ENGL 4003 - Honours English Thesis

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

The Honours English Thesis provides an opportunity to undertake advanced level literary research in the discipline of English. The aim of the course is to enable students to explore a specialised literary topic of their own choice and to develop high-order research and writing skills appropriate to its study. Topics to be covered in the two hour thesis writing workshop each week may include advanced library research methods; the conventions of the research proposal, literature review, thesis argumentation and abstract in the discipline of English; key scholarly approaches to literary research and the assumptions that inform them. Students will also confer with their individual supervisors each week across the semester.

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Course Details

Course Code	ENGL 4003
Course	Honours English Thesis
Coordinating Unit	English, Creative Writing, and Film
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	12
Contact	2 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Prerequisites	Completed degree (72 units) including 24 units of English OR a Minor sequence of 18 units in English for students with a Creative Writing Major of 24 units
Restrictions	Available only to students admitted to relevant Honours program
Assessment	15,000 word thesis (100%)

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Professor Andrew van der Vlies

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Engage with a topic in English Studies through analysis of a selection of of texts, debates, theories and methodologies.

2. Develop and demonstrate use of high-order research skills in literary studies.

3. Prepare coherently and logically argued written material demonstrating effective engagement with analytical and methodological approaches to English Studies.

4. Plan, research, organise and complete a long-form written assessment (15,000 words).

5. Engage in workshop discussions, present material in draft, comment on others' drafts, and facilitate workshop discussion.

6. Collaborate effectively with peers in group discussion of texts, theories, and methodologies.

7. Explore and utilise contemporary digital resources relevant to the preparation and completion of assessment tasks.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	3, 5, 6, 7
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	1, 2, 6
Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.	1
Attribute 7: Digital capabilities Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.	6, 7
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	5, 6, 7

Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

Regular workshops and consultations with convenor, regular meetings with individual supervisors.

Workload

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

Workload expectation: 48 hours per week, including 2 hour workshop, and additional hours devoted to reading, planning, and preparation of research thesis.

Learning Activities Summary

Contact Hours: 2-hour workshop and writing sessions

Workshops: weeks 1-7

The aim of the workshops is to provide opportunities for students to consider the methodological and intellectual context of thesis topics, as well as the process of writing. The workshops will address the practicalities of developing and writing an Honours thesis. Participation each week may include written work, oral presentations, and group discussion.

In week 8, each student will present their research in a Departmental version of the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT). Developed by the University of Queensland, 3MT is a research communication competition that challenges research students to communicate the significance of their projects without the use of props or industry jargon, in just three minutes. The exercise develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of research students’ capacity to quickly explain their research in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience leaving them wanting to know more. One PowerPoint slide is permitted per presentation.

During weeks 9 – 12 (after the university break), you will be expected to be completing your thesis projects without regular structured workshop support, though the convenor will remain available for individual consultations by arrangement, and the regular class sessions can be used as writing-group workshops.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Students will complete a thesis of no more than 15,000 words.

Assessment Detail

Over the course of the year, each student will produce a supervised thesis of 15,000 words, which comprises 50% of the Honours weighting. The entire thesis should not exceed 15,000 words, including footnotes or endnotes, but excluding Abstract, Appendices, and Works Cited.

This is a summative assessment and is double marked by an academic who is not your supervisor, and an external marker, who agree a final grade.

Submission

The deadline for submission is 5pm on Monday 23 October 2023 (week 12) [note revised deadline]. Extensions are not normally available except under special circumstances (e.g. continuing, serious illness during the semester). Applications for extensions should be made in writing to the Honours Convenor, before the submission date and with supporting documentation (e.g. medical certificates), in line with MACA guidelines.

Late submission of the Honours thesis, where no extension has been granted, incur a penalty of 3% per day late, up to a limit of two weeks.

Students should follow the Department’s Guide to Referencing, available on the Department of English, Creative Writing, and Film webpage and from outside the office, for handling referencing, formatting, and style of the Bibliography.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M11 (Honours Mark Scheme)
Grade	Grade reflects following criteria for allocation of grade	Reported on Official Transcript
Fail	A mark between 1-49	F
Third Class	A mark between 50-59	3
Second Class Div B	A mark between 60-69	2B
Second Class Div A	A mark between 70-79	2A
First Class	A mark between 80-100	1
Result Pending	An interim result	RP
Continuing	Continuing	CN

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
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Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator