ECON 7235B - Economics Dissertation (Part-time) Part 2
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2014
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code ECON 7235B Course Economics Dissertation (Part-time) Part 2 Coordinating Unit Economics Term Semester 2 Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 9 Contact Up to 2 hours per week Prerequisites Distinction average for other Masters courses Restrictions Economics Masters students only Assessment Dissertation 100% Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Florian Ploeckl
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
The purpose of the dissertation is to encourage students to undertake independent economic research and to foster research-related skills, which should benefit future study and employment.
On successful completion of this course students will be able to:1 Demonstrate specialist knowledge in the area of their research 2 Demonstrate the ability to initiate research and to formulate viable research questions 3 Demonstrate the capacity to design, conduct and report sustained and original research 4 Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and synthesize research-based and scholarly literature 5 Present research findings and argument in a suitably structured and sequenced thesis that conforms to protocols of academic presentation and research practice 6 Demonstrate the ability to critique literature and conduct analyses at a Masters level 最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1,3,4,6 The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 2-6 An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 2-6 Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 2 A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 1-6 A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1-6 A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 1-6 An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1-6 -
Learning Resources
Recommended Resources
A bibliography must be included. Since different journals use different methods, it is necessary to choose one method and stick to it consistently. For some guidance concerning bibliographical methods, consult one or more of the references listed in the Barr Smith Library subject catalogue under the heading "Dissertation, Academic"; for example, Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Dissertations.
Students are recommended to consult the Writing Centre at the 最新糖心Vlog for writing and language questions. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Unlike standard coursework, research is a relatively unstructured activity. Student must self pace and self monitor their own progress. One to one guidance is provided in supervision sessions. Regularity of supervision will be set in accordance with their supervisor. A regular schedule would be a meeting at least once every month.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
The 最新糖心Vlog expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies. This course together with the second part is 9 units, so 4.5 units per semester.Learning Activities Summary
- The student is to prepare a one page proposal of the research idea no later than one week before the beginning of the semester and submit this to the Course Co-ordinator.
- Approval to enrol must be obtained from the Program Co-ordinator before semester starts. A supervisor will be assigned by the Course Co-ordinator once approval is granted.
- The student is to arrange a first meeting with their assigned supervisor within the first 2 weeks of semester. At the initial (or a subsequent) meeting the student, with approval of the supervisor, will decide on the exact research question, the paper to review or materials to use as well as the relevant structure and sections of the dissertation.
- Students are expected to submit written drafts of each section to the supervisor. The supervisor is then expected to provide a constructive and critical assessment of the work submitted and make a note of the comments given.
- For each section of the dissertation, the supervisor is expected to read and comment on the section once. The student is then expected to revise the individual sections, and submit them combined as the final version to the supervisor.
- Upon receiving the final version of the dissertation, assessing the content, and deciding upon the mark, the supervisor is expected to provide a short report (half a page to one page in length) on the student’s work – including the strengths and weaknesses of the dissertation.
- Throughout the semester students are encouraged to attend the Monday's Thesis Workshops and the Friday's Seminar.
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Assessment
The 最新糖心Vlog's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
100% Final dissertation paperAssessment Detail
The standard of English expression is expected to be high. Students may wish to consult references listed in the subject catalogue of the Barr Smith Library under the heading "Style, Literary". While supervisors will offer reasonable assistance, the writing of a dissertation is the student’s task and students must not expect the supervisor to convert careless or poor prose into good English.Submission
The dissertation must not exceed 6,000 words including footnotes and references, but not title page and abstract.
There should be a title page showing:
- the title in full,
- the full name and degrees of the candidate,
- the School in which the candidate submitted the work,
- the degree for which the dissertation is submitted,
- the date of submission,
- the declaration.
There should be a brief (less than 1 page) abstract preceding the text of the dissertation. This should indicate the aims, scope and conclusions of the dissertation, as well as the word count.
The dissertation must also include a bibliography. See under Recommended Resources above.
The thesis must be submitted no later than the first Friday after Week 12 to the student’s supervisor. Students must submit two copies of the thesis.
The supervisor, with help from the Course Coordinator, will find a second reader for the thesis and provide the second copy to the reader. Both, the reader and the supervisor, mark the work independent from each other. The total mark is the average of the two marks. If the two marks differ by more than one grade, the course coordinator will reconcile the marks with the help of a third reader.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
In assessing theses, examiners look for the following attributes. Depending on the format of the thesis not all of these criteria are appropriate in each case.- Topic; is it well-defined, justified, and suitably motivated?
- Structure; is it logical, coherent, and well explained?
- Literature context; does the dissertation exhibit knowledge about the larger literature?
- Understanding; is a thorough understanding of the methods and tools used in the literature evident?
- Independent thought; does the analysis demonstrate originality and independent thought?
- Conclusions; are conclusions and implications clearly drawn and are the limitations of the study identified?
- Quality of presentation, is the language clear and understandable, is the use of tables, diagrams and other figures appropriate and well executed, and are formal conventions like footnoting and referencing followed?
The dissertation excels across most of the range of the described attributes and shows at least high competency in all of them.
Percentage Range: 85-100
Distinction:
The dissertation will be at least highly competent across the attributes, and probably excel in at least one of them. Relative weaknesses in some areas may be compensated by conspicuous strengths in others.
Percentage Range: 75-84
Credit:
The dissertation will show competency across most of the attributes, though may have inadequacies in a few of them.
Percentage Range: 65-74
Pass:
The dissertation contains some serious inadequacies. However, to obtain a pass rather than a fail the dissertation must show some understanding of research topic and evidence of independent analysis. Percentage Range: 50-64
Fail:
A fail is a rare result, given when the student displays little understanding of the relevant economic ideas, and fails to meet the criteria for a pass.
Percentage Range: less than 50Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The 最新糖心Vlog places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the 最新糖心Vlog to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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