All ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences undergraduate degree programs have an honours year, and all honours years taught within CASS require the completion of a 24 unit thesis. THES4102 is the honours thesis course for the CASS-taught disciplines of :

Archaeology, 

Archaeological Practice, 

Art History and Theory, 

Art History and Curatorship, 

Australian Indigenous Studies, 

Digital Humanities,

English, 

History, and 

Philosophy. 

Students in this course carry out advanced research on a question of their choice. Their topic is agreed with their thesis supervisor and approved by their honours convenor. Students design and implement a project to answer their research question, to place the answer in the context of an intellectual tradition, and to communicate it clearly to others.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. pose a significant research question relating to their discipline;
2. investigate this question creatively, critically, ethically, and independently, including through sophisticated use of appropriate theory and methodology as appropriate to the discipline, and place these investigations in the context of the relevant intellectual tradition; and
3. communicate their research and its findings through an appropriate medium.

Field Trips

No field trips are required to complete the thesis. Depending on the chosen thesis topic and the agreement of the thesis supervisor, some students may choose to undertake a field trip as part of their research.

Additional Course Costs

Students are responsible for the costs of producing hard copies of their thesis for examination.

Required Resources

Most Honours Theses have no required resources; exceptions are:

• ANU School of Art and Design– Required Resources and Incidental Fees Student contribution amounts under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) and tuition fees support the course described in the Course Outline and include tuition, teaching materials and student access to the workshops for the stated course hours.

Students are requested to refer to the School of Art and Design website for information.

• ANU School of Music – depending on instrument, some music performance students may require their own instrument.

Recommended Resources

Your program convenor or thesis supervisor may recommend resources specific to your discipline or research.

Staff Feedback

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

• Thesis supervisors will comment orally and/or in writing on ideas and on drafts of written material.

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

Recycling of Material

Recycling “is the submission for assessment of work which, wholly or in large part, has been previously presented by the same student for another assessment, either at the Australian National University or elsewhere” (https://services.anu.edu.au/education-support/academic-integrity/determining-a-potential-breach). If each of the following two conditions are met, students may include in this course material that has been submitted for assessment in other 4000-level courses (but NOT 1000-3000 or 5000-9000 level-courses) that are available in the program for which they are enrolled:

• the 4000-level course from which material is being recycled states that material submitted in that course may be incorporated into the assessment for THES4100/4102/4103/4105 Thesis; AND
• the acknowledgments or introduction of the thesis clearly identifies the title of the assessment/s and name of the course/s from which material is being recycled, and an indication of the extent of the recycling.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	A total of 520 hours student learning time, including a minimum of 12 hours contact with the supervisor. It is the joint responsibility of the student and supervisor to arrange times for face-to-face, email or audio visual contact. The supervisor is normally only available for consultation during teaching weeks of each semester.	Except as specified below, a thesis is the sole piece of assessment for this course; to successfully complete this course, it must demonstrate all learning outcomes for the course (LO1-3).

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Thesis	100 %	24/05/2021	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.

Examination(s)

1. Schools/Centres are responsible for the examination procedure.

2. The thesis will initially be examined by at least two examiners; neither examiner should be the Supervisor or a staff member who has given extensive advice. At least one examiner must have a high level of expertise in the research methodology used. Schools may decide whether or not any of the examiners should be external. Examiners will use the CASS Marking Guide to assign each thesis to a grade and mark. In addition, examiners will be requested to write a detailed report as feedback and guidance for the student.

3. The identity of an examiner will not be disclosed to the student unless the examiner gives written permission for this to happen.

4. Direct contact between the student and/or supervisor with any examiner of the student’s thesis about the thesis and its examination at any time between the appointment of the examiner and the finalisation of the mark is prohibited. The relevant Honours or Masters Convenor may, at the request of an examiner, provide further information about the thesis or, in the case of joint work, the student's contribution to the thesis. In cases where the Convenor is also the Supervisor, the Head of School or nominee will manage the examination process.

5. After the two examiners have examined the thesis, they are required to discuss marks (obligatory). However if they are not able to agree on a single mark, they will submit their separate marks.

6. Once the two examiners’ reports have been received, all Honours and Masters Programs must hold an examiners meeting prior to submission of Thesis results to the Student Office to determine the final Honours or Masters result.

7. The composition of members of examiners meetings should be at the discretion of each discipline/program in consultation with the relevant Head of School.

8. If examiners agree on a mark, then this mark would be accepted unless after consideration at the examiners’ meeting it is agreed that a different mark would be justified. A written case for the different mark, based on the same grounds as outlined in the Special Consideration Guideline and the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy, is made to the delegate (Head of School).

• A student may, of course, apply for Special Consideration (centrally), and the written case should also account for any student Special Consideration application.
• NB: A student Special Consideration application will not be admissible if the student was already granted an extension on the same grounds (no ‘double dipping’).

9. If examiners don’t agree on a mark, then:

I. if the marks are more than 10 marks apart, the thesis is sent to a third examiner. In determining the final thesis mark all three examiners’ marks and reports must be taken into consideration (as in the Research Awards Rules for PhDs).

