Delivered as a five day intensive, this course introduces students to a variety of approaches for generating, developing and analysing works of art or design for independent research. Providing strategies to help refine, structure and present a position and argument, it is aimed at students engaged in either practice-led research in or art design, or art history and art theory. Students will develop an individual point of view in relation to their own research practice or field of specialisation, learning to to frame research questions, construct logical arguments and explore ways to understand and contextualise their research. In order to deepen their understanding of art & design within historical and contemporary contexts, students will develop skills in writing and aural communication by locating, interpreting and critically evaluating key information from academic resources. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on a visual analysis of works of art or design which the student has seen in person.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. select a key work of art or design in order to identify potential research topics;
2. develop critical thinking, visual analysis, literacy and academic skills to plan and present an independent research proposal in an area of interest; and
3. demonstrate critical points of view in a reasoned, referenced, and clearly structured analysis in both written and audio-visual forms.

Research-Led Teaching

I have engaged with practice-led research and independent research methodologies in my professional career as a practicing artist, researcher and lecturer in art theory since 2000. I am currently the Convener for Masters by Postgraduate Coursework programs, Master of Contemporary Practices in Art & Design and Master of Art History and Curatorial Studies at the ANU School of Art & Design.

Field Trips

N/A

Additional Course Costs

N/A

Required Resources

A stable internet connection and access to a computer/other device with web-camera and microphone are essential.

Staff Feedback

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

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

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	DAY 1 - Sessions 1-5, Focus: Introduction, 3 min presentations and reading and discussion groups.	Assessment item 1 - Three minute introductory presentation 5%
2	DAY 2 - Sessions 6-10, Focus: Developing an independent research question and identifying contexts	Assessment item 2 - Research statement 5%
3	DAY 3 - Sessions 11-15, Focus: Positioning independent research in the field. Methods and Methodologies of research	Assessment item 3 - Identifying contexts 5%
4	DAY 4 - Sessions 16-18, Focus: Critical writing and visual Analysis	Assessment item 4 - Visual Analysis 5%
5	DAY 5 - Sessions 19-20, Focus: bringing it all together with seminar presentations and closing discussion	Assessment item 4 - 8 min Independent Research Presentation 20%
6	Major Essay Due - 21 May 2021	Assessment item 5 - Major essay 60%

Tutorial Registration

In 2021 this course will be delivered online via zoom 9.30 am - 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday 12-16 April.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Three minute introductory presentation	5 %	12/04/2021	13/04/2021	1
Independent research statement	5 %	13/04/2021	14/04/2021	1,2
Identifying contexts and key resources	5 %	14/04/2021	15/04/2021	1,2
Visual analysis	5 %	15/04/2021	16/04/2021	1,2
Independent research presentation	20 %	16/04/2021	01/05/2021	1,2,3
Independent Research Essay	60 %	21/05/2021	18/06/2021	1,2,3

* 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 Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

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.

Participation

Given this course is taught in an intensive block, participation in all lecture, seminar and workshop sessions is required.

Students are also required to actively contribute to all group discussions and are expected to have completed the readings and tasks in a timely and organised manner.

Examination(s)

This course does not require students to sit a formal examination.

Assessment Task 1

Three minute introductory presentation

The purpose of this exercise is to ready students for the week long intensive. Students are to prepare a 3 min presentation that introduces themselves, their interests in relation to their practice / specialisation (eg studio, art, design, art history, curatorship) (1 min) and then identify their subject or work or art that they have recently experienced in person and with which they intend to develop into an independent-led research question for the purpose of this course. (2 min) The presentation is to be delivered on DAY 1. Maximum of 2 still images only. Please practice your presentation before delivering it but make it friendly and inquisitive. You don't have to have all the answers yet. For further tips on presentations see https://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills/writing-assessment/presentations

Time limit: 3 minutes

Value: 5%

Presentation requirements: Presented on DAY 1 in person via zoom.

Assessment Task 2

Independent research statement

This exercise is designed to teach independent research skills required for students at a post-graduate coursework level. This assignment will be based on the workshop activities for DAY 1 and 2, and will result in students formulating their own independent research question as a 150 word statement, addressing the questions of what, how, why and so what, in order to position the research. This assignment supports the development of the seminar presentation and the research essay.

Word limit: 150 words

Value: 5%

submission requirements: to be uploaded on the compulsory quiz question on DAY 2.

Assessment Task 3

Identifying contexts and key resources

This exercise is designed to teach independent research skills required for students at a post-graduate coursework level. This assignment will be based on the workshop activities for DAY 1, 2 and 3, and will result in students positioning their research within contemporary, personal, cultural and formal contexts, as 500 word statement. This assignment supports the development of the seminar presentation and the research essay.

Word limit: 500 words

Value: 5%

submission requirements: to be uploaded on the compulsory quiz question on DAY 3.

Assessment Task 4

Visual analysis

This exercise is designed to teach independent research skills required for students at a post-graduate coursework level. This assignment will be based on the workshop activities for DAY 1, 2, 3 and 4 and will result in students drafting a visual analysis of one or two key works related to their independent research 300 words max. This assignment supports the development of the seminar presentation and the research essay.

Word limit: 300 words

Value: 5%

submission requirements: to be uploaded on the compulsory quiz question on DAY 4.

