Outline

Overview

The unit will cover the following topics: higher degree by research students, supervisors and the School; refining your thesis - lessons from the strategy; developing/locating your thesis - lessons from the strategy; comparative law techniques; using international law materials; using historical materials/methods; conceptualising and researching the law in action; narratives, interviews, case-studies and other 'selective' forms of analysis; quantitative research methods - common pitfalls; quantitative research methods - forms of presentation and analysis; current problems in research and presentation; current problems II; and overview and review.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	LAWS7001
Academic unit	Law
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	LAWS6077
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Terry Carney, terry.carney@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Participation	Class participation Class participation	0%	Ongoing	Ongoing
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Thesis re-statement exercise Written assignment	10%	Week 05 Due date: 30 Aug 2023 at 18:00 Closing date: 30 Aug 2023	4 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Dissertation	Thesis chapter of core argument Thesis chapter	80%	Week 06 Due date: 29 Mar 2024 at 20:00 Closing date: 29 Mar 2024	At least chapter length
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Clear writing exercise Short writing exercise	10%	Week 11 Due date: 18 Oct 2023 at 18:00 Closing date: 18 Oct 2023	One page
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Synopsis (half page)(Non-weighted) A short (half page) synopsis of what is proposed for the thesis chapter.	0%	Week 13 Due date: 01 Nov 2023 at 20:00 Closing date: 01 Nov 2023	Half page synopsis
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Class participation (Non-graded): Students are expected to attend classes, to do any advance reading that may be set, and to be highly actively involved in discussion.
Thesis re-statement exercise (10%): Candidates will be required to re-state their thesis, and its structure, in a concise outline form by 6pm Wednesday 30 August 2023.
Clear writing exercise (10%): Candidates are required to redraft a test passage. The test passage will be released 11 October and due 6pm 18 October 2023
Thesis chapter of core argument (80%): The principal assessment task is to prepare by May of the following year a late draft of the thesis chapter which best articulates the basis of the argument, its relationship to previous research, and the structure of the analysis. The purpose of the exercise is to encourage deep-level substantive work on issues at the core of the thesis topic. A short (half page) synopsis of what is proposed in terms of the thesis chapter should be submitted for approval before 8pm on 1 November 2023.

Word Count penalty: No word count penalties apply, because assessment tasks are tailored to the particular thesis of the candidate (the Core Chapter) or involve very short tasks (thesis restatement and plain language redrafting of a passage) where economy of language is at a premium. As for the final dissertation, candidates are expected to include text and references in word counts, excluding only preliminary matter and appendices.

Use of editors or proof-readers: The use of assistance (including the use of Studiosity) in preparing and editing assessment tasks in this unit of study is permitted on condition that all sources of assistance are expressly acknowledged and identified in a footnote at the start of the task. Academic Integrity Policy 2022 Clause 16 restricts allowable assistance to copy-editing, proof-reading, advice about structure, grammar, syntax, clear language, etc. Sources of assistance may include other people and automated writing tools. When acknowledging a source of assistance, you must state the name of the person or software, a brief description of the nature of the assistance, and the person’s current or former area of specialization or expertise (where relevant) 16(6)(b).

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.

Assessment criteria

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of clear HDR standard, a distinction a very high HDR standard, a credit a good HDR standard but with significant work needed, and a pass a less than acceptable standard. All grades need to be understood in the context of the detailed written feedback provided when material is returned to the candidate with that grade attached

