Research Design in Humanities (HHSS6030)

Course overview

This course provides skills in research design for students undertaking Honours in Humanities or related disciplines. The course is taught as a combination of common weeks and discipline streams, where students choose the discipline (ancient history, history, philosophy, or religious studies) most relevant to their thesis research. The common weeks include seminars on situating the thesis, Indigenous knowledges, and a ‘3MT’ (Three-Minute Thesis) conference. Assessment includes two research projects and seminar participation. Students also have access to a range of online modules on research skills.

Course requirements

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

HHSS6020, HHSS6040, HUMN6600

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

HHSS6030 is taught as a combination of common seminars (weeks 1-3 and 12-13) and separate discipline streams (weeks 4-11).

Common seminars are held on Wednesdays, 2-4pm in weeks 1-3 and 12-13.

In weeks 4-11, you need to attend the relevant discipline seminar:

• Classics and Ancient History: HHSS6030/S1/STLUC/IN/SMR1/01
• History: HHSS6030/S1/STLUC/IN/SMR1/02
• Philosophy: HHSS6030/S1/STLUC/IN/SMR1/03
• Religious Studies: HHSS6030/S1/STLUC/IN/SMR1/04

Please check the timetable for seminar times and room information (subject to change).

Aims and outcomes

This course aims to develop skills in research design and research methods in Humanities to support the completion of an Honours thesis and provide a foundation for future research or professional endeavours.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Research Project 1

Mode

Oral, Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

45%

Due date

Please see Blackboard for due dates for your discipline and topic.

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Research project 2

Mode

Oral, Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

45%

Due date

Please see Blackboard for due dates for your discipline and topic.

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Participation

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Participation/ Student contribution

Weight

10%

Due date

24/02/2025 - 12/05/2025

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Three-Minute Thesis Presentation

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Presentation

Weight

Hurdle

Due date

19/05/2025 - 26/05/2025

Learning outcomes

L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Research Design Modules

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Participation/ Student contribution

Weight

Hurdle

Due date

24/02/2025 - 26/05/2025

The modules must be completed by the end of Week 13.

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

A word count that is within ±10% of the set length (word limit) is acceptable. Word count does not include footnotes; however, discursive footnotes are included in the word count. A word count that is outside these 10% will receive a proportionate penalty and will be graded against the grading criteria.

Honours Essay Assessment Criteria (History, Ancient History and Classics, Religious Studies)

Your Honours coursework essays and thesis will be assessed according to the following criteria:

1.    Research Question: Is there a clear and coherent research question? Is this research question important, interesting and/or innovative?

2.    Knowledge of Relevant Literature: Is there a review and critical assessment of the academic literature relevant to this research question?

3.    Method: Does the essay identify an appropriate method for answering the research question and given reasons for the adoption of this method? Has the method been consistently and correctly utilised in the essay/ thesis?

4.    Use of Primary Source Materials: Where relevant, does the student demonstrate a proficiency in selecting and locating relevant primary source materials/data?

5.    Quality of Analysis: Has the student presented an argument or thesis that answers the research question? Has the argument been clearly explained and adequately substantiated? Has the hypothesis been adequately explored and tested? Does the author demonstrate an ability to make scholarly judgments through critical analysis and argument?

6.    Written Expression: Is the essay/thesis written in a lucid, engaging manner, free from grammatical and other errors?

7.    Referencing: Is it adequately referenced as per discipline conventions?

8.    Overall presentation of the essay/thesis including word length.

To achieve a grade of 7 (High Distinction, 80-100%), your essay/thesis should demonstrate an exceptional level of competency in choice of thesis topic and structure of the thesis, a very high level of competency in application of research methodology, use of evidence, quality of analysis, and written expression. The presentation of your essay/thesis should achieve a very high standard. Your writing will be very clear and concise, pay strict attention to discipline conventions and have minimal, if any errors in referencing, expression, grammar, spelling and punctuation.

 To achieve a grade of 6 (Distinction, 70 – 79%), your essay/thesis should demonstrate an advanced level of competency in choice of thesis topic and structure of the thesis, a high level of competency in application of research methodology, use of evidence, quality of analysis, and written expression. The presentation of your thesis should achieve a very high standard. Your writing will be clear and concise, follow discipline conventions and have few errors in referencing, expression, grammar, spelling and punctuation.

To achieve grade of 5 (60-69%) your essay/ thesis should demonstrate proficient but above average level of competency in choice of thesis topic and structure of the thesis, a proficient but above average level of competency in application of research methodology, use of evidence, quality of analysis, and written expression. The presentation of your thesis should achieve a high standard. Your writing will follow discipline conventions, have some errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation, and demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively.

To achieve a grade of 4 (50-59%) your essay/ thesis should demonstrate a basic level of competency in choice of thesis topic and structure of the thesis, as well as a basic level of competency in application of research methodology, use of evidence, quality of analysis, and written expression. The presentation of your thesis should achieve an appropriate standard. Your organisation, writing, referencing, spelling and grammar will be adequate and use some of the discipline conventions to communicate appropriately.

