HIST 4003 - Honours History Thesis

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2021

In this course students will choose a thesis topic in consultation with their supervisor. Students will attend a Thesis Writing Workshop, devise their research topic, refine their methodology and conduct preliminary research. The thesis will be 15,000 words in length.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code HIST 4003
    Course Honours History Thesis
    Coordinating Unit Historical and Classical Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 12
    Contact 1 hour per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites Completed degree (72 units) including 24 units of History Major
    Restrictions Available only to students admitted to relevant Honours program
    Course Description In this course students will choose a thesis topic in consultation with their supervisor. Students will attend a Thesis Writing Workshop, devise their research topic, refine their methodology and conduct preliminary research. The thesis will be 15,000 words in length.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Paul Sendziuk

    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Demonstrate a detailed and high-level understanding of a particular historiography or historical problem.
    2 Recognise a wide range of methodologies, conceptual approaches and domains of knowledge when applied to the past.
    3 Identify, analyse, evaluate relevant primary and secondary sources to construct evidence based arguments and produce independent historical research.
    4 Think independently and critically about the methodologies that are used by historians, and to apply (and, if necessary, adapt) these methodologies to understanding the past.
    5 Communicate effectively, in a range of spoken and written formats, and to demonstrate a thorough grasp of the scholarly conventions of the discipline of history.
    6 Demonstrate proficiency in the use of a range of contemporary technologies to conduct research, communicate results and communicate with others.
    7 Demonstrate the skills of a historian which are appropriate for performing a range of professional roles, undertaking leadership positions, and sustaining lifelong learning.
    8 Demonstrate a sensitivity to the diversity of historical cultures and the ethical implications of historical enquiry within a global context.
    9 Develop a critical, self-reflective approach to the study of history, based on respect and mutual responsibility.
    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 3,
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    3, 4
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    5, 6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    7
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    8
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    9
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    None.
    Recommended Resources
    Students should take advantage of the library, online databases and resources, and locally based archives and libraries.
    Online Learning
    The course will be supported through MyUni (Canvas). Student collegiality and support may be supported through discussion forums. Students will have access to a wide range of historcial sources online that will aid their research.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The Honours thesis is an independent piece of research conducted by the student. The student is supported by a supervisor with whom they will have regular meetings to provide guidance through this process. Intermittently, there will be group meetings of the honours cohort to provide support and to give students opportunities to discuss their work with their peers.
    Workload

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

    The honours thesis has a workload of 156 hours. Students independently manage their workload, determining how much to allocate to finding and exploring primary sources, secondary reading, methodology and theory, and writing.
    Learning Activities Summary
    The Honours thesis is an independent piece of research conducted by the student. The student is supported by a supervisor with whom they will have regular meetings to provide guidance through this process. Intermittently, there will be group meetings of the honours cohort to provide support and to give students opportunities to discuss their work with their peers.
    Specific Course Requirements
    Students must have completed the History Honours Common Course.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    The Honours thesis is the pinnacle of the small group discovery experience, where students independently research and write a piece of new scholarship, supported by an academic mentor.
  • Assessment

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

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

    Assessment Summary
    The Honours thesis encapsulates the skills of the historian. It is a thesis of c.15,000 words, where students demonstrate their mastery of the course learning outcomes.


    Assessment task Percentage Learning Outcomes
    Thesis (15,000 words) 100% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9


    Assessment Related Requirements
    None.
    Assessment Detail
    The Honours thesis encapsulates the skills of the historian. It is a thesis of c.15,000 words, where students demonstrate their mastery of the course learning outcomes.

    Submission
    Students must submit two copies of the typed and bound thesis. They must also submit the text to Turnitin through MyUni (Canvas).
    Course Grading

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

    M11 (Honours Mark Scheme)
    GradeGrade reflects following criteria for allocation of gradeReported 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
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