disciplinary perspectives and methods, and nurtures the process of independent research, project design, and writing. Indicative topics include the history of Asia-Pacific studies, debates between area studies and disciplines, postcolonial critique, interdisciplinary theories of gender and sexuality, and theories of power and culture. This course aims to help students become confident, independent, and collegial scholarly researchers.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate the ability to engage with disciplinary debates in research and writing
   
2. Develop a theoretically sound research design and an appropriate, ethical method for researching a question in Asian Studies or Pacific Studies
3. Work collaboratively with a trans-disciplinary cohort
4. Produce enhanced analysis and scholarly writing
5. Present research questions, a research design and preliminary findings to an audience of academics and student peers

Required Resources

All readings and other resources requires for the course will be made available through Wattle.

Staff Feedback

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

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

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	Thesis-writing workshop: introductions, including a presentation by an Honours graduate.Skills Workshop: starting your Honours
2	Thesis-writing workshop: managing your Honours year Theory & method seminar
3	Skills Workshop: literature reviewTheory & method seminar	Thesis prospectus: 'Elevator speech' video due
4	Thesis-writing workshop: 'Elevator speech' video review; using Google ScholarTheory & method seminar
5	Group consultationTheory & method seminar	Thesis bibliography due
6	Thesis-writing workshop: bibliography review; meta-questionsTheory & method seminar
7	Skills Workshop: thesis writingTheory & method seminar	Ideas journal due
8	Thesis-writing workshop: ideas journal reviewTheory & method seminar
9	Group consultationTheory & method seminar	Thesis prospectus: thesis abstract and outline due
10	Thesis-writing workshop: abstract and outline reviewTheory & method seminar
11	Thesis-writing workshop: discussion of draft chapters; formatting a thesisTheory & method seminar
12	Thesis-writing workshop: discussion of draft chapters
13		Draft thesis chapter due (includes contents page and brief context)

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Thesis bibliography	10 %	21/03/2025	27/03/2025	1,2
Ideas journal (4 x 250 words)	15 %	18/04/2025	24/04/2025	1,2,3,4
Thesis prospectus (1,500 words and one-minute video)	25 %	02/05/2025	08/05/2025	12,3,4,5
Draft thesis chapter (4,000 words)	50 %	06/06/2025	26/06/2025	1,2,3,4,5

* 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 ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

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.

Assessment Task 1

Thesis bibliography

In Week 5, course participants list 20-25 items for use in their research. They should ensure that these items are presented in a clear and consistent format. Participants may refer to the University of Chicago “notes and bibliography” style, though alternatives are acceptable as long as they are consistent.

Assessment Task 2

Ideas journal (4 x 250 words)

In Week 7, participants submit an ideas journal, in which they read and reflect on four journal articles or book chapters relevant to their research. For each article or chapter, they write a 250-word response that identifies: a) basic bibliographic data; b) a statement of the work’s main idea, argument, or finding; c) an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of that idea, argument, or finding; d) a sketch of how the work relates to other items in the ideas journal; and e) an appraisal of how the work might contribute to the participant's own research project.

Assessment Task 3

Thesis prospectus (1,500 words and one-minute video)

Course participants lay foundations for their overall thesis project—a thesis prospectus—in three parts.

1. An 'Elevator speech' video is due in Week 3. Participants upload to Wattle a short video, of no longer than one minute. In it, they present the key question of their project, a sketch of the significance of that question, and a working hypothesis for its likely results. Participants also engage in an in-class discussion of their own and their peers' videos in Week 4.
2. A thesis abstract is due in Week 9. This is a concise summary of the whole research project. By writing a draft at this relatively early stage, participants have to clarify the focus of their project. This, in turn, achieves the necessary transition from a vague topic or set of interests to a well-focused, worthwhile, and achievable research agenda. Participants will also be able to use this document as the basis for refining their aims and questions through the course of the year; it is likely that the final abstract of the thesis will differ from the draft submitted at this stage. To fit with the prescriptions for the final abstract, this submission should be no longer than 750 words.
3. A chapter outline is also due in Week 9. This outline provides a roadmap for the whole thesis. Writing a chapter outline early in the Honours program and then revising it repeatedly over the course of the year will help participants to refine their research aims and ensure that they have a plan for achieving those aims; to develop a logical sequence of ideas; to clarify the bigger picture of the whole thesis as well as the place of each constituent part in that larger picture; and to keep on track for meeting word limits. 

Assessment Task 4

Draft thesis chapter (4,000 words)

As the culmination of the course, participants submit a draft thesis chapter. The chapter allows participants to produce a sustained written argument on an aspect of their Honours research. It should be a polished piece of work, logically and clearly written, and proofread for accuracy. The structure of the chapter should be clear, with an introduction and

conclusion that establish links to the preceding and following chapters. (Though participants should aim to present as coherent and well written an argument as possible, since this is ultimately a draft, it will be open to further revisions later in the Honours year.)

In addition to the draft chapter, participants should include the following items.

• A brief statement (1-2 paragraphs) situating the draft chapter in the overall thesis and argument, using the current thesis outline. In particular, this statement should explain what previous chapters have introduced to readers.
• A bibliography of all references used in the chapter.

The draft chapter is due during the examination period.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community 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 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 University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses 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. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

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 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

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.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions 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 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