MECO6935: Semester 1, 2020

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Units MECO6935 Semester 1 2020 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

MECO6935: Professional Project

Overview

This capstone unit is designed for students' final semester of study, providing them with the opportunity to apply learning from their degree to the completion of a researched project relevant to their career goals. Working with the coordinator, students choose an academic essay, industry report, media campaign or journalism project. Learning is supported by training in literature reviewing and data collection, research methods, project planning and independent consultations.

Details

Academic unit	Media and Communications
Unit code	MECO6935
Unit name	Professional Project
Session, year ?	Semester 1, 2020
Attendance mode	Normal day
Location	Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Credit points	6

Enrolment rules

Prohibitions ?	MECO6904 or MECO6905 or MECO6928 or MECO6939
Prerequisites ?	48 credit points from Digital Communication & Cultures or Media Practice or Health Communication or Strategic Public Relations or Publishing degree tables
Corequisites ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff and contact details

Coordinator	Cherry Baylosis, cherry.baylosis@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Tim Koskie , t.koskie@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Christopher Hall, christopher.hall@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Reflection Essay Reflection essay	20%	Mid-semester exam period Due date: 07 Jun 2020 at 09:25	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Project presentation Project proposal. Video upload option for approved students.	10%	Week 04	3 - 5 mins.
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Project proposal Project proposal report	20%	Week 08 Due date: 24 Apr 2019 at 23:59	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	In-class presentation Project presentation. Due weeks 12 & 13. Video upload available.	10%	Week 12	5 - 10 mins
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research essay Major project	40%	Week 14 (STUVAC) Due date: 31 May 2020 at 23:59	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Please note all assignments must be submitted. Failure to submit a assessments can result in automatic failure of unit.

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
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/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:

5% penalty per day

Special consideration

If you experience short-term circumstances beyond your control, such as illness, injury or misadventure or if you have essential commitments which impact your preparation or performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic honesty, academic dishonesty, 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 dishonesty or plagiarism seriously.

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

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to the unit	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 02	Researching your topic: the different genres	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 03	Reviewing the literature: Searching for sources	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 04	Proposal presentations (in class)	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 05	Developing a question: Writing a focused research question, identifying your assumptions, and conceptualising an answer.	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 06	Targeting your investigation: Industry, text, audience, writing to persuade, methods: qualitative versus quantitative, collecting data	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 07	Analysing data and literature findings: Interpreting data, and ethical frameworks	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 08	1. Project planning: Self-evaluation and reflection 2. Scheduling consultations and presentations	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 09	One-on-one consultations	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 10	One-on-one consultations	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 11	One-on-one consultations	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 12	Project presentations	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 13	Project presentations	Seminar (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. For students unable to attend class due to extuating circumstances (e.g., travel ban), you will be expected to participate in online discussions and activities each week. Please refer to Canvas for specific information. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience if you are are able to attend class.
Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

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

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

Recommended text: Discovering Arguments: An Introduction to Critical Thinking, Writing, and Style (4th Edition) by William Palmer
Students will be expected to engage with additional readings in line with their project and discipline

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. demonstrate an understanding of a particular section of your chosen industry to identify and assess work in the appropriate genre
LO2. demonstrate the use and value of research and analysis in responding to potential or emerging communication problems and opportunities
LO3. effectively apply strategic and creative communication skills to complex challenges and opportunities
LO4. exercise critical judgement in relation to assessing possible solutions or treatments
LO5. demonstrate initiative in engaging with industry professionals (where applicable) and apply learning in a practice environment
LO6. use information in critical, creative and scholarly thinking.

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

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Current students

Overview

Details

Enrolment rules

Teaching staff and contact details

Assessment

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Special consideration

Academic integrity

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Closing the loop

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