Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 6
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
A supervised dissertation (10,000 - 12,000 words) on a writing, editing, and publishing topic. WRIT7310 is for part-time students commencing in semester 1.
WRIT7320 is for part-time students commencing in semester 2.
Please note: this course code is appropriate for students undertaking their dissertation part-time, commencing in semester 1.
The dissertation is a 10,000-word assignment, which reports an original piece of research, grounded in knowledge of the theories and previous studies in the field, and presented in a manner consistent with research reporting in that field. The dissertation embodies a substantial amount of research on primary sources, or on scholarly and critical studies of such sources, or on both. In this context, research can be defined as directly creating new knowledge, or locating and critically evaluating existing primary and secondary textual materials, or translating, editing, annotating, and/or analysing such materials, or engaging in any other appropriate scholarly project, provided that the student's original contribution can be clearly identified
WEP students will choose a topic related to the field of Writing, Editing, and Publishing, in consultation with their supervisor. Students who have demonstrated capacity for high quality outcomes in creative writing may elect to split the word count between creative and critical work, at the discretion of the course coordinator. The creative and the critical work should work together in intelligent and theoretically sound ways.
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
WRIT7100, WRIT7110, WRIT7120, WRIT7300, WRIT7320
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
To enable students to undertake independent research at a postgraduate level.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Identify a research topic in the field of WEP or Communication
LO2.
Plan and carry out research within the field of WEP or Communication
LO3.
Access, evaluate, and critique primary and secondary sources
LO4.
Develop an argument critically and clearly
LO5.
Organise and present written research at a sophisticated level, in a form appropriate to the intended audience
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis | 10,000-word dissertation | 100% |
Assessment details
10,000-word dissertation
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Thesis
- Weight
- 100%
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
You will write a 10,000-word dissertation on a topic decided in consultation with your supervisor.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard and email a pdf copy of your dissertation to r.newsome@uq.edu.au
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.
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%.ﾠ
Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply.
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
Find the required and recommended resources for this course 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) |
Workshop |
Workshop 1 Week 1: Designing and managing a research project, from idea to submission Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Workshop |
Workshop 2 Week 2: Practical researching: library resources, archives and literature reviews Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Workshop |
Workshop 3 Week 3: Critical reading & effective writing -- planning and completing your dissertation Learning outcomes: L04, L05 |
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.