Dr William Gatherer
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 4
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Languages & Cultures School
This course builds on TRIN7110 Theoretical Studies in Translation and Interpreting (taken in the 1st Semester) and TRIN7320 Research in Translation and Interpreting Studies (taken in the 3rd Semester) and furthers students' research ability. Students will be expected to conduct an independent research project under supervision and write a thesis of about 10,000 words. To be eligible, students must have a minimum GPA of 6 in the MATI program and write a research proposal. If their application is approved, they would need to choose two other courses from the 4th Semester course list in consultation with the program convenor.
This course is to enable students to undertake research in the area of translation and interpreting under supervision. The main task in this course is to write a thesis based on research. The research should both reflect students' factual knowledge of translation/interpreting, demonstrate a good understanding of theories as well as understanding of research processes and scholarly conventions.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
TRIN7320/ GPA of 6 and Head of School approval
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
CHIN7180
Course staff
Course coordinator
Aims and outcomes
The aim of this course is to help students develop research ability and enable them to conduct research in the area of translation and interpreting and write a thesis under supervision.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
have an established ability to conduct research in the area of translation and interpreting.
LO2.
have an extensive knowledge of the relevant research area.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis |
Thesis
|
100% |
30/05/2025 5:00 pm
Friday, WEEK 13 |
Assessment details
Thesis
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Thesis
- Weight
- 100%
- Due date
30/05/2025 5:00 pm
Friday, WEEK 13
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
Students are required to conduct research under supervision and write a thesis of 8,000-10,000 words independently. Basic procedures are as follows:
1. Prepare a draft research proposal outlining the topic area, methodology and goals.
2. Discuss your proposed research with your supervisor and do any necessary changes or modification. Decision of thesis topic: End of Week 2
3. After the supervisor and course convenor agree, you can proceed. Secure ethical clearance if necessary and prepare any data-collection instruments (survey, etc.)
4. Collect data.
5. Conduct data analysis and write the thesis.
Ethical Clearance
Students undertaking research projects involving interviews, questionnaires or any other form of active involvement with human subjects are required to submit an application for ethical clearance. The application form can be obtained from the following website: https://music.uq.edu.au/current-students/research-ethics-approval-honours-and-coursework-masters
The process for approving the application can be slow. Early applications are strongly advised.
STATEMENT ON AI & MT
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
Thesis should submitted via Turnitin before the deadline. A copy of the thesis should also be sent to the course coordinator.
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.
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. Course grade description: The student has not submitted all major work. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student has submitted incomplete work. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The thesis is neither an independent nor valuable contribution to the field, nor sufficiently well written and argued to meet the requirements of an MAﾠthesis. Quality of research inadequate, arguments unsound or too derivative, presentation unscholarly and writing poor. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The thesis is limited in such areas as its research, argument or documentation. It only meets threshold requirements. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The thesis makes an adequate treatment of the topic within the definition of an independent and valuable contribution to the field. Substantial limitations in scope, perception or argument. In addition, or alternatively, there may be flaws in such areas as documentation, quality of research or written presentation of such an order that the total result, although adequate, is not distinguished. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The thesis makes an independent and valuable contribution to the field. Well written and argued on the whole and shows ability to draw perceptive conclusions and make an intellectually probing evaluation of the topic based on thorough research appropriate to an MA thesis. Weaknesses or limitations are present, however, which, when taken together, exclude the thesis from the category of excellence. Such limitations might include flaws in argument, limited insights or intellectual evaluation, gaps in supporting evidence, confused expression and inept or defective scholarly presentation. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The thesis makes an independent and valuable contribution to the field. Well written and argued, revealing a perceptive and intellectually probing evaluation of the topic based on thorough research appropriate to anﾠMA thesis. Material is well presented with correct scholarly documentation. |
Additional course grading information
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Late submission will not be accepted, unless a medical certificate is provided or approved by the course coordinator.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Your MA thesis should be substantially different from other course work completed in the program (e.g. significant expansion or choice of related topic). When submitting your thesis, you are required to put in writing that it is your original work, which has not been submitted before to fulfil requirements of any other courses in UQ or elsewhere.
Basic requirements
- You must see your supervisor regularly as required by your supervisor.
- You must submit progressive drafts of the thesis to your supervisor during your candidature as arranged by your supervisor.
- Your supervisor must read and approve your final version of the thesis before you submit it to the Course Convenor.
Failure to comply with the above conditions will lead to failure in this course.
Final version of thesis for submission
The final version should contain:
- Title Page (see wording below)
- Statement of Sources (see wording below)
- Abstract (about 300 words)
- Table of Contents
- Acknowledgements (optional)
- Introduction
- Chapters
- Conclusion
- References
- Appendix (if any)
- 1.5 spacing for the body of thesis
Title Page:
- Title of thesis
- Course code
- Your name and student number
- Supervisor
- This statement: “A dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts in Translation and Interpreting"
- The University of Queensland
- Month and year
Statement of Sources:
“The work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original, except as acknowledged in the text, and has not been submitted either in whole or in part, for a degree at this or any other university.” [Student to sign and print name]
Submission
The submissionﾠmust be made online through Turnitin. At the same time, students are expected to submit a copy to the course coordinator.
Late submission will attract penalties.
Marking
The thesis will be marked by examiner(s), who will not be your supervisor.
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
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Baker, M. (1992) In Other Words: a Coursebook on Translation, London: Routledge.
Gentile, Adolfo et al (1996) Liaison Interpreting: A Handbook, Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.
Hatim, Basil & Mason, Ian (1990), Discourse and the Translator, Longman Group UK Limited.
Hatim, Basil & Mason, Ian (1997) The Translator as Communicator, London and New York: Routledge.
Larson, M. (1984) Meaning-based Translation, New York: University Press of America, Lanham.
Munday, J. (2001). Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications. London and New York: Routledge.
Newmark, Peter (1987) A Textbook of Translation, London: Prentice-Hall.
Nida, E.A. (1964a) Toward a Science of Translating, Leiden: E.J. Brill.
Nida, E.A. & Taber, C.R. (1969) The Theory and Practice of Translation, Leiden: E.J. Brill.
Pochhacher, Franz and Miram Schlesinger (eds.) (2002) The Interpreting Studies Reader, London and New York: Routledge.
Pochhacher, Franz (2004) Introducing to Interpreting Studies, London and New York: Routledge.
Roy, Cynthia B. (2000) Interpreting as a Discourse Process, London: Oxford University Press.
Wadensjo, Cecilia (1992) Interpreting as Interaction, Linkoping University.
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 |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Not Timetabled |
Thesis supervision Conduct original research and write the MA thesis under the supervisor's guidance. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Additional learning activity information
Students will negotiate meetings with supervisor throughout the semester.
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 - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.