The course will be taught jointly by a visiting ANU academic and an academic from the University of Alabama Law School. (While the specific subject area of the course will vary from year to year, depending on the particular field of interest of the ANU/UA visitors, it will involve a comparative study of Australian and US approaches to the particular subject matter. Assessment details, teaching methods and type of course materials will vary from year to year depending on the subject matter and personnel involved in each offering of the course, but will be specified prior to student enrolment in the course).

Learning Outcomes

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

1. In relation to a selected topic, identify and critically analyse the similarities and differences between Australian and US law.
2. Identify, and use a variety of legal research sources in both the US and Australian jurisdictions to research a comparative legal issue or question.
3. Design, plan and execute a substantial legal research project or essay, with intellectual independence.
4. Apply appropriate legal citation conventions in the course of legal writing.
5. Discuss and critically debate knowledge and ideas effectively in a cross-cultural context.
6. Identify and appraise different comparative law methodologies that could be applied to compare and evaluate aspects of US and Australian law.

Research-Led Teaching

The course convenor will draw on their own research and experience in relation to international law in Australia and the United States to supplement the readings and discussions in each session.

Required Resources

Required resources will be made available via an E-brick on the course WATTLE site.

Recommended Resources

Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 10

International law : cases and materials with Australian perspectives / Donald R. Rothwell, Stuart Kaye, Afshin Akhtar-Khavari, Ruth Davis, Imogen Saunders.

https://library.anu.edu.au/search~S1?/aRothwell%2C+Donald/arothwell+donald/1%2C9%2C39%2CB/frameset&FF=arothwell+donald+++++1959&9%2C%2C24

 

Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 17, 18, 23

International law in Australia / edited by Donald R. Rothwell, Emily Crawford.

https://library.anu.edu.au/search~S1?/aRothwell%2C+Donald/arothwell+donald/1%2C9%2C39%2CB/frameset&FF=arothwell+donald+++++1959&10%2C%2C24

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.

Other Information

Extensions late submission and penalties - https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/extensions-late-submission-and-penalties

Deferred examination: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/deferred-examinations

Special consideration: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/special-assessment-consideration

Penalties for excess word length: https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/word-length-and-excess-word-penalties

Distribution of Grades Policy: Effective from Winter Session and Second Semester 2018 (and until further notice), the current Grading Distribution Policy has been suspended pending the development of a new policy. For further information about this interim policy please see: https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/grading

Further Information about the Course: is available from the course WATTLE page. Students are required to access the WATTLE site regularly throughout the course for details on weekly classes and any announcements relating to the course.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Date: Monday, 10 January Topic: Introduction + Sources of International Law
2	Date: Tuesday, 11 January Topic: Foreign Relations Law + Topical Snapshots
3	Date: Wednesday, 12 January Topic: Law of the Sea	Class Exercise
4	Date: Thursday, 13 January Topic: Law of the Sea	Class Exercise
5	Date: Friday, 14 January Topic: International Security
6	Date: Monday, 17 January Topic: Antarctica	Guest Presenter (TBC)
7	Date: Tuesday, 18 January Topic: South China Sea	Class Exercise
8	Date: Wednesday, 19 January Topic: International Nuclear Law	Class Exercise
9	Date: Thursday, 20 January Topic: Dispute Resolution and the International Court of Justice
10	Date: Friday, 21 January Topic: Concluding Remarks	Class Exercise + Exam Consultation

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Online Test	30 %	28/01/2022	08/02/2022	1, 2, 5, 6
Research Project: Essay	70 %	18/02/2022	14/03/2022	1, 2,3,4, 5, 6

* 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

For all courses taught in any mode (whether face to face or online), the ANU College of Law considers participation in the classes offered to be an important part of the educational experience of the program. Students are expected to attend all classes.

If circumstances arise which are beyond a student’s control and they are unable to attend a class, the student should contact the Course Convenor in advance (where possible), so that the convenor can adjust their expectations in relation to numbers for that class. If it is not possible to give advance notice, students should send the convenor an email as soon as possible with evidence to support the reason for failure to attend. 

Assessment Task 1

Online Test

Brief Description: The online test will focus on a comparative international law assessment of Australia and the USA as developed in classes, and specifically in the podcasts between the course convenor and invited experts. Students will be invited to write a short essay that reflects upon a comparative international law question that builds upon issues addressed in the podcasts.

Nature of Task: Compulsory

Weighting: 30%

Duration: 120 minutes (cumulative of reading, writing and submission time)

Word Length: 1200 words

Commencement: 1pm - 3pm Australian Eastern Daylight time on Friday 28 January 2022.

If you experience unavoidable and extenuating circumstances and cannot sit the online test at the due date and time, you should apply for an extension to the College of Law student admin team here:

https://law.anu.edu.au/forms/assessment-extension-request

The College will give you one opportunity to sit the online test, at the same time one week later. This will be your final opportunity to sit the online test. 

Estimated return date: 8 February 2022

Assessment Criteria:

1. Develops a clear argument and responds to the question.

2. Critically evaluates relevant material.

3. Reflects primary and secondary legal sources.

4. Engages in appropriate comparative analysis (including adopting appropriate comparative methodologies).

5. Addresses issues and communicates with clarity, precision and accuracy.

An assessment rubric will be made available to students by the end of the first week of classes.

 

Assessment Task 2

Research Project: Essay

Brief Description: Students will complete a comparative research project on a) a prescribed research project topic (eg. law of the sea, Antarctica), or b) a question of their choice. There will be opportunities in class to discuss research project topics, and for individual consultations with the course convenor.

Nature of Task: Compulsory and non-redeemable. Failure to complete any one aspect of the Research Project will result in a mark of 0 being awarded for the entire task.

Weighting: 70%

Word Limit: 3500 words

Release: The requirements of this task will be discussed in the first week of classes and final instructions will be released on WATTLE by Wednesday 20 January 2021.

Due date: 5pm on Friday 18 February 2022. Late submissions (without an extension) are permitted, but late penalties will apply. 

Estimated return date: 14 March 2022

Assessment Criteria:

Projects will be assessed by reference to how well the student:

1. Structures their project including logically moving through the issues.

2. Develops a clear argument and responds to the question.

3. Critically evaluates relevant material.

4. Researches primary and secondary legal sources.

5. Engages in appropriate comparative analysis (including adopting appropriate comparative methodologies).

6. Where formal written work is submitted, references and complies with the AGLC.

7. Addresses issues and communicates with clarity, precision and accuracy.

An assessment rubric will be made available to students by the end of the first week of classes.

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 tests or examinations.
• Late submission with an extension. To ensure equity for all students, the 5% penalty per working day for late submission of work does not apply if you have been given an extension. Where an extension is granted, the revised due date and submission time is provided in writing. Please note that the revised due date is calculated by including weekends and public holidays. Regardless of which day of the week the revised due date falls on, students who submit after that date are penalised by 5% of the possible marks available for the assessment task per 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.

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