Class Participation (20%): Students will be assigned a specific seminar for their class participation assessment. Class participation will be assessed in two ways:

• Students receive a mark out of ten for participating in class discussion in their assigned seminar. Students are on call for their assigned seminar which means students should be ready to raise and respond to questions and contribute reflections about the required reading.
• Students also receive a mark out of ten for their oral presentation on a required reading in that same assigned seminar. The teacher will allocate the required reading for student presentation. Students should prepare a presentation of a maximum of six minutes. The presentation should include explanation of the main argument of the reading, and the primary evidence the author relies on. The presentation should also include reflections on the reading. For example, students may wish to focus on a part of the reading they found compelling, identify connections between the assigned reading and past required reading, consider connections between assigned reading and broader social and legal issues and experiences, suggest questions or actions raised by the assigned reading.

Students will be assigned their class participation seminar on 10 August 2023 and will undertake these assessments in class on the assigned date.  

Long Release Reflective Note (15%): Students must write a short essay (maximum 750 words) in which they reflect on an aspect of a reading from the required reading list. Students are not permitted to select a reading from the seminar in which their class participation was assessed. Students may wish to select a reading from a topic that is relevant to their research essay because this assessment allows students to receive feedback on their written work prior to submission of the research essay. Students should develop an argument about an aspect of the reading they found compelling and should go beyond summarising the reading. Critical reflection may involve student interrogation on where they have derived their existing knowledge of this topic and how this text reinforces or challenges their existing knowledge, ideas, or assumptions. Students may explain why they agree or disagree with the argument in the reading or explore how this reading helps them explore this topic further. This assessment is not a research essay, and marks will not be allocated solely for evidence of wider reading. However, reference to further primary or secondary materials may assist analysis of the selected reading. For further guidance on reflective writing, see the links included in the ‘Preparing for class and for assessment’ Module for this unit. Students must retain pre-submitted drafts of their assessments on file. 

This assessment will be released on 10 August 2023 and must be submitted by 11:59pm on 1 September 2023 (Sydney, Australia time).

Long Release Essay Plan (10%): Students must submit an essay plan of 500 words including references. The essay plan must answer four questions set by the teacher. This assessment allows students to receive feedback on their essay plan prior to submission of the research essay. It supports the student’s development and timely completion of their research essay. Students must retain pre-submitted drafts of their assessments on file.

This assessment will be released on 24 August 2023 and must be submitted by 11.59pm on 22 September 2023 (Sydney, Australia time).

Long Release Research Essay (55%): Students must submit a research essay (3500 words maximum). Students may select their own question for this research essay in consultation and with the approval of the teacher or select one of a range of questions set by the teacher. Students are permitted to write an independent research essay on the same topic as their reflective note or class participation (subject to academic integrity policy). This assessment allows students to focus on a topic of their interest and to develop independent research and analytical skills.

This assessment should critically engage with some of the concepts explored in this unit as well as law (whether that be doctrine, policy, or legal practices). For example, you may decide to undertake a close reading of a legal case, review a policy reform agenda, analyse a particular legal dilemma or a racial justice strategy. Whatever topic you select, the research essay must draw on race critical concepts explored in this unit and other relevant materials in your analysis.

Unconventional approaches to the essay format are welcome. For example, students may submit a policy submission on a particular issue accompanied by an explanation of the approach or dilemmas taken in the submission which draws on race critical theory and other material. As another example, students may submit a first-person account of a specific experience of law and draw upon race critical theory (and other material) to analyse and make sense of that experience.

Classes on legal research and writing skills will be held to support students prepare for this assignment.

Students must retain pre-submitted drafts of their assessments on file.

This assessment will be released on 22 September 2023 and must be submitted by 11:59pm on 3 November 2023 (Sydney, Australia time). 

Word limit penalty: A piece of assessment which exceeds the prescribed word limit will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment for every 100 words, or part thereof. The total word count for the essay and other written assessments will not include footnote citations and will not include any bibliography (if required).  

Use of editors or proof-readers: The use of assistance in preparing and editing assessment tasks in this unit of study is strictly prohibited. Assistance includes human and automated writing tools (not including spell checking).

Special consideration: Successful grants of Special Consideration may involve alternative tasks, as appropriate. 

Assessment requirements to pass a unit of study: A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks set out in this Unit of Study in order to obtain a Pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this Unit of Study.