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MLM707 - Research Thesis

Year:

2020 unit information

Important Update:

Classes and seminars in Trimester 2, 2020 will be online.

Last updated: 2 June 2020

Enrolment modes:

Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne) Intensive, Cloud (online)

Trimester 2 Burwood (Melbourne) Intensive, Cloud (online)

Credit point(s):2
EFTSL value:0.250
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: Matthew Groves
Trimester 2: Matthew Groves
Prerequisite:

MLM705

Corequisite:Nil
Incompatible with: Nil
Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 300 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

Scheduled learning activities - campus:

2h class + 1h seminar per week

Scheduled learning activities - cloud:

Online independent and collaborative learning activities including 1 online seminar per week

In-person attendance requirements:

Burwood (Melbourne) Intensive: This unit will be taught in intensive mode on 3 days between 9.00am and 4.30pm.

Content

This unit will require students to demonstrate, by completion of a research project, advanced abilities to:

  • identify substantive legal issues that need to be researched, and to understand the social, political and theoretical contexts in which they are relevant. This requires students to acquire knowledge of the conventions of the Australian and (as relevant) the international legal system; knowledge about the reference sources available for that system; and an understanding of the dynamics that may influence the way the legal research question has been asked.
  • formulate a research strategy and plan that utilises the variety of print based and electronic resources available, including bibliographic tools. This process is variously referred to in the literature as doctrinal research, library-based research, and bibliographic research.
  • evaluate the currency, jurisdiction, and authority of the sources used and the material located. This involves a process of interpretation and critical analysis.
  • synthesise the arguments from the material located by analysing how the cases, statutes, and other materials located fit together, and how the principles distilled from that synthesising process apply to the legal problem to be resolved.

 

These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this Unit
At the completion of this Unit, successful students can:

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes

ULO1

Demonstrate the application and devising of advanced legal research methodologies to locate a variety of print and electronic legal resources.

GLO1, GLO3, GLO4, GLO6

ULO2

Critically evaluate and synthesise legal sources, and identify issues that are suitable for research at an advanced level.

GLO1, GLO3, GLO4, GLO6

ULO3

Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the social, political and theoretical contexts in which these issues are relevant, through a critical evaluation and synthesis of various methodological, jurisprudential, theoretical, or other approaches to legal research.

GLO1, GLO3, GLO4, GLO6

ULO4

Devise an advanced research strategy, including a research project plan based on the above.

GLO1, GLO2, GLO3, GLO4, GLO5, GLO6

ULO5

Demonstrate advanced legal communication and writing skills, including the application of legal academic conventions such as the Australian Guide to Legal Citation, 3rd ed. (AGLC-3).

GLO1, GLO2, GLO3, GLO4, GLO5, GLO6

These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year

GLO key: GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities, GLO2: Communication
GLO3: Digital literacy, GLO4: Critical thinking, GLO5: Problem solving, GLO6: Self-management, GLO7: Teamwork, GLO8: Global Citizenship

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)		 Indicative due week 
Assessment 1: (Individual) – Research Thesis 10,000 - 12,000 words 100% Week 11

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

Texts and reading lists for units can be found on the University Library via the following link. Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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