Outline

Overview

Social Justice Dissertation Part 1 is the first part of a two-semester dissertation project. The project involves research and writing of a 12, 000 words dissertation, on an approved topic of the student's choice and under the supervision of an academic member of staff. Candidates must enrol in both units of study.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	SOJU6901
Academic unit	Sociology and Criminology
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	HRTD6908 or DVST6911 or PACS6904 or SCLG6906
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Jake Lynch, jake.lynch@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Participation	Class participation Participation/contribution to seminars	0%	Ongoing	continuing
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Student Research Proposal Presentations Presentation of research proposal drafts for feedback	0%	Week 09	10 minutes + 15 minutes discussion
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research Proposal (written) Submission of a written research proposal	0%	Week 12 Due date: 27 Oct 2023 at 23:59	2,500 words (minimum)
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

1. Seminar Participation

Participation in class discussions and evidence of progression in independent research will be essential for full seminar participation. Ongoing reading of recommended readings, suggested above, and of readings relevant to the student’s chosen research topic will be essential for understanding and contributing to seminar discussions, as well as in preparation for completion of the research proposal and eventually the dissertation.

Students undertaking the dissertation by distance will be required to join the seminars via the Collaborate platform (similar to skype).

2. Research Proposal Presentation 10min + 10min discussion Due: weeks 9 and 10

Presenting research proposals in class offers students the opportunity to practice these important skills (as you may do at a conference, for example). It is also an opportunity to receive feedback from your peers to help you identify and resolve questions or issues related to your proposed research question, research design, etc. Students are free to choose a format for their presentation, such as Prezi, PowerPoint, simple verbal presentations, multimedia presentations, or any combination of these methods.

Criteria for assessment:

Clarity of structure and articulation of the research question and significance of the study;
Extent and quality of discussion of background literature and identification of relevant and appropriate sources;
Quality of discussion of research design, appropriateness of chosen methodological approach and demonstrated understanding of the relationship between theory, method and research design;
Engagement with and comprehension of any ethical issues raised by the study;
Demonstration of reflexivity in regard to supervisor/coordinator feedback on the proposal;
Evidence of critical and reflective research based on a wide variety of sources;
Engagement of class in informed discussion based on the presentation; and
Ability to present a clear, well-organised presentation within the required time limit.

3. Research Proposal 2,500 words Due: week 12

Your Research Proposal should clearly set out the topic and context of your research and why it is important; include the proposed research question; explain how you will conduct your research; and demonstrate a preliminary understanding of the literature and key issues relevant to your topic. Putting care and thought into developing a clear research proposal will be very helpful to you in keeping on track during the research process. For more guidance on developing your Research Proposal, see the MSJ Dissertation Guide.

*NB – before submitting your research proposal you should have had at least two meetings with your supervisor and have secured their approval of the proposal.

Criteria for assessment:

Clarity of structure and articulation of the research question and its significance;
Extent and quality of discussion of background literature and identification of relevant and appropriate sources;
Quality of discussion of research design, appropriateness of chosen methodological approach and demonstrated understanding of the relationship between theory, method and research design;
Engagement with and comprehension of any ethical issues raised by the proposed study;
Consistency and accuracy of referencing, absence of typographical and grammatical errors and clarity of expression;
Evidence of critical and reflective research based on a wide variety of sources; and
Ability to develop and present a coherent argument within the required word limit.

Assessment criteria

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

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:

See Canvas for late penalties

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 02	Researching and Writing a Social Justice Dissertation	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 03	Intro to Social Research Methods and Ethical Research Principles	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 09	Student Research Proposal Presentations	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 10	Student Research Proposal Presentations 2	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 12	Moving Forward with the Research Journey	Seminar (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

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. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

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

The recommended text for SOJU6901/6905 is The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project (O’Leary, 2014). The book is available through Fisher Library 2hr loans and some sections will be used as handouts in classes, or made available electronically via Canvas. If you do wish to purchase the book, you can do so via Book Depository which delivers worldwide for free.

The text provides a general overview of the main issues you are likely to encounter during the development and writing of your social justice dissertation. You may read it from beginning to end, or use it as a resource for looking up specific topics as and when needed.

As you progress with the development of your research design and methodology, you are likely to require the support of more specialised sources. The suggested readings below could start you up with some ideas, though are by no means a comprehensive list on research methodologies.

In addition to learning how 'to do research', you will need to engage also in detailed study and reading specific to your research topic. Overall, you should put aside at least 1 day every week to research and writing during SOJU6901, and 1-2 days per week when undertaking SOJU6902. If taking the two units in the same semester you should allocate 3 days per week to your work on the dissertation.

Recommended reading

O’Leary, Z. (2014) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project, 2nd ed. London: SAGE.

Companion website: www.sagepub.co.uk/oleary2e

Further reading

Denzin, N. and Y. Lincoln, eds. (2011) The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE.

Liamputtong, P. (2012) Qualitative Research Methods, 4th ed. South Melbourne, VIC.: Oxford University Press.

Neuman, W. L. (2009) Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, 7th Ed. New York: Pearson.

Robson, C. (2011) Real World Research: A Resource for Users of Social Research Methods in Applied Settings, 3rd ed. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley.

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. Plan, and engage in, an independent and sustained critical investigation and evaluation of a chosen research topic relevant to Social Justice themes
LO2. Systematically identify relevant theory and concepts, relate these to appropriate methodologies and evidence, apply appropriate techniques and draw appropriate conclusions
LO3. Engage in systematic discovery and critical review of appropriate and relevant information sources
LO4. Appropriately apply qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation processes to original data
LO5. Understand and apply ethical standards of conduct in the collection and evaluation of data and other resources
LO6. Communicate research concepts and contexts clearly and effectively in writing and orally

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.

This is the first time we offer this unit

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

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

SOJU6901: Social Justice Dissertation Part 1

Semester 2, 2023 [Supervision] - 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

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect