Students in this course will learn to:

Knowledge:

1. Explain and apply the general principles of scholarly research.

2. Articulate critical distinctions between different ‘systems of inquiry’ in which scholarly research may be undertaken

3. Discern and select appropriate strategies and tactics for conducting a rigorous academic or professional research project

4. Outline and develop the structure, content, and critical criteria of a comprehensive proposal for a substantial research project at a graduate/professional level relevant to current and future issues in the environmental design disciplines.

Skills:

5. Abstract and analyse complex questions in a clear and logical manner

6. Write cogently and succinctly using the conventional language of scholarly inquiry.

7. Identify and review relevant literature for a particular research topic in a methodical but strategic manner

8. Critique the work of peers objectively and constructively

Values

9. Exercise a rigorous and ethical approach to research

Ther is no prescribed texts or resoiurces for this course

A link to the following electronic resourcecan be accessed under ‘Information’ on the MyUni on-line-learning site for this course:

Research: Chapter 1 from Architectural Research Methods (Groat and Wang)

See also the following links:

Research methods: http://www.unisa.edu.au/ltu/student/research/
Writing an abstract: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/clpd/all/download/Writing%20an%20abstract.pdf
Writing: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/clpd/all/download/Writing%20a%20research%20report.pdf
http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/llsu/resources/writing.html
Referencing: http://www.usq.edu.au/library/help/ehelp/ref_guides/harvard.htm
Proofreading: http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/proofing.html
Plagiarism: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/llsu/pdf/flyers/reference/ref008.pdf
An annotated bibliography: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill28.htm



Books in the reserve collection in the Barr Smith library:

Clare, J., & Hamilton, H. (Eds.). (2003). Writing research: Transforming data into text. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone [BSL 808.042 C5913w]

Evans, D., &Gruba. P. (2002). How to write a better thesis. 2nd Ed. Carlton South, Vic.: MelbourneUniversity Press. [808.02 E925h]

Locke, L. F., Spirduso, W. W., & Silverman, S. J. (2007). Proposals that work: A guide for planning dissertations and grant proposals. 5th Ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. [808.066 L814p.5]

Swales, J. M., &Feak, C. M. (2004). Academic writing for graduate students: Essential tasks and skills: A course for non-native speakers of English. 2nd Ed. Ann Arbor, MI : University of Michigan Press. [BSL 808.042 S971a].

Swales, J. M., &Feak, C. M. (2000). English in today’s research world: A writing guide. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press. [BSL 808.042 S971e]



Academic Support:

The Professions Learning Centre (PLC) provides postgraduate coursework students of the Faculty of Professions free academic skills advice on critical analysis and structuring assignments, paraphrasing, referencing, oral presentation skills and other skills to assist with success at university. You are encouraged to take advantage of the service to enable you to improve your performance in your studies. To contact a Learning Advisor please send an email to professions.learningcentre@adelaide.edu.au.

All course communication outside of scheduled teaching contact hours will be handled through the MyUni website for this course. Students should routinely check the course website and their university e-mail accounts for any general 'Announcements' issued through MyUni. Individual e-mail messages may also be issued to students by course instructors and coordinator from the MyUni ‘grade centre’.
 
All assignments shall be submitted online to the MyUni ‘grade centre’, through which all assessment and feedback will also be issued

Course Website: www.myuni.adelaide.edu.au

University Email:
The school uses the University email system to get in touch with the students. So it is imperative that you check your email regularly and keep up to date with any new announcements.

Noticeboard / Handbook:
General information about the activities at the School is available online from the Student Noticeboard which can be accessed at https://unified.adelaide.edu.au/group/professons-student-architecture/current-student. Students can also access a copy of the Student Handbook at the following link:http://architecture.adelaide.edu.au/pdf/final-2012-Arch-handbook.pdf

This course has a very strong emphasis on student centred learning and formative assessment. Seminars will feature intensive small group discussions, developing and applying material covered in lectures to current assignments. Timely completion and submission of assignments will be crucial to the effectiveness of the seminar style tutorial sessions, and the formative assessment and skills development they will provide.

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The University expects full-time students (ie. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote at
least 48 hours per week to their studies. Accordingly, students undertaking this 3 unit course are expected to devote 12 hours per weekto contact activities and self-guided studies.

Based on this framework here are some figures that might assist workload management:
Total workload hours: 12 Hrs per week x 13 weeks = 156 Hrs
Total contact hours: 3 Hrs per week x 12 weeks = 36 Hrs
Total self-guided study: 156 Hrs – 36 Hrs = 120 Hrs

These 120 hours should be used towards preparation of weekly tasks and for completion of the various assignments associated with the course, including development of various skills requiredto complete the same. Please organise your time wisely.