II. if the marks are less than 10 marks apart, they are weighed up in discussion between the Honours Convenor and Delegated Authority (usually Head of School), who will then make a written submission to the School’s examiners meeting. The process must be based exclusively on academic judgement and an explanation given, rather than a simple administrative average.

For 8 and 9 it is noted that:

• In determining the final result, the examiners’ meeting cannot change coursework results and they cannot change the weightings of coursework and theses.

Assessment Task 1

Thesis

Word limit (where applicable):

The length of the thesis is a maximum of 20,000 words exclusive of footnotes, tables, figures, maps, bibliography, and appendices. There is a penalty of 10% for exceeding this word limit. Exceptions are:

• Music Performance: one or two public recitals, to a total of approximately 90 mins duration (90%), and program notes accompanying the recital/s (10%)
• Music Composition, Arranging, and Sound Design: A portfolio of works (90%), and program notes accompanying the portfolio (10%)
• Music Composition: A portfolio of works (90%), and program notes accompanying the portfolio (10%)
• Music Composition for Film and Video Games: A portfolio of works (90%), and program notes accompanying the portfolio (10%)
• Design, Design Arts and Visual Arts: Create and install/exhibit a coherent, imaginative, focused and speculative body of artworks by integrating studio and contextual investigation/research (100%).

Additional requirements are set out in the annual CASS Masters (Advanced) and Honours Guide available on the CASS website. In the case of any inconsistency between programsandcourses.anu.edu.au and the CASS Masters (Advanced) and Honours Guide, programsandcourses.anu.edu.au takes precedence.

Presentation requirements: see the CASS Masters (Advanced) and Honours Guide on the CASS website for further details.

Title page. The first page should indicate the title of the thesis, the degree (and Honours Specialisation, if in the Bachelor of Arts) being completed, the University, the candidate’s name and the month and year of submission. It should state: “This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of XXXXX in the College of Arts and Social Sciences.”

The second page. The second page should state: “I hereby declare that, except where it is otherwise acknowledged in the text, this thesis represents my own original work.” The second page should also state: “All versions of the submitted thesis (regardless of submission type) are identical.” This is where you can also put in a statement about recycling of material

A signed statement relating to Human Research Ethics. If required include the protocol number. If not required state that the thesis did not require human research ethics approval.

Table of contents / figures / tables / plates

Acknowledgements

Abstract

Chapters

Bibliography/References. The system of referencing can vary in the College, so you must check with your Supervisor.

Appendices. If required

Please talk with your Supervisor or Convenor if you are unsure of what any of these elements are.

The following guidelines have been adopted by the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences for the presentation of theses, and you are advised to follow them where possible:

• The paper layout should be A4 size, with the text double –spaced.
• Pages should be numbered consecutively.
• Margins:
• Left hand 40mm
• Right hand 35mm
• Top 30mm
• Bottom 30mm

Where your discipline or School requires hard copy to be submitted, the following also applies:

• Check with your discipline’s Honours Convenor as to whether a hard copy is required, and if so, how many.
• Any method of duplication may be used that gives a clear, clean copy.

Rubric

GRADE	PERCENTAGE VALUE	INTERPRETATION
High Distinction	90% - 100%	Work of exceptional quality demonstrating a high level of originality, and making a fundamental contribution to the field. There is very little the student could have done additionally or alternatively. The thesis suggests outstanding potential for future research work.
High Distinction	80% - 89%	Work of exceptional quality showing clear understanding of subject matter and appreciation of issues; well formulated; arguments sustained; relevant literature referenced; marked evidence of creative ability and originality; high level of intellectual work. The thesis suggests excellent potential for future research work.
Distinction	70% - 79%	Work of good quality showing strong grasp of subject matter and appreciation of dominant issues though not necessarily of the finer points; arguments clearly developed; relevant literature referenced; evidence of creative ability; solid intellectual work. The thesis suggests good potential for future research work.
Credit	60% - 69%	Work of solid quality showing competent understanding of subject matter and appreciation of main issues though possibly with some lapses and inadequacies; arguments clearly developed and supported by references though possibly with minor red herrings and loose ends; some evidence of creative ability; well prepared and presented. The thesis suggests limited potential for future research work.
Pass	50% - 59%	Range from a bare pass to a safe pass. Adequate, but lacking breadth and depth. Work generally has gaps. Frequently work of this grade takes a simple factual approach and does not attempt to interpret the findings. At the lower end, indicates a need for considerable effort to achieve improvement. The thesis suggests little potential for future research work.
Fail	<50%	Unsatisfactory. This grade characterises work that shows a lack of understanding of the topic. Inadequate in degree of relevance and/or completeness. The thesis does not suggest any potential for future research work.

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

Assignments are submitted using Turnitin in the course Wattle site. 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

Some disciplines additionally require the submission of hard copies; contact your discipline’s Honours convenor for whether or not this requirement applies to your discipline. Please keep a copy of submissions for your records.

Late Submission

Under special circumstances, students may apply for an extension of time to submit their thesis or equivalent work (music notes, portfolio etc.).

An extension of time for submission of thesis and equivalent work is granted only under exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Associate Dean (Education).

Applications for extension must be made using the CASS Honours and Masters thesis extension form.

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.

Returning Assignments

Theses are returned though your School/Centre office. 

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.

Resubmission of Assignments

The thesis may not be resubmitted.

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