This is a research-intensive course taken concurrently with either CRWF 8006 International Climate Change Policy and Economics or CRWF8014 Domestic Climate Change Policy and Economics, as part of the Master of Climate Change degree program. The course allows you to explore in greater depth a research topic relevant to either of these courses. Under the guidance of an academic supervisor you will extend and hone your research skills by following the process of identifying and defining a research topic; developing and presenting a research proposal and plan; conducting research by obtaining and analysing primary and/or secondary data and information; and presenting your findings in a seminar and in writing.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Plan and conduct independent research on a supervised topic related to climate change policy, and communicate the context, methodologies and findings of that research clearly and effectively both orally and in writing

2. Demonstrate ethically sound and professional research practice

Research-Led Teaching

In this course, students are guided through the independent research process by researchers active and leading in their field.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Independent work - no class meeting	Before our first class meeting in week 2: - You must be thinking about the topic area you would like to focus on for your research paper. Consider something you are interested in, or something that you feel will advance your career, or something that is a contemporary question in your area of study.
2	Introduction, goals and procedures, initial research ideas	- Before this meeting, please use the discussion forum on Wattle to upload your initial research ideas. You can summarise these briefly in point form, and it’s okay if you have more than one option at this stage! - Please bring these ideas along to the meeting, as we will discuss the options for researching each of the ideas.
3	Independent work - no class meeting
4	Research proposal, methods and data	- By this meeting, you should have settled on your topic for the paper. - Please bring to this meeting an overview of your: research question, the methods you will use, and the data you will be analysing. - Note: data may be; primary data that you collect yourself, secondary data such as a quantitative or qualitative dataset that is already available and which you analyse in a new way, or it may be a body of literature that you synthesise to draw new insights.
5	Independent work - no class meeting (Research proposal (10%) due for submission)	- Your research proposal (worth 10% of the course grade) must be uploaded to Wattle by the end of week 5 (11:55pm, Friday 27th March 2020). - No class in week 5.
6	Research proposal discussion in class time	- In class this week you will discuss your research proposal with the group and teachers. There is no need to prepare a formal presentation, but please use this opportunity to talk through any challenges, uncertainties, and gain feedback on opportunities for strengthening the proposal.
7	Independent work - no class meeting
8	Progress discussion meeting	- In class this week we will have an informal catch up, as a group, on progress toward the research project. Please come prepared to share your progress to date, though note you do not need to deliver a formal presentation.
9	Independent work - no class meeting
10	Independent work - no class meeting
11	Independent work - no class meeting (Preliminary findings due for submission)	- Your preliminary findings written summary (worth 10% of the course grade; 5% = written submission and 5% = presentation) must be uploaded to Wattle by the end of week 11 (11:55pm, Friday 22nd May 2020). - No class in week 11.
12	Preliminary findings presentation	- You must present your preliminary findings in class this week. This presentation contributes 5% to your grade (half of 10% allocated to preliminary findings). - Please present, including visual support as appropriate (e.g. PowerPoint) for a minimum of 4 minutes and a maximum of 8 minutes. - Your presentation should be pitched at an educated lay audience, with the presentation designed to 1) why your research paper is significant, 2) inform the audience on what you did, and how, and 3) what are your key findings, and their significance for your topic area. - This presentation is effectively a practice of a very brief conference presentation. Post semester: - Your final research paper is due for submission via Wattle by 11:55pm, 12 June 2020. - Well done undertaking this research project and producing a new contribution to knowledge! - Make sure you have proof read your final paper, and kept to the 5,000 word limit (excluding references).

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Assessment item 1: Research proposal (due week 5)	10 %	27/03/2020	03/04/2020	1, 2
Assessment item 2: Preliminary findings (due week 11)	10 %	22/05/2020	05/06/2020	1, 2
Assessment item 3: Research paper (due during exam period)	80 %	12/06/2020	02/07/2020	1, 2

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Assessment item 1: Research proposal (due week 5)

Written research proposal (about 3 pages). This serves to clarify research questions, methods and data/sources, and as a roadmap to how the project will be undertaken.

10% of overall grade.

You will be assessed on:

-         Your argument for the importance of the research topic (i.e. making the case for the knowledge gap, using existing literature and/or policy need), and the appropriateness of your research question.

-         Your justification for the selection of the methods, including citations to relevant examples of the same method having been applied in other studies and/or methods texts that outline the approach.

-         The suitability and feasibility of your analysis approach, i.e. the alignment of the data with the topic area, research question, methods, and timeframe for completion of the paper.

-         A proposed structure/outline for the final paper, including all headings and subheadings with word count allocations for each.   

Please refer to CAP assessment guidelines for grade standards. 

Assessment Task 2

Assessment item 2: Preliminary findings (due week 11)

Written summary of research findings (about 3 pages) plus brief presentation in class (4-8 minutes). This assessment item provides an opportunity for you to showcase your project and share key findings ahead of finalising your research paper. This is a good opportunity for comments from your peers and teachers. 

10% of overall grade (5% written summary, 5% presentation).

Your written summary of research findings will be assessed on:

-         Evidence of correct application of methods.

-         Analytical rigour of the findings.

-         Alignment of findings with research topic and question.

-         Synthesis of findings with existing literature and/or policy need.

-         Clear demarcation between description of findings and extension into implications of the findings.

Your presentation of research findings will be assessed on:

-         Clarity of research narrative, including integration of existing literature and/or policy need into the narrative (showing you have situated your work in a broader context). Your research narrative should:

o  Explain why your research paper is significant,

o  Inform the audience on what you did, and how,

o  Describe what are your key findings, and their significance for your topic area. 

-         Quality of presentation delivery, including use of visual support (e.g. PowerPoint).

Please refer to CAP assessment guidelines for grade standards. 

Assessment Task 3

Assessment item 3: Research paper (due during exam period)

Your final assessment item is submission of your research paper. This research paper should be a new contribution to knowledge, which addresses a well justified research gap and/or policy need.

80% of overall grade.

We will work together on the development of this research paper over the course of the semester.

The final paper must be no more than 5,000 words, excluding references (and appendices if applicable).

Please refer to CAP assessment guidelines for grade standards. 

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students