NOTE: The lecture content and assignment load of this course is concentrated in the first two thirds of the semester, to enable students to devote the final weeks to their parallel studio courses. To ensure the efficacy of small-group teaching contact, students will also meet intensively with designated tutors in smaller one-hour weekly seminar sessions, the schedule for which will be issued in wk1.

WEEK	LECTURE	SEMINAR
1	lecture 1 (Intro)	What is research?
2	lecture 2	elements of a research project
3	lecture 3	Why?: literature review
4	lecture 4	annotating a bibliography
5	lecture 5	How?: research strategies and tactics
6	lecture 6	(no seminar contact)
	teaching break (2 weeks)
7	lecture 7	writing and communicating research
8	(no lecture)	(no seminar)
9	Lecture 8 (final)	workshop: peer-reviewing research quality
10	(no lecture)	final seminar: individual consultations

Students are required to attend the School’s occasional ‘Speaker Series’ of public lectures on Tuesday evenings throughout the semester. Theoretical topics and design research discussed in these lectures will be assumed knowledge that students will be expected to engage in their seminar discussions and assignments.

(not applicable to this course)

Assignment	Type	Due	Weight	Learining Outcome
1	formative	week 1 seminar	(5)	1,5,6,9
2	formative	week 2 seminar	5	1,5,6,9
3	formative	week 4 seminar	15	1,2,5,6,7,9
4	formative	week 7 seminar	30	1,2,3,4,5,6,9
5	formative	week 9 (in-seminar wrkshp)	10	1,5,6,8,9
6	summative	week 12 (school office)	40	1,2,3,45,6,7,9

General Assessment Criteria (these apply to all assignments)
Evidence of understanding and conformity to ‘Research writing conventions’. This is based on assessment of conventional features of academic writing in English such as would be appropriate for readers in the scholarly disciplines of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, including:

• sentences and paragraphs which conform to the University’s policies on plagiarism and the production of independent research writing
• follow academic expectations in terms of spelling, punctuation and paragraphing, logical flow of ideas, scholarly integration of published literature
• consistency in presentation of bibliographical citation and referencing.
  
  
  Assignment 1: Three potential research topics
  
  Task: Prepare ONE A4 sheet outlining 3 possible topics for a small research project that could be undertaken by you in a time-frame of 6-8 months. For each topic provide a title, and a brief (approximately one paragraph) explanatory statement of the ‘topic’ or ‘problem’ to be explored and probable sources of evidence and/or information to be examined, 
  
  
  Assignment 2: Research topic title + summary (200 words)
  
  Task: Focusing on a single topic, provide a title for the projected research, and summarise the aims, significance and expected outcomes in a concise ‘abstract’ of no more than 200 words.
  
  
  Assignment 3: Research Summary + Annotated Bibliography (100+500 or more words)
  
  Task: Prepare a further revised and refined project summary of just 100 words this time, as well as an annotated preliminary bibliography (5 x 100 words or more) identifying and briefly assessing at least 5 sources pertinent to the research topic and/or methods.
  
  
  Assignment 4: Research Summary + Draft Project Outline (100+1,500 words)
  
  Task: Further revise and polish the concise (100 word) summary and prepare an initial ‘Project Outline’ of 1500 words according to the following headings:
  
  
  
  Project Outline (based on University of Adelaide Research Proposal Proforma and section of the prescribed Research Statement Proforma for this course):
  1 Introductory background
  2 Research questions
  3 Aims/Objectives of the project
  4 Significance/Contribution of the Research
  5 Theoretical framework and methods
  
  Assignment 5: Peer Review Report
  
  Task: Peer review a fellow student’s draft project summary and outline using a prescribed proforma (to be provided in the wk9 seminar session). 
  
  
  Assignment 6: Final Research Project Statement (Title+100+2,500 words+)
  
  Task: Review and polish your project title and (100 word) summary one last time, and further revise, extend and develop your ‘Project Outline’ in detail to a final length of 2500 words (max), following the specifications for section 3 of the prescribed ‘Research Statement Proforma’ for this course (see document attached and/or downloadable from MyUni). 
  
  NOTE: The final submission must be presented as a complete ‘Research Statement’ including brief entries under all additional sections of the prescribed ‘Research Statement Proforma’, including a complete list of references and bibliography (section 8).
  
   

See 'Assessment Summary' (above) for submission dates and weightings.

All assignmnets are to be submitted online through the grade centre on the MyUni website for the course by 9:00am on the due date.

Hard copies of all submssiosns are also required to be brought to the student's regular seminar session on the due date for discussion with tutors and peers.