POLITICAL INQUIRY: AN ADVANCED APPROACH
POL4PIR
2017
Credit points: 30
Subject outline
This subject aims to develop students' higher-level understanding of Politics and International Relations, and to develop their capacity to engage in original research. The first section of the subject examines research design and research methods. The aim is to help students develop the skills they need to successfully research and write an honours thesis in Politics and International Relations. In the second section of the subject, students will study leading research from a variety of different sub-disciplines, including their primary area of interest. The aim is to ensure that students leave the subject with a strong understanding of what is required to produce first-rate research in their field of interest, and that they are familiar with some of the cutting-edge research being done across the discipline.
School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points: 30
Subject Co-ordinator: Nicholas Barry
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 4 - UG/Hons/1st Yr PG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: Enrolment in AHA or AHIR, or permission from Honours Coordinator or Subject Coordinator
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: N/A
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: Students must be enrolled in a relevant Honours program within Humanities and Social Sciences.
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Prescribed reading wil be provided to students electronically. For the most part, this will draw on literature that is already available through the library collection. | Prescribed | Prescribed reading wil be provided to students electronically. For the most part, this will draw on literature that is already available through the library collection. | PRESCRIBED READING WIL |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Produce written work that reflects a clear understanding of the principles underpinning good research design in Politics or International Relations.
- Activities:
- Research proposal
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
- Writing(Writing)
02. Produce written work that reflects a critical understanding of important issues in contemporary Politics or International Relations.
- Activities:
- Major essay; reflective journal/workbook
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Writing(Writing)
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
03. Produce written work that reflects the capacity to engage in advanced research on an important topic in Politics or International Relations.
- Activities:
- Major essay
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Writing(Writing)
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
Melbourne, 2017, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Nicholas Barry
Class requirements
SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
One 3.0 hours seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major essay (equivalent to 4000 words) | 50 | 02, 03 | |
| Research proposal (equivalent to 2400 words) | 30 | 01 | |
| Reflective journal/workbook (equivalent to 1600 words) | 20 | 02 |