LAWS6330: Fundamentals of Regulation

In this unit, students can choose from a range of assessment tasks (set out below). The combination they choose must add up to 100% of their final mark.

Class Presentation (20%): Students will present on a topic from a list made available on Canvas by Monday 19 August, 2024, at 4pm (Sydney, Australia time). Students may use PowerPoint or similar presentation tools in a way that supports their presentation. However, these will only be assessed as described in the marking criteria provided in Canvas. Presentations must be no longer than 10 minutes, with additional time given for responding to questions.

NOTE: Because of timetabling there is a limit of eight in-class presentations. This means that only eight students can give presentations during the unit. Students must sign up to give a presentation, on a first-come, first-served basis, via a sign-up sheet that will be released on Canvas. Once the eight presentation times are filled, no other students will be able to sign up to present. 

Presentations will be delivered in class on the day and time scheduled for the discussion of the topic that the presentation relates to. Further details and marking criteria will be made available via Canvas.

Short Response Question (20%): Students will choose one question from a list provided on Canvas by Monday 19 August, 2024, at 4pm (Sydney, Australia time) and write a 2000-word response (excluding references/footnotes). Students who choose to complete this task must submit their responses via Canvas no later than Monday 14 October, 2024, at 4pm (Sydney, Australia time). Further details and marking criteria will be discussed in class and made available via Canvas.

NOTE: Students may answer a maximum of two short response questions at 2000-words (excluding references/footnotes) each for a combined 40%. Both assignments are due at Monday 14 October, 2024, at 4pm (Sydney, Australia time) at the latest.

Regulatory Critique (40%): In this task, students will research a current regulatory regime, enforcement policy, or corporate social responsibility strategy and, in 3000-words (excluding references/footnotes) summarise its history and context and either, justify its current operation, or suggest how it could be reformed (or a combination of the two). A list of potential regimes to examine will be made available to students via Canvas by Monday 19 August at 4pm (Sydney, Australia time). However, students are encouraged to choose a regulatory regime, enforcement policy, or corporate social responsibility strategy they are familiar with or that they are interested in. Critiques must be submitted via Canvas no later than Monday 28 October, 2024 at 4pm (Sydney, Australia time). Further details and marking criteria will be discussed in class and made available via Canvas.

Essay (60%): Students will research a topic of their choosing and present their findings in a 5000-word answer (excluding references/footnotes). While students may draw on their own interests or background, it is important that the essay demonstrates familiarity with the course material and the readings. The essay must also develop a thesis or argument rather than just being descriptive. Students should determine their topic and submit a brief outline with their main thesis/argument via Canvas no later than Monday 14 October, 2024 at 4pm (Sydney, Australia time). The word limit for the essay outline is 500 words, excluding references. The final essay should be submitted via Canvas no later than Monday 11 November, 2024, at 4pm (Sydney, Australia time). Further details and marking criteria will be discussed in class and made available via Canvas.

Essay (80%): Students will research a topic of their choosing and present their findings in a 7000-word answer (excluding references/footnotes). While students may draw on their own interests or background, it is important that the essay demonstrates familiarity with the course material and the readings. The essay must also develop a thesis or argument rather than just being descriptive. Students should determine their topic and submit a brief outline with their main thesis/argument via Canvas no later than Monday 14 October, 2024 at 4pm (Sydney, Australia time). The word limit for the essay outline is 500 words, excluding references. The final essay should be submitted via Canvas no later than Monday 11 November, 2024 at 4pm (Sydney, Australia time). Further details and marking criteria will be discussed in class and made available via Canvas.

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

Use of editors or proof-readers: In completing unsupervised assessments, students may use editors, proof-readers, and automated writing tools (including translation software, grammar checkers, reference generators and artificial intelligence), provided that all use is acknowledged and consistent with University policies and procedures including Academic Integrity Policy. Acknowledgment must be made in writing on the front of the work submitted for assessment, or in an appropriate footnote or other reference, and state the name of the person or software.   

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 all written assessments will exclude references, and acknowledgements of permissible assistance from editors, automated writing tools or generative AI (where use is permitted).

Assessment requirement to pass a unit of study: A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks they have chosen to complete for this unit 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.