POL10001: Australian Politics
Assignment 3B: Research essay
Word limit: 2000 (+/- 10%)
Weighting: 40%
Due date: 5pm AEDT Monday 7 October 2019 (Exam Week)
After you have read this information, head over to the Assignment 3B Q&A discussion board to ask any questions and see what your peers are saying about this assignment.
Assignment overview
The purpose of this assignment is to write a critical essay that combines some of the themes and issues which have been explored throughout this unit. This assignment will continue on from what you have produced and learned for Assignment 3A: Essay plan. You should receive feedback from your eLA on Assignment 3A: Essay plan by Week 10, and you are encouraged to incorporate the feedback you receive into this assignment.
This assignment supports unit learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Assignment Details
By completing Assignment 3A: Essay plan, you now have a framework that will help you stay on track during the research and writing process for this assignment.
As you research and develop your understanding of the essay question, your ideas and thoughts may change from some of the initial observations made in your essay plan—this is completely fine. Your essay should be seen as an evolution of your essay plan once you engage further with your topic.
Step 1: Conduct further research
Your essay plan would have raised key topic areas and ideas which you can use to orientate your research for this essay.
In your essay, you must draw on at least ten peer–reviewed scholarly texts. You may include reflections upon discussions with your peers that have taken place on the discussion board, remembering to cite these conversations appropriately in your essay.
The Research (Links to an external site.) guides in the Student Portal will help you to find academic resources.
While you conduct your research, new ideas and evidence may emerge. You can choose to tweak your essay plan or modify any arguments you have made that takes into account such developments. Be clear about what you want to say, in light of what you have discovered since you first answered the essay question.
Step 2: Familiarise yourself with the requirements
Take a look at the Assignment criteria for more detail on how your essay will be assessed. Keep it handy as you write your essay.
Step 3: Write your draft essay
By having prepared a detailed essay plan, you should find it easier to begin writing.
If you are struggling at the first draft stage, go back to your essay plan and ask yourself:
• Do you need to revise the plan?
• Are your ideas and arguments clear? Do you have sufficient evidence?
• Where are the gaps?
You may find the Essay planning and structure (PDF 345 KB) (Links to an external site.) guide helpful during this phase.
It is really important to ensure that you incorporate the feedback provided to you by your eLA for Assignment 3A: Essay plan in your essay.
Referencing
• Referencing and plagiarism (Links to an external site.) will assist you in understanding why appropriate referencing is important.
• Refer to the Swinburne Harvard style guide (Links to an external site.) for help with referencing.
Step 4: Finalise and submit your essay
Provide you complete the following steps before submitting your final essay:
• Take a break before you review your draft.
• Print out a hard copy of your essay.
• Read your essay out loud, or get someone else to read it.
• Check your grammar and spelling before you submit.
Use this Editing checklist (PDF 189 KB) (Links to an external site.) from the Student Portal to help you.
Read the instructions in the Submission details overview to submit your essay.
Supporting resources
The following resources will assist you with completing this assignment:
• Study resources for general information to help you prepare your assignments.
• Guide to submitting assignments will assist you with the submission process.