To achieve a grade of 3 (Marginal Fail, 45-49%), your essay/ thesis will demonstrate that you have only achieved a superficial level competency in choice of thesis topic and structure of the thesis, as well as a superficial level of competency in application of research methodology, use of evidence, quality of analysis, and written expression. It will demonstrate that you have an emerging ability to apply basic knowledge and skills, but that this falls short of the Honours pass level. The presentation of your thesis should achieve an acceptable standard. Your organisation, writing, spelling and grammar will be adequate or poor and your referencing and use of discipline conventions poor/and or inconsistent.

To achieve a grade of 2 (Fail, 25-44%), your essay/thesis will be faulty in its choice of thesis topic and structure. It demonstrates a low level of competency in application of research methodology, use of evidence, quality of analysis, and/or written expression. Your arguments will be unsupported and/or inappropriate, your organisation and writing will be poor and/or inappropriate, and your referencing and use of discipline conventions poor/and or inconsistent.

To achieve a grade of 1 (Low Fail, 0-24%), your essay/thesis will demonstrate that you have failed to meet the minimum learning requirements and skill acquisition for this assessment task. Your essay/thesis will be deficient in its choice of thesis topic and structure. It will fail to reach the basic level of competency in application of research methodology, use of evidence, quality of analysis, and/or written expression. Arguments will be unsupported and/or inappropriate. The presentation of your essay/thesis will have failed to achieve an acceptable standard, and its organisation, writing, spelling grammar and referencing will be poor. Use of discipline conventions will be poor, absent or inappropriate.

Honours Essay Assessment Criteria (Philosophy)

Topic Definition: Ability to define the topic or philosophical issue under debate.

1.             Argument and Structure: Ability to construct a well-reasoned argument for a certain point of view.

2.             Content: Ability to demonstrate a depth and breadth of understanding of the various positions in a philosophical debate.

3.             Originality: Insight and/or originality in interpreting texts or constructing a point of view or argument.

4.             Presentation: Capacity to produce a polished, well-written and appropriately referenced essay.

Please also see the “Grade Criteria Rubric”.

To achieve a grade of 7 (High Distinction, 80-100%), your topic should be clear and well defined. You should produce a rigorously argued and clear essay/thesis, with a very high standard of coherent, critical and logically structured analysis. Your essay/thesis should be exceptionally well structured, demonstrating a high level of proficiency in constructing complex argumentative essays. Your essay/thesis should demonstrate an exceptionally high level of understanding of texts, problems, and core concepts. Your essay/thesis should also demonstrate proficiency at using highly relevant and widely sourced references. Your essay/thesis should present penetrating and novel insights about texts, concepts, problems and arguments. There should be clear evidence of creative and independent thought, and an engaging and creative use of examples. Your writing will be lucidly expressed, interesting and engaging. Throughout the essay/thesis, grammar and spelling will be of an exceptionally high standard. Referencing and bibliography will be of a scholarly standard.

To achieve a grade of 6 (Distinction, 70-79%), your essay/thesis topic should be well defined. You should produce a well-argued essay, with careful and coherent critical analysis, and well-ordered logical analysis. Your essay/thesis should be generally well structured, demonstrating proficiency in constructing complex argumentative essays. Your essay/thesis should demonstrate a high level understanding of texts, problems, and core concepts, and demonstrate proficiency at using a wide range of relevant references. Your essay/thesis should present an advanced understanding of basic texts, concepts, problems, and arguments. There should be evidence of independent thought and creative use of examples. Your writing will be clearly expressed and articulate. Grammar and spelling will be of a high standard but may include a few errors. Referencing and bibliography will maintain high standards of citations and bibliography but may have occasional oversights.

To achieve a grade of 5 (Credit, 60-69%), your essay/thesis topic should be generally well defined. You should produce a coherently argued essay, demonstrating proficiency in application of critical thinking concepts. There should be evidence of argumentative structure demonstrating an ability to identify and reconstruct multi-reason arguments. Your essay/thesis should demonstrate a generally secure understanding of texts, problems, and core concepts, and demonstrate and ability to understand and incorporate some relevant references. Your essay/thesis should present a secure grasp of conventional readings of texts, concepts, problems and arguments, and an ability to understand the point of examples. Your writing will be generally clear and well expressed, with occasional grammatical and spelling errors. In general, bibliographic, and in-text conventions will be followed.

To achieve a grade of 4 (Pass, 50-59%). Your essay/thesis topic should be adequately defined. In your essay/thesis, you should identify simple arguments, demonstrating an understanding of simple inferential relationships between reasons and conclusions. There will be minimal argumentative structure. You should demonstrate an ability to identify and reconstruct simple arguments. Your essay/thesis should demonstrate a basic understanding of texts, problems, and core concepts, with some relevant references appropriately cited. Your essay/thesis should present a satisfactory understanding of texts, problems, concepts, and arguments, and an ability to understand the point of examples. Your essay/thesis will be written with satisfactory expression. Grammar and spelling should be of an acceptable standard, though it may exhibit frequent errors. There will be limited adherence to referencing conventions.

