CQUniversity Unit Profile
HONS28002 Debates in the Discipline
Debates in the Discipline
All details in this unit profile for HONS28002 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

Debates in the Discipline is the second of the two coursework units in the BA Honours course. The two coursework units provide discipline-context research training for the two subsequent dissertation units. You will acquire advanced research skills in your chosen discipline. Particulars of the learning materials and assessment will be negotiated with relevant staff in the academic discipline. You will engage with the trends, debates and gaps in the literature relevant to a specific Humanities or Arts discipline. In some cases, the output from this unit will be a guided literature review – for others, a guided reflection on creating an artefact creation accompanied by an exegesis or another discipline-specific document.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 8
Credit Points: 12
Student Contribution Band: NDEF
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.25

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2024

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 12-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: Pass/Fail

Assessment Grading

This is a pass/fail (non-graded) unit. To pass the unit, you must pass all of the individual assessment tasks shown in the table above.

Previous Student Feedback
Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Analyse advanced specialist knowledge for a selected discipline
  2. Evaluate discipline relevant problems and the critical debates surrounding them
  3. Communicate knowledge synthesis according to a discipline-specific framework.

n/a

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Written Assessment - 0%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Written Assessment - 0%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • CQU Library hosted Literature Databases
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Michael Hewson Unit Coordinator
m.hewson@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 04 Mar 2024

Module/Topic

Scaffold the assessment.

Chapter

Learning material covers:

- The knowledge synthesis process; examines literature review types and discipline alternates.

- A generic assessment guide and marking standards.

Student supervisor to guide discipline-specific practices in synthesising knowledge (such as a literature review).

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 11 Mar 2024

Module/Topic

The Theory and Practice of Critical Thinking.

Chapter

Learning material includes:

- A range of resources suited to exploring the theoretical and practical aspects of critical evaluation.

- Knowledge synthesis skills - note-taking, databases, journals, other scholarly sources, reference schemes et al.

- The purpose of a literature review (or discipline-specific alternates) and the various types.

- Consistent writing practices.

Student supervisor to provide a reading list that covers:

- The academic discipline: concepts, tropes, luminaries, past and current debates, future direction.

- A 'starter' reading list that addresses the embryonic research aim and question of HONS28001.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Output: an agreement on the literature review format and reference scheme.

Week 3 Begin Date: 18 Mar 2024

Module/Topic

Engage with the debates in the discipline.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 25 Mar 2024

Module/Topic

Engage with the debates in the discipline.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

According to supervisor guidance, some students may submit an annotated bibliography.

Week 5 Begin Date: 01 Apr 2024

Module/Topic

Engage with the debates in the discipline.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 08 Apr 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 15 Apr 2024

Module/Topic

Engage with the debates in the discipline.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Supervisor review/feedback on output.

Week 7 Begin Date: 22 Apr 2024

Module/Topic

Write the draft literature review (or discipline alternate).

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 29 Apr 2024

Module/Topic

Write the draft literature review (or discipline alternate).

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 06 May 2024

Module/Topic

Write the draft literature review (or discipline alternate).

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Discussion with the supervisor on the evolution of the HONS28001 'Project Proposal' research aim and research question as a result of the formal literature review.

Week 10 Begin Date: 13 May 2024

Module/Topic

Edit the draft literature review (or discipline alternate).

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Supervisor review/feedback on output.

Week 11 Begin Date: 20 May 2024

Module/Topic

Edit the draft literature review (or discipline alternate).

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Supervisor review/feedback on output – revise the connection with the Research Project Proposal of HONS28001.

Week 12 Begin Date: 27 May 2024

Module/Topic

Complete Knowledge Synthesis Output (the literature review or discipline alternate).

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Submit Knowledge Synthesis Output.

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 03 Jun 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 10 Jun 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
The literature review (or discipline-specific alternate)

Task Description

Writing a literature review is complicated since they come in different types and sizes! Being steeped in the 'debates of the discipline' is the springboard from which your research project begins a journey.

Further, several critical evaluation concepts and processes need to be considered when examining the body of knowledge related to your research project. Importantly the literature review is crucial to identifying the research questions and how research methods are used to achieve the planned results.

Your literature review becomes a chapter of your Honours Dissertation. You should note that the final form of the literature review in your Honours Dissertation will probably be modified by the progress of the two research dissertation units, HONS20005 and HONS20006. Further, the early reading of the related literature will inform and help complete the project proposal of HONS28001.

Your literature review (or discipline-specific equivalent) should be around 4,000 words and contain the following:

- A literature review/ rationale that demonstrates the currency of the topic.

- A critical analysis of relevant primary texts.

- A rationale for the proposed research methodology.

- In some cases, applicable conceptual modelling or mind mapping.

The literature review's structure, design and format will be informed by discussion with your supervisor to account for discipline specifics.

This writing task is a pass/fail grade.


Assessment Due Date

Return Date to Students

By 10 days from submission.


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Assessment Criteria

Element

Pass/ Fail
A literature review/ rationale that demonstrates the currency of the topic.  
A critical analysis of relevant primary texts.  
A rationale for the proposed research methodology.  
If applicable, conceptual modelling or mind mapping.  


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit via Turnitin from the HONS28002 Moodle site.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Analyse advanced specialist knowledge for a selected discipline
  • Evaluate discipline relevant problems and the critical debates surrounding them
  • Communicate knowledge synthesis according to a discipline-specific framework.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?