59306 Researching Australia 1

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Handbook description

In this subject, students are introduced to several aspects of Australian society and culture: the Indigenous experience; aspects of rural and urban Australia; the history of migration; the development of multiculturalism; social issues and current affairs. Students use interview techniques to investigate aspects of contemporary Australian society and present their research in both seminar and written form.

Subject objectives/outcomes

Students will use a variety of research techniques to investigate aspects of Australian society. Students are encouraged to develop their critical reflective skills to compare and contrast aspects of their culture of origin and Australian culture.

On successful completion of this subject students should have developed

• their knowledge of research methods
• English language skills and knowledge
• oral skills used in interviews
• a critical approach to reading for research
• seminar presentation skills.
  

Content

Researching Australia 1 (RA 1) is divided into 2 modules, each of approximately two hours.

Module 1: Interview research
In this segment, students will use interviews to investigate aspects of Australian culture that interest them. Topics may relate to students’ fields of study in their home countries. Alternatively, students may design a topic relating to their interests, with help from the lecturer. Assessment will require an audio-recorded interview plus the interview transcript.

Module 2: Seminar presentation
Students will develop seminar presentation skills. They will use the findings from their interview research to present a seminar on an issue of interest.

Assessment

Assessment Item 1: Class participation

Assessment Item 2: Interview and transcript

Assessment Item 3: Seminar presentation