Assessment Task 5

Independent research presentation

This exercise is designed to teach independent research skills required for students at a post-graduate coursework level. This assignment will be based on the workshop activities for DAY 1, 2, 3, and 4. The purpose of this exercise is to develop professional academic skills by writing a scripted presentation paper and delivering it to the class on DAY 5. It will include the independent research question, a visual analysis of the work in question, the contexts in which the work is positioned, the research methodologies and key resources that will support the writing of the major essay.

Your research presentation will be 8 minutes in length and must be accompanied by slides formatted on powerpoint or a similar program. Do not include animations or moving images as they most often do not work or tend to run over time. Create still images and use your powerpoint for visual analysis instead. You can provide a URL leading to an online link for the audience to follow up with. Following the convention of a postgraduate research symposium, speakers will be strictly limited to 8 minutes for their papers, and the lecturer will make sure you keep to time. As such, your presentation will need to be scripted (approximately 1,000 words) and practiced in advance to make sure you can stay on time. As a guide, a slideshow for a 8-minute conference paper should have no more than 6 slides. 

Please note that a presentation paper is not written in the same tone as an essay. It must be scholarly, but the language you use can be a little more conversational to make for a more engaging experience for your audience. For further tips see https://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills/writing-assessment/presentations

Presentation limit - 8 min (max 6 images)

Word limit: aprox 100 words

Value: 20%

presentation requirements: to be delivered in person via zoom on DAY 5.

submission requirements: A maximum of 6 images accompanied by 1000 words (not including references) to be submitted by Friday 23 April on Turnitin.

Assessment Task 6

Independent Research Essay

Propose, explore, develop and address an independent research question as a 4000-word research paper. Define your approach to the subject and interrogate its relevance to the practice of contemporary art and design today. You must cite the sources of your ideas with references, and a bibliography but these are not included in your final word count.

• Essays much be formatted in 12 point font, double-spaced.
• They must include your name and student number in the file name.
• A signed and dated declaration of original work must be attached to the beginning of the essay as a single combined file.
• The Independent Research Essay should be thoroughly researched, consulting all the major sources, including peer reviewed journals (when required) and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the major issues and an awareness of complexities of contemporary art and design today.
• The research question needs to be highly developed and addressed by a lucid argument that addresses the assessment criteria comprehensively and insightfully.
• The essay should include an excellent choice of images with highly perceptive visual analysis integrated into the overall argument in a compelling and seamless manner.
• The essay should be comprehensive and organised with extremely logical paragraph structure and highly effective use of topic sentences, with an engaging and effective introduction and conclusion.
• Demonstrating an excellent and balanced use of quotes, the essay should be highly articulate and fluently written in an eloquent style with no grammar and spelling mistakes or typos.
• It is expected that the essay will be meticulously referenced, including the images of works or art or diagrams, using the Chicago Style.

Word limit: 4000 words (not including references, bibliography or footnotes)

Value: 60%

submission requirements: to be submitted to ANU Turnitin COB 21 May 2021.

Rubric

CRITEREA	HIGH DISTINCTION 80-100%	DISTINCTION 70-79%	CREDIT 60-69%	PASS 50-59%	FAIL 0-49%
Select a key work of art or design in order to identify potential research topics.	Excellent choice of subject that has a strong potential to identify topics highly relevant to contemporary art and design practice today.	Effective choice of subject that has clear potential to identify the topics relevant to contemporary art and design practice today.	Suitable choice of subject that has potential to identify a range of topics relevant to contemporary art and design practice today.	Adequate choice of subject but has a limited potential to identify topics relevant to contemporary art and design practice today.	Inadequate choice of subject that has no or little potential to identify topics relevant to contemporary art and design practice today.
Develop critical thinking, visual analysis, literacy and academic skills to plan and present an independent research proposal in an area of interest.	Develops a sophisticated level of critical thinking, visual analysis, literacy and academic skills to plan and present an independent research proposal in an area of interest.	Develops a high level of critical thinking, visual analysis, literacy and academic skills to plan and present an independent research proposal in an area of interest.	Develops a satisfactory level of critical thinking, visual analysis, literacy and academic skills to plan and present an independent research proposal in an area of interest.	Develops an adequate level of critical thinking, visual analysis, literacy and academic skills to plan and present an independent research proposal in an area of interest.	Fails to develop a satisfactory level of critical thinking, visual analysis, literacy and academic skills to plan and present an independent research proposal in an area of interest.
Demonstrate critical points of view in a reasoned, referenced, and clearly structured analysis in both written and audio-visual forms.	Demonstrates highly articulate critical points of view in a reasoned, referenced, and clearly structured analysis in both written and audio-visual forms.	Demonstrates highly developed critical points of view in a reasoned, referenced, and clearly structured analysis in both written and audio-visual forms.	Demonstrates strongly developed critical points of view in a reasoned, referenced, and clearly structured analysis in both written and audio-visual forms.	Demonstrates some critical points of view in a reasoned, referenced, and clearly structured analysis in both written and audio-visual forms.	Fails to demonstrates critical points of view in a reasoned, referenced, and clearly structured analysis in both written and audio-visual forms.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to 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 be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, 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 Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

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

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. 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. Extensions may be granted 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