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Work receiving a high distinction grade will exhibit the characteristic that it demonstrates very strong HDR thesis level performance (for the requisite thesis level) and/or confidence in thesis planning and execution, including but not limited to: • its originality of thesis argument, methodological approach and analysis. • its exhaustive or innovative research. • its high proportion of publishable quality writing.
Distinction	75 - 84	Work receiving a distinction grade will generally exhibit high level attainment of or potential to reach all qualities relevant to the HDR thesis in question, but will have identified deficiencies that require to be rectified in order confidently to be assured of realising those qualities in the final thesis.
Credit	65 - 74	Work receiving a credit grade will generally reflect retention of confidence that a viable HDR thesis of the requisite standard is ultimately realisable, but that serious and potentially fatal deficiencies currently appear across one or more relevant thesis attributes, the rectification of which is vital.
Pass	50 - 64	Work receiving a pass grade will lack sufficient evidence of doctoral qualities or potential to achieve those standards in the future as to call for fundamental reconsideration, development of capacities or other quite major improvements in a thesis that on current indications is headed towards failure at assessment. The pass grade is applied because the unit is a support seminar and the grade indications and other advice provided during the course are designed to enable the candidate to regain the qualities relevant to HDR level thesis work
Fail	0 - 49	A fail grade, which would effectively require repeating of the unit, and perhaps termination or suspension of candidature, is rarely ever considered. Instead a very low pass grade is the preferred way of conveying that assessment to the candidate.

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 an assignment task will not attract a mark reduction by way of a penalty but, depending on the delay, a late thesis chapter may need to be submitted in the next teaching of the subject (with the unit result being withheld in the meantime). Students should contact Professor Carney if they are unable to submit an assignment on time.

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	1. Introduction to the unit; 2. Refining/locating your thesis: What is your thesis?	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 02	Higher degree research: coping with a thesis, and the supervisor/student dynamic	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 03	Kinds of writing in a thesis: what are the different ‘kinds’ of writing and what ‘work’ do they do in a thesis?	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 04	Methodological calibration 1: differing degrees of sophistication of comparative methods	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 05	Methodological calibration 2: differing levels of historical methodology	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 06	Problem-solving in dissertation writing 1	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 07	Evaluating thesis data: what are the lessons to draw from evaluating legal institutions or law in action?	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 08	Problem-solving in dissertation writing 2	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 09	The “shape” of the thesis: does your thesis differ from the science model	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 10	Clear legal writing workshop	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 11	Writing up: logistical and psychological challenges of achieving timely completions	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 12	Good beginnings: challenges of writing compelling opening and closing paragraphs	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 13	Overview	Seminar (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: All students are required to attend 70% of classes (or as otherwise specified by the Unit Coordinator) to satisfy the pass requirements for each unit of study. Failure to meet this requirement may result in a student being precluded from sitting the final assessment.
Word Count penalty: No word count penalties apply, because assessment tasks are tailored to the particular thesis of the candidate (the Core Chapter) or involve very short tasks (thesis restatement and plain language redrafting of a passage) where economy of language is at a premium. As for the final dissertation, candidates are expected to include text and references in word counts, excluding only preliminary matter and appendices.
Referencing: Referencing should follow an accepted legal referencing style guide such as the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) or OSCOLO, or an Author date in-text referencing style (such as Harvard Social Science) as previously agreed earlier in the candidature.

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 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Please refer to the Reading List in Canvas.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. develop greater understanding and command over the central argument(s) of the dissertation
LO2. develop an understanding of HDR supervisory and associated supports and how to self-manage to tap other needed resources
LO3. develop advanced understanding of how to attune the thesis methodology to meet the depth and sophistication levels required to sustain each particular thesis
LO4. develop a deep appreciation of the rigor required in evaluating material adequately to make and defend a thesis argument rather than simply assert it
LO5. develop skills in solving problems encountered over the course of the thesis through workshopping your own and hearing how others resolve their issues
LO6. develop advanced skills in scholarly writing, including effective introductions, linking of material, and the overall weighting or balance of material across a dissertation
LO7. develop effective capacities to self-manage the logistical challenges of managing material, time and emotional pressures over the course of the thesis
LO8. be well advanced towards completion of final drafts of at least one of the heavy lifting ‘core argument’ chapters of the thesis

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

Unchanged

Additional information

Resources - Sydney Law Students

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

LAWS7001: Legal Research 2

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal evening] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect