FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ARTS
UNIT GUIDE
Semester 1, 2007
ARCT7721 Architectural Honours Dissertation
LACH7721 Landscape Honours Dissertation
Honours co-ordinator
Gary Marinko
6488 2797
Page 1
CONTENTS
1
Description
3
2
Content
3
3
Outcomes
3
4
Abstract and Bibliography
3
5
Teaching Staff and Consultation hours
3
6
Available Dissertation Supervisors
3
7
Communication
3
8
Unit Structure and formats
3
9
Interim Student Presentations
4
10 Feedback
4
11 Attendance and Performance
4
12 Assessment Mechanism
4
13 Submission and Examination
4
14 Examination Method
4
15 Faculty and University Policy and Procedures
4
16 Academic Conduct
5
17 Assessment Criteria
5
18 Grading Bands
5
19 Submission and Presentation guidelines
5
Page 2
UNIT GUIDE: Honours by Dissertation
Semester 1, 2007
1. Description
Students who have been accepted into the Dissertation Honours units ARCT7721
Architectural Honours Dissertation and LACH7721 Landscape Honours Dissertation
undertake an independent research project and write a thesis.
2. Content
This unit allows students to develop research skills and requires the presentation of a
dissertation of 8,000 to 10,000 words. Research topics may be of a technical,
historical or theoretical nature, and are to be agreed on between the student and a
nominated supervisor from the permanent academic staff, and approved by the
Honours Coordinator.
3. Outcomes
Students gain the capacity to develop a relevant bibliography of information sources
and to research a chosen architectural topic to a substantial depth; to clearly state
and sustain a thesis, with a clearly substantiated argument and critical engagement
with material; and to write in accordance with academic protocols.
4. Abstract and Bibliography
A clear abstract, no longer than one A4 page in length, and an accompanying
bibliography must be submitted to the Resource Room, marked to the attention of the
Honours Coordinator, on Monday of Week Two of the semester in which the student
is enrolled in the dissertation unit. The abstract should detail your proposed area of
research or specific topic as fully as possible and it should provide an indication of
the methodology you will be employing.
5. Teaching Staff and consultation hours
Honours Coordinator
Gary Marinko
Tel: 6488 2797 e: [email protected]
6. Available Dissertation Supervisors
All staff who are not on leave are available to supervise honours by dissertation,
subject to consideration of their other teaching and workload commitments.
7. Communication
Formal communication in this unit will occur by email, so all students should ensure
that they have an active UWA Student email account (viz:
[email protected]) and that they check their account regularly (at least
weekly).
Students must communicate with University staff ONLY through their Student
account, and Staff have been advised not to respond by email to any other
addresses.
8. Unit structure and formats
The primary contact mode is supervision by way of arranged regular meetings
(normally one hour per week) with a designated supervisor..
Page
3
UNIT GUIDE: Honours by Dissertation
Semester 1, 2007
9. Interim Student Presentations
Students will be advised to make interim presentations in Weeks 5 of the semester in
which they are enrolled in Honours by Dissertation.
The dates and times are noted in the semester diary. Venues will be advised by the
Honours coordinator.
These presentations are intended to provide each student with the opportunity to
discuss their work with a cross section of people and to receive constructive advice.
In addition to the verbal feedback that students receive during the interim
presentations, each supervisor will provide students with a written interim feedback
report in the week following the presentation in Week 5.
10. Feedback
Each Dissertation student will receive two written reports from examiners that outline
the main strengths and weaknesses of the thesis relative to the assessment criteria.
The report will be forwarded to the candidate no later than the date of the publication
of examination results.
11. Attendance and Performance
University rules require students to attend prescribed classes and complete the
prescribed work of the unit at a satisfactory standard (Rule 1.2.1.15 UWA handbook).
The University may require a student who does not attend classes or satisfactorily
complete work to withdraw from the unit, or to exclude them from submitting work for
examination (Rule 1.2.1.16 UWA Handbook).
12. Assessment Mechanism
Assessment of this unit is conducted 100% by examination of a submitted
dissertation.
13. Submission of Dissertation
Two (2) copies of the bound dissertation should be presented to staff of the
Resource Room of the School no later than the Friday of Week 11 of the semester in
which the student is enrolled in the dissertation unit.
