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Unit outline_

LAWS3900: Law Honours

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

The Honours Unit in Law consists of: 1. A dissertation written under the supervision of one member of academic staff, and 2. Participation in a non-assessable research workshop. The dissertation will be a maximum of 12,000 words.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Law
Credit points 12
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator David Rolph, david.rolph@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Draft report (long release)
Draft research report
0% Week 09
Due date: 07 Oct 2022 at 12:00
12,000 words / 10 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Honours thesis hurdle task Final report (long release)
Non-HDR thesis
100% Week 13
Due date: 04 Nov 2022 at 12:00

Closing date: 11 Nov 2022
12,000 words / 14 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

The Law Honours unit is wholly assessed (100%) by way of the thesis (12,000 words), due by midday on Friday 4 November 2022 (Week 13) via Canvas (there is no requirement for a hard copy submission). The research skills workshop is not assessed but is compulsory.

Honours students must develop a research proposal, arrange an academic supervisor, undertake a research project based on the proposal and write and submit a 12,000 word thesis. Feedback will be provided on one draft of your thesis provided that you submit it to your supervisor by the draft submission deadline, due by midday on Friday 7 October 2022 (Week 9). 

Successful Special Consideration applications may be granted an extention of time from the due date up to midday Friday 11 November (ie the “closing date” as specified in the assessment table above) for the final thesis.

By successfully completing an Honours thesis, students will have developed advanced, independent research, written communication and critical analysis skills.

N.B. The 12,000 word limit is inclusive of substantive footnotes. For the avoidance, this will exclude: abstract, table of contents, bibliography, footnote numbers, footnote citation, cover page and include: body text, headings and sub-headings, quotations, anything other than numbers and citations in footnotes. This notice overrides any other provision made elsewhere. 

Assessment criteria

 

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

 

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

 

Result name

Mark range

  Description

High distinction

85 - 100    

  • Contains striking originality of approach or analysis.
  • Demonstrates exhaustive or innovative research.
  • Exceptionally well written, structured and expressed.
  • Is otherwise exceptional in some way.
  • An Honours Thesis receiving a high distinction grade will generally be of publishable quality. By this it is meant that it provides a solid foundation for development into a      publication, not that it is ready to submit to a journal in the form it was submitted for  assessment.

Distinction

75 - 84

  • Achieves a sustained, critical and evaluative approach to the issues.
  • Content and structure is well organised in support of the argument.
  • Demonstrates extensive research and analysis to support a well-documented argument.
  • Generally well expressed and free from errors.
  • Has a clear structure and is well articulated.

Credit

65 - 74

  • Covers main issues fairly well.
  • Contains no significant errors
  • Demonstrates an attempted critical approach to the issues.
  • Demonstrates reasonably sound research and analysis in addressing the key issues.
  • Has a clear structure and reasonably clear expression.

Pass

50 - 64

  • Identifies the key issues, but does not follow through with a reasoned argument.
  • Contains some significant errors.
  • Displays satisfactory engagement with the key issues.
  • Offers descriptive summary of material relevant to the issues.
  • Superficial use of material and may display a tendency to paraphrase.
  • Demonstrates little evidence of in-depth research or analysis.
  • Adequate expression.
  • Overall, demonstrates the minimum level of competence in the assessment.

Fail

0 - 49

  • Contains significant or numerous errors.
  • Few or no identifiable arguments.
  • Content that is inappropriate or irrelevant.
  • Lack of research or analysis.
  • Difficult or impossible to understand through poor grammar, expression or structure.
  • Overall, does not demonstrate the minimum level of competence in the assessment.

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The late submission of a piece of assessment, without an approved extension, will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment per calendar day or part thereof. For example, a submission after 12pm noon and by 11.59pm on the due date will attract a 10% penalty. A submission after midnight of the due date for submission will attract a 20% penalty. A submission on the following day after midnight will attract a 30% penalty, and so on.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Pre-semester Induction workshop to be held on 2 to 4 p.m. on Thursday 28 July 2022. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: An induction workshop will be held at the beginning of each semester. This workshop is compulsory but not assessed. It will include an introduction to the unit of study, a session on referencing and academic honesty and a library research skills session.
  • Word count 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 word limit is inclusive of substantive footnotes. For the avoidance, this will exclude: abstract, table of contents, bibliography, footnote numbers, footnote citation, cover page and include: body text, headings and sub-headings, quotations, anything other than numbers and citations in footnotes. 
  • Referencing: The Sydney Law School expects you to use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) for your footnoting style, and a link to the library website where this is set out comprehensively is available at https://libguides.library.usyd.edu.au/c.php?g=508212&p=3476376

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Australian Guide to Legal Citation, 4th ed (2018).

Additional relevant readings will be guided by the research project being undertaken.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. develop advanced, independent research skills by undertaking a supervised project on a topic of the student's own choosing
  • LO2. develop further advanced skills of independent, critical analysis
  • LO3. develop further advanced written communication skills

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Staff in this unit constantly review and reflect upon the content of the unit in light of student feedback.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.