To achieve a grade of 3 (Marginal Fail, 45-49%), your essay/thesis topic will only be asserted. Your essay/thesis argument will not go beyond a sequence of assertions and will exhibit a lack of clarity and precision. The essay structure exhibits disorganisation and does not go beyond presenting opposing positions without explaining logical relationships between them. Your essay/thesis should demonstrate basic awareness with some lapses in understanding. References used in the essay/thesis are irrelevant to topic and/or insufficient in number. Your essay/thesis will only present a rudimentary grasp of texts, concepts, problems, and the role of examples in philosophical arguments. Your writing will have notable flaws in expression, and numerous grammatical and spelling errors. There will be some attempt made at referencing.

To achieve a grade of 2 (Fail, 25-44%), your essay/thesis will be defined with significant confusion. Your essay/thesis exhibits confusion, with flawed and disorderly analysis, non sequiturs and incoherent argument. The essay/thesis structure is unclear or convoluted, and/or there is a serious failure to identify, reconstruct or construct an argumentative essay. Your essay/thesis demonstrates a serious misunderstanding of texts and core concepts. References used are irrelevant to topic and/or insufficient in number. Textual interpretation is shallow and repetitive. It consists mostly of significantly flawed paraphrase. There is a lack of proficiency in interpreting and applying central concepts. Your writing has serious flaws in expression, with deeply problematic spelling and grammar. It is barely evident that referencing was attempted.

To achieve a grade of 1 (Fail, 0-24%), your essay/thesis definition will be off topic/non-attempt to define. There is insufficient evidence to measure argumentative abilities. There is only obscure and confused or absent analysis. Your essay/thesis has an indecipherable structure, with paragraphs and sentences that are logically unconnected. The discussion presented is irrelevant to the essay/thesis topic. References are either not included or irrelevant to the topic. There is insufficient evidence to measure whether an independent stance has been attempted. Language used in the essay/thesis is incomprehensible, with unintelligible grammar and spelling.

Seminar Participation Assessment Criteria

Your seminar participation will be assessed according to the following criteria: 

1.    Evidence of participation in discussions.

2.    Evidence of preparation for the seminar, most notably through completing the set readings.

3.    Quality of contributions to discussions.

4.    Fostering of group discussions, through courteous and respectful interactions with staff and students.

5.    Attendance is necessary to fulfill the above criteria, as per the course requirements, but marks cannot be awarded for attendance alone.

To achieve a grade of 7 (High Distinction, 80-100%), your attendance will be flawless and your participation exceptional. This grade reflects exceptional levels of preparation, mastery of course materials, and very high quality contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions. You should be able to engage with your peers very effectively.

To achieve a grade of 6 (Distinction, 70-79) your attendance will be excellent and your participation very substantial. This grade reflects excellent levels of preparation, knowledge of course materials, and high quality contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions. You should be able to engage with your peers effectively.

To achieve a grade of 5 (Credit, 60-69%), your attendance and participation will be good. This grade reflects proficient levels of preparation, good knowledge of course materials, and good quality contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions.

To achieve a grade of 4 (Pass, 50-59%) your attendance and participation will be satisfactory. This grade reflects adequate levels of preparation and knowledge of course materials, and an acceptable quality of contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions.

To achieve a grade of 3 (Marginal Fail, 45-49%) your attendance and participation will be unsatisfactory. This grade reflects irregular attendance and/or participation and superficial knowledge of course materials and basic levels of preparation. However, when in attendance, there is evidence of your ability to demonstrate developing achievement in contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions.

To achieve a grade of 2 (Fail, 25-44%), your attendance and participation will be very unsatisfactory. This grade reflects irregular attendance and/or participation, minimal knowledge of course materials, little evidence of preparation, and mixed to low quality of contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions.

To achieve a grade of 1 (Low Fail, 0-24%), your attendance and participation will be unsatisfactory. This grade reflects irregular attendance and/or participation, an no evidence of preparation, and little or no evidence of quality of contributions to, and fostering of, group discussions.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

• Failure to submit all major assessment items (those worth 15% and above) will result in a maximum grade of 2 (Fail).
• By submitting work through Turnitin you are deemed to have accepted the following declaration:‘I certify that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted, either previously or concurrently, in whole or in part, to this University or any other educational institution, for marking or assessment’.
• All students must ensure that they receive their Turnitin receipt on every submission of assessment items. YOU MUST CHECK THAT THE RECEIPT CONFIRMS THAT SUBMISSION HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
• A valid Turnitin receipt will be the only evidence accepted if assessments are missing.ﾠWithout evidence, the assessment will receive the standard late penalty, or after 7 calendar days, will receive zero. In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible so that they can confirm the outage with ITS.
• It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they are submitting assessment items on a device that is capable of the task, and that appropriate internet bandwidth and speed is available. If you cannot be sure that your device or internet will enable you to complete or submit an assessment task, you must come onto campus and use one of the University Computers in the Library or Computer Labs.
• Plagiarism, and asking or paying someone else to do your work is cheating and constitutes academic misconduct. See ECP Section 6.1
• Feedback against the assessment criteria in the form of comments on your script will be provided through Turnitin or on your script directly.
• For information on assessment remarks see: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/querying-result

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.