14. Examination method
Examination is conducted by two examiners. The supervisor is not involved in the
marking process. Consistent with UWA Honours policyi and postgraduate research
practice, external markers will be sought where possible.
15. Faculty and University Policies and Procedures
Students should refer to the Level 4/5 Architecture and Landscape Architecture
Study Book available at:
http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/current_students/course_materials/course_and_unit_gui
des/study_books_semester_1,_2006 or from the Resource Room.
The Study Book contains information about all of the relevant University and Faculty
policy and procedures.
i
http://www.secretariat.uwa.edu.au/home/policies/honours accessed 23/09/05
Page
4
UNIT GUIDE: Honours by Dissertation
Semester 1, 2007
16. Academic Conduct
Students should refer to the University’s policy on Ethical Scholarship, Academic
Literacy and Academic Conduct at:
http://www.teachingandlearning.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/72852/Acad-ConductPrinciples.pdf
And the Faculty’s Academic Conduct policy at:
http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/current_students/forms_and_Policies
It is vital that students have read and understood both the definitions of and
penalties for academic misconduct.
17. Assessment of Dissertations
The dissertation will be assessed using the following criteria
 evidence of knowledge of and familiarity with relevant literature;
 clearly stated and sustained thesis;
 clarity of writing and argument;
 adherence to academic protocols;
 clearly substantiated argument;
 critical engagement with material.
Note: ‘degree of difficulty’ of topic does not constitute a valid basis for assessment.
18. Guide to Grading Bands (HD, D, CR, P etc)
HD For a dissertation to be awarded a high distinction, it must be of excellent
standard in nearly all areas, and in the few criteria where it is not of excellent
standard, it will at least be of high standard. It will not be compromised in relation to
any criterion.
D For a dissertation to be awarded a distinction, it must be of uniformly high standard
across all areas, perhaps excelling in a number of areas, but is not significantly
compromised in any.
CR For a dissertation to be awarded a credit, it must be generally of a competent or
high standard, but is significantly compromised in one of the criteria.
P For a dissertation to be awarded a credit, it must be of passable standard in all
areas, but is significantly compromised in a number of criteria.
19. Submission and Presentation Guidelines
1. Week 5: Jury Seminar
Objectives:
To allow students to outline theoretical / research objectives and project
scenario/brief
a. outline theoretical / research objectives.
b. outline a substantiated argument that exhibits a critical engagement with the
material,
c. outline your bibliography of information sources.
d. All suitable for obtaining critical feedback towards development of a thesis that
exhibits the capacity to research a chosen topic to a substatntial depth.
Page
5
UNIT GUIDE: Honours by Dissertation
Semester 1, 2007
2. Week 11: Submission
Length
Dissertations should be 8,000-10,000 words excluding appendices, tables and
illustrative matter.
Style and Format
Dissertations should be double or one and a half space typed on A4 paper with a left
hand margin of 4cm. There should be a 2cm margin on all other edges. Please
ensure that there are no incorrect references, misspellings, grammatical corruptions
or typographical errors, and, that all pages are present and in sequence. A
consistent method of citing references must be used. You are encouraged to consult
appropriate guides to thesis and assignment writing.
The format and style of your dissertation must meet the requirements detailed below.
 Title page: gives the title of the dissertation in full, the candidate’s names, a
statement of presentation in the form ‘This dissertation is presented in partial
fulfilment of Bachelor of ........ Honours Degree’, followed by the name of the
Faculty and the year of submission
 Summary or Abstract of no more than 300 words. The abstract or summary should
summarise the appropriate aims, scope and conclusion of the dissertation.
 Table of Contents
 List of Illustrations (if appropriate)
 Main Text
 Bibliography
 Appendices (if appropriate)
Binding
Two copies of a dissertation must be submitted for examination. Both copies must be
bound. Binding may be carried out by the Guild Printing Service at a cost that is
determined by the length of the dissertation. One copy of the thesis will be retained
by the Faculty, the other will be returned to the student after examination.
Illustrations
A consistent method of citing illustrative material must be used in the List of
Illustrations and in the captions that accompany each illustration. Please ensure that
all illustrative material contained in the main text is referred to in the List of
Illustrations. It is not essential that all illustrative material be reproduced in colour.
Page
6