Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 4
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
This course provides skills in research design for students undertaking Honours in Arts and Culture or related disciplines. The course is taught as a combination of 5 weeks of research design, and 5 weeks of thematic/discipline streams (Part 2) where students choose the area (art history, communications, drama, film & television, journalism, literature, media & digital cultures, music) most relevant to their thesis research. Topics include seminars on how to design a research project, becoming a researcher, writing a literature review, research management, and research dissemination. The course concludes with a 2 week symposium where students present their project to their peers, lecturers, and industry experts. 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:
HHSS6000, HHSS6001, HHSS6003, HHSS6020, HHSS6030
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Giselle Newton
Dr Luke Munn
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Weeks 1-5 - whole cohort
Weeks 6-10 - two streams - Literature and Aesthetics
Weeks 11-13 - student presentations/symposium
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to develop skills in research design and research methods in Arts and Culture 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:
LO1.
Design and undertake advanced independent research.
LO2.
Collect and analyse appropriate information to answer important research questions.
LO3.
Demonstrate reasoned thought, creativity, and a high quality of written expression.
LO4.
Develop skills in oral presentation and communicating research findings.
LO5.
Express an understanding of the nature and processes of academic research in Arts and Culture
LO6.
Have an appreciation of theoretical and methodological issues specific to the chosen area of research.
LO7.
Reflect critically on complex arguments and problems.
LO8.
Achieve an advanced understanding of a relevant Arts and Culture discipline (art history, communications, drama, film & television, journalism, literature, media & digital cultures, music), including its ethical and social contexts.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Research Proposal | 30% |
11/04/2025 4:00 pm
Submitted via TurnItIn. |
| Essay/ Critique | Critical Essay | 40% |
30/05/2025 4:00 pm
Submitted via TurnItIn. |
| Presentation |
Presentation + written submission
|
20% |
19/05/2025 - 26/05/2025
Submission of written component via TurnItIn, and presentation completed in-person in class. |
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Course management
|
10% |
24/02/2025 - 30/05/2025
Research modules must be completed by 4pm, 30 May 2025. |
Assessment details
Research Proposal
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
11/04/2025 4:00 pm
Submitted via TurnItIn.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08
Task description
Research Proposal - 2000 words - further details will be made available to students during semester. Bibliography/references are not part of the word count.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
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.
Critical Essay
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
30/05/2025 4:00 pm
Submitted via TurnItIn.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08
Task description
Critical Essay - 3000 words - further details will be made available to students during semester.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
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.
Presentation + written submission
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
19/05/2025 - 26/05/2025
Submission of written component via TurnItIn, and presentation completed in-person in class.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08
Task description
Submission of short written component by 4pm of the day before your scheduled presentation timeslot, and in-class presentation (5 minutes).
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Recording of Oral and Practical Assessment
- All presentations will be recorded for marking purposes via recording facilities available where the assessment takes place (eg. ECHO360, Zoom, camera device)
- Recordings will be retained by the School of Communication and Arts for at least 12 months from the release of the final grade for the course.
- Recordings will be stored in a secure manner and will only be accessed by authorised school staff for the purposes of:
- Moderation of marking;
- Provision of feedback to the student(s) recorded; and/or
- Re-marking following a successful re-mark application.
Submission guidelines
TurnItIn submission of written component.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Please note: as this is an in-class assessment item, late submission is not possible and students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal. If you are unable to attend, please contact your course coordinator directly to reschedule your presentation.
Course management
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
24/02/2025 - 30/05/2025
Research modules must be completed by 4pm, 30 May 2025.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08
Task description
Students must actively participate in the 13 sessions of the course by doing the course readings, contributing to class discussions, and offering feedback to their peers during the symposium. Throughout the course, students must also complete a minimum of 2 online Research Design modules and/or on-campus Research Skills modules. With their supervisor, they will determine which modules best suit their research trajectory. Completion of 2 modules will be included in the course management mark (modules = 5%, class participation = 5%).
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Attendance at face-to-face/Zoom modules will be recorded by Module presenters, and online self-paced Modules will involve completion of a short quiz. Certificates/evidence of completion for research modules must be uploaded to the Blackboard assessment link by 4pm, 30 May 2025. For class participation, ensure that you sign the attendance sheet.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Please note: as this is an in-class assessment item, late submission is not possible and students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal. If you cannot attend class, please contact your course coordinator, who will provide you with a worksheet to complete.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply. ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
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.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 1 - seminar Seminar with all students Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 2 - seminar Seminar with all students Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 3 - seminar Seminar with all students Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 4 - seminar Seminar with all students Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 5 - seminar Seminar with all students Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 6 - seminar + disciplinary stream Literature stream for literature students on Monday. Seminar for all students on Tuesday. No aesthetics stream this week - starts next week. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 7 - disciplinary streams Aesthetics and literature streams Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 8 - disciplinary streams Aesthetics and literature streams Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-semester Break: NO CLASSES |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Seminar |
Week 9 - disciplinary streams Aesthetics and literature streams Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Seminar |
Week 10 - disciplinary streams Aesthetics and literature streams. Please note: the Monday seminar (falling on Labour Day Public Holiday 5/05/2025) will be rescheduled to a different day in Week 10. Further details will be provided closer to the date. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Seminar |
Week 11 - disciplinary streams Aesthetics stream class on Tuesday. No classes for literature stream. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Symposium |
Week 12 - student symposium Student symposium - whole cohort Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Symposium |
Week 13 - student symposium Student symposium - whole cohort Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
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.
Course guidelines
Communication Expectations
While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module .
- Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.
- You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.
- You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.
- You can send email at any time, however please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).
- Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.