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

This course is designed to be a partnership between teaching staff and students. Students will work closely with the course convenor to develop and see through to successful completion their own independent research project. The course convenor is an active researcher in the social and policy dimensions of climate and environmental issues, with a multi-disciplinary background. As appropriate, other active Crawford researchers will contribute informally to the course to provide guidance and feedback to students. Course resources will offer guidance for skills development that complements the practice-based discussions in class meetings (and between class meetings as needed).

Recommended Resources

You do not need to buy any resources to take this course. Readings that support the research process will be provided via the class handbook, to assist with skills development. However, if you are a book-lover you may wish to borrow or purchase a copy of O'Leary 2017. Excerpts from this text will be provided in class.

O'Leary, Z. 2017. The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project, Sage.

Students are encouraged, when possible, to engage with course readings ahead of semester. These will be accessible through the Wattle site.

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.

Other Information

This course is designed to support students in undertaking an independent research project that makes a valuable contribution to knowledge. It is an opportunity for students to consolidate what they have learned across their Master studies and 'own' their area of expertise. As such, this course is not structured like a standard university course comprised of lectures and tutorials. Instead, we will hold a series of class meetings over the course of the semester focused on checking progress, troubleshooting, and sharing perspectives and insights. Resources that guide students throughout the research process will be provided on the course Wattle site to support learning. Course staff will be available outside of standard class meeting times as needed to support students.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction, goals and procedures, initial research ideas	You should join us at the week 1 meeting with some preliminary ideas for your research project. Come prepared to discuss and explore your research ideas!
2	Independent work - no class	There is no class meeting in week 2. Keep progressing on developing and refining your research project, guided by class resources.
3	Research proposal, methods and data	In class this week bring along your draft research proposal and come prepared to discuss it and seek refinements from the group.
4	Independent work - no class	Research proposal due in week 4 There is no class meeting in week 4. Keep working independently on your research project, guided by class resources.
5	Progress discussion and check in	In week 5 we will hold a class meeting for an informal catch up on how everyone is progressing. Join the meeting with an overview of your progress, and be prepared to talk through challenges and new insights.
6	Independent work - no class	There is no class meeting in week 6. Keep working independently on your research paper, guided by class resources.
7	Progress discussion and check in	In week 7 we will hold a class meeting for an informal catch up on how everyone is progressing. Join the meeting with an overview of your progress, and be prepared to talk through challenges and new insights.
8	Independent work - no class	There is no class meeting in week 8. Keep working independently on your research paper, guided by class resources.
9	Progress discussion and check in	In week 7 we will hold a class meeting for an informal catch up on how everyone is progressing. Join the meeting with an overview of your progress, and be prepared to talk through challenges and new insights.
10	Independent work - no class	There is no class meeting in week 10. Keep working independently on your research paper, guided by class resources.
11	Independent work - no class	Preliminary findings (written summary) due for submission There is no class meeting in week 11. Keep working independently on your research paper, guided by class resources.
12	Preliminary findings presentations	Preliminary findings (oral presentation) due in class In week 12 we will hold a class meeting where all students will present a summary presentation on their preliminary findings. This is part of the preliminary findings assessment item, but is also an opportunity for sharing of insights and gaining constructive feedback that can be incorporated into the final paper.
13	Independent work - no class	Final research paper due for submission The final research paper is due for submission during exam period, two weeks after week 12.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Research Proposal	10 %	18/03/2021	11/04/2021	1, 2
Preliminary findings	10 %	21/05/2021	14/06/2021	1, 2
Research paper	80 %	11/06/2021	04/07/2021	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

Research Proposal

A research proposal outlines the rationale and plan for addressing a research question. The research proposal is expected to be about 3 A4 pages in length, with standard font and formatting.

This assessment item is worth 10% of the course grade. It is a formative piece, meaning it is primarily aimed at enabling useful feedback on your progress so far.

The research proposal is due in week 4.

Specific guidance (required contents, expectations etc.) will be provided via the course Wattle site.

Submissions should be well presented, structured, and written, and include referencing consistently adhering to an accepted style. College of Asia and the Pacific (CAP) assessment standards will be used for grading the research proposals.

Assessment Task 2

Preliminary findings

Preliminary findings will outline how the analysis undertaken in the research project has answered the research question. The preliminary findings is a two part assessment item comprised of 50% written submission (about 3 A4 pages in length, with standard font and formatting) and 50% oral presentation in class (about 6-8 minutes plus Q&A).

This assessment item is worth 10% of the course grade. It is a formative piece, meaning it is primarily aimed at enabling useful feedback on your progress so far.

Preliminary findings are due in weeks 11 (written submission) and 12 (oral presentation).

Specific guidance (required contents, expectations etc.) will be provided via the course Wattle site.

Submissions should be well presented, structured, and written, and include referencing consistently adhering to an accepted style. College of Asia and the Pacific (CAP) assessment standards will be used for grading the research proposals.

Assessment Task 3

Research paper

The research paper is the final write up of the research project. This is a new contribution to knowledge on a topic of high importance, and demonstrates the author's area of expertise and specialisation. The research paper will be in the form of an academic paper (i.e. aligned with a journal style, based on discussion in class).

The research paper should not exceed 5,000 words (plus references, tables, figure captions and appendices if applicable).

This assessment item is worth 80% of the course grade. It is a summative piece, meaning it is designed to assess the quality of the work prepared over the course of the semester. However, constructive feedback will be provided such that research papers with promise for a life beyond the course (e.g. publication) can be further developed.

The final Research Paper is due two weeks after week 12, during the exam period.

Specific guidance (required contents, expectations etc.) will be provided via the course Wattle site.

Submissions should be well presented, structured, and written, and include referencing consistently adhering to an accepted style. College of Asia and the Pacific (CAP) assessment standards will be used for grading the research proposals.

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