Unit rationale, description and aim
This unit is designed to assist students in developing the advanced writing and research skills required for completing an Honours thesis in theology or philosophy. Students will be guided in developing thesis writing and research skills and will gain proficiency in using relevant research tools. Students will also undertake a detailed study of research methods and practices in theological and philosophical disciplines, and begin to develop insights and arguments with respect to their thesis. The aim of this unit is to prepare students for advanced research in theology and/or philosophy.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Demonstrate advanced research skills appropriate f...
Learning Outcome 01
Evaluate existing resources methods, scholarly lit...
Learning Outcome 02
Develop a research proposal, including a provision...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
Issues requiring ethics clearance, and how to proceed with an ethics application if necessary;
The purpose, scope, and role of an Honours thesis, including analysing Honours thesis exemplars;
Consideration of the range of theological and philosophical disciplines and their specific methodologies;
The purposes and writing of a thesis statement;
The purposes and writing of an annotated bibliography
Selecting an appropriate research method, and writing the methodology section;
The structure of an Honours thesis;
The purposes and writing of a thesis proposal;
The purposes and writing of a literature review.
Assessment strategy and rationale
In order to pass this unit, students are required to attempt all assessment tasks and achieve an overall grade of Pass (50% or higher).
The assessment tasks for this unit are designed for students to demonstrate their achievement of each learning outcome.
The assessment strategy is intended to allow students to display development of advanced research and writing skills appropriate for an Honours thesis.
Assessment task 1 enables students to display achievement of LO 1 by asking them to draft potential research questions and compare relevant methodologies they might use to engage with those questions.
Assessment task 2 enables students to engage with the current scholarly debate on their topic and with relevant research methodologies by asking them to give a 15-minute presentation (with written component). It aligns with LO 1, 2 and 3.
Assessment task 3 requires students to develop a research proposal which situates the research in the context of their discipline, outlines relevant methods and frameworks, and presents original research questions and aims. This task aligns with LO 1, 2 and 3.
Overview of assessments
Task 1: Research Questions and Methods Requires s...
Task 1: Research Questions and Methods
Requires students to outline potential research questions and compare two methodological approaches that could be used to engage with those questions.
20%
Task 2: Research Presentation with Written Compon...
Task 2: Research Presentation with Written Component
Students must deliver a 15-minute research presentation, situating their project within the scholarly debate, and identifying the relevant frameworks, theories, and methods they propose to use to develop their argument, demonstrating appropriate use of relevant research tools
40%
Task 3: Research Proposal: Requires students to d...
Task 3: Research Proposal:
Requires students to display the skills of writing a research proposal. The proposal must present the proposed research questions, aims, and argument, along with outlining a relevant methodology.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit involves 150 hours of focused learning.
The total includes formally structured learning activities such as participation in face-to-face sessions and/or online learning. The remaining hours typically involve reading, research, and the preparation of tasks for assessment.
The unit is normally offered in attendance or online scheduled. Students learn through formally structured and sequenced learning activities that support the achievement of the learning outcomes.
THEL400 asks students to develop capacity in research skills, design, methods, and frameworks required for undertaking an Honours degree.
Learning is designed to be an engaging and supportive experience, which helps students to develop essential practical writing and research skills.