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Unit of study_

SCMU4611: Dissertation Seminar

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

As part of doing an Honours year in the BMus degree, you are required to write a dissertation on an original topic area. In most cases, this topic area will align in some way with the Portfolio area covered in SCMU4601 Music Honours Portfolio. Dissertation Seminar provides a structure for you to start the process of researching and writing up your topic, in a group-learning based environment. Research and high-level academic writing skills are also covered.

Unit details and rules

Unit code SCMU4611
Academic unit
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Charles Fairchild, charles.fairchild@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Helen Mitchell, helen.mitchell@sydney.edu.au
Charles Fairchild, charles.fairchild@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Ongoing assessment
Students pass this unit if they satisfactorily complete all tasks.
100% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Assessment summary

  • Completion of required tasks (100%): students must complete regular written tasks and give one class presentation. See Canvas for details.

Assessment criteria

Work submitted for this unit is not graded, but is given feedback and pass/fail. This is in line with aim of the unit to support students towards successful completion of their honours dissertation.

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.

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.

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
Week 01 Introduction, discussion of the honours dissertation, library revision Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 1. Managing your time, your supervisor, and developing a thesis; 2. Working titles and Prospective Abstract – two exemplars humanities and empirical Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 03 1. Presentation and citation: skilling up in Word and Endnote; 2. Structuring the Table of Contents Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Thesis planning and key figures in your research area Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 1. Academic integrity; 2. Determining and writing up the methodology Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Research data management and research ethics Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Building your argument, writing successfully Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Finding your own voice and keeping your message on track Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Draft chapter workshop Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Presenting work in progress 1 Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Presenting work in progress 2 Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Presenting work in progress 3 Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to attend all sessions.

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.

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. demonstrate a clear understanding of how to undertake research for and complete your honours dissertation
  • LO2. clearly, confidently and articulately present your research to your peers in both written and oral forms
  • LO3. produce written research outputs of a high and consistently improving quality
  • LO4. skilfully navigate and discuss the literature in your research area

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.

This is the first time this unit has been offered under this unit of study code, and has been merged with seminars for honours students in other music disciplines.

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.