Research Essay Outline  (15%): Students are required to include a summary of the research proposal (for their essay – see below) of no more than 1000 words that includes a specific research question; discussion of the research topic; a preliminary list of research resources, including a description and relevance (annotated bibliography) of at least 8 articles, cases or books.This will be due at 9am on 18 September 2021. For word count limits, see Additional information tab.

Research outline presentation (10%): Students will be required to do a presentation accompanying their proposal to the class in a 15-20 minute presentation involving powerpoint slides. This will be due at 9am on 18 September 2021.

Research Essay (70%): This is a research essay assignment. You are required complete and submit an essay on the topic which you have chosen. These topics covered will be available in the Reading Guide. Your essay may be no more than 6,000 words in length (size 12, Times New Roman font). For rules relating to word limits, see Additional Information tab.

The originality and insightfulness of your essay topic, the quality of the argument/s you make, the demonstration of critical thinking, the research skills you demonstrate, the quality of your referencing and the clarity of your written communication and expression are all relevant parts of the assignment and will all be considered in marking. This will be due at 9am on 31 October 2021.

Class Participation (5%): The lecturer will note if you are present and will assess your level of participation in class exercises and discussion.

Class exercises and discussions are designed to improve students’ legal problem-solving skills and their ability to engage in critical analysis of issues and applying the law in each context or scenario. Participation marks provide a basis for assessing students’ ability to intelligently discuss and debate the law and its application to basic problems. Participation marks also assess students’ oral communication skills.

Attendance alone is not equivalent to participation. Accordingly, you will be assigned one of the following grades, based on evidence of preparation for the class, willingness to engage in discussion, and the quality of your contribution to the discussions: Excellent (75-100%), Good (50-70%), Poor (10-40%) or Zero (0%).​ Please note that these percentages will be converted to a  mark out of 5 for the calculation of your final grade.

• A guide to the award of participation marks is as follows:
  • Zero (0%) – no evidence of preparation or contribution to small group or larger class discussion.
  • Poor (10-40%) – evidence of some preparation but no or very little contribution to small group or larger class discussion; poor quality of contribution displaying little understanding of the issues and demonstrating poor oral communication and legal skills.
  • Good (50-70%) – evidence of good preparation, active contribution to small group discussion; contribution of a quality that displays a reasonable to good understanding of the law, and good oral communication and legal skills.
  • Excellent (75-100%) – evidence of thorough preparation, active contribution to small group discussion and participation in the larger class; high level understanding of the law and critical analysis, evidence of excellent oral and legal skills.

Assessment requirement 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.