Assessment due date :

Purpose and description

Purpose: This is the major assessment in this course. It provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate that they have developed high-level critical and analytical skills in an area of study in which law and politics interact in complex ways.  

Description: Students will be required to answer one of a selection of research essay topics. 

Assessment length

4000 words

This is a maximum word count. Any words beyond the word limit will not be assessed. The word count does not include footnotes or bibliography, although students are advised that footnotes should be used for referencing purposes only (not for providing commentary).  

Assessment criteria

i.           Capacity to locate and use primary and secondary sources on the topic effectively and efficiently. High quality essays will evidence a systematic study of appropriate academic sources.

ii.          Capacity to develop and sustain sophisticated arguments in response to the set topic. High quality essays will include analysis of the relevant sources, alongside independent critique.

iii.         Developing capacity to contribute to the maintenance and reform of the legal system, by critically engaging with the current state of the law and the potential for law reform in the relevant area.

iv.         Quality of written expression. High quality essays will be clearly written and structured, concise, and persuasive.

Referencing style:

Students should use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (3^rd ed) in preparing written work. The Guide may be viewed online

How to submit:

Electronic submission – essays will be marked online. No hard copy submission is required.