‘The Five Essential Elements of a Thesis’ workshop is designed to facilitate the initial phase of designing and planning a large research project in the Humanities, by giving students a clear overview of the basic elements common to a thesis in Humanities disciplines. The course will introduce the Five Essential Elements of a Thesis (issue, contexts, texts, methodology and voice). After introducing these concepts, the workshop will give students the opportunity to articulate these concepts in their own projects, and to receive feedback from staff and students in the course. The course will also include a session on ‘Developing an Argument’, which develops the skills of identifying the basic elements of description, analysis and argument, and incorporating these elements in their own writing practice. The ‘Five Essential Elements of a Thesis’ aims to help students prepare for their Thesis Proposal Review, while ‘Developing an Argument’ aids students  in the writing process.

1. Become familiar with core components of a thesis

2. Articulate these components in relation to student's own project 

3. Engage in critical evaluation of each of these elements in relation to the student's proposed HDR project and the projects of other students in the workshop

4. Learn how to justify choice of particular methodological approaches, and selection of texts

5. Learn to identify differences between description, analysis and argument in Humanities writing

The course will be assessed as pass or fail. Students must gain a pass grade for each component of the assessment. 

Presentation in which student explains each of the Five Essential Elements in relation to his/her thesis project (15 min) (35%) [Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4] 

Analysis of student's own writing and writing of others students, using techniques taught in the workshop (five elements; description, analysis, argument) (4000wds) (35%) [Learning outcomes 4, 5] 

Attendance and seminar participation, including response to other students' presentations (30%) [Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5] 

Attendance at all scheduled seminars is compulsory, except in exceptional circumstances. In the case of inability to attend, suitable documentation must be provided to the course coordinator [eg medical certificate]. No more than one day of the course can be missed, or a fail grade will be recorded. 

Students will attend six workshops spread over sem 1 & 2. 

Students will prepare a 15 min presentation for the seminar group. 

Students will analyze their own writing and that of other students in the seminar

None

A high level of English language proficiency is assumed, commensurate with entry requirements for HDR programs in the School of Cultural Inquiry. 

This is a practical writing workshop. The set readings will draw from texts including The Chicago Manual of Style and Introduction to Scholarship in Modern Languages and Literatures. The Course Convenor will also provide selections from a range of contemporary essays and monographs in relevant fields for students to analyse using the writing and rhetorical techniques taught in the course. The selection will depend upon the fields in which the students are doing research.