So, you are thinking about an
Hons thesis?
Information Session: 8th October
2014
Kathy Laster
(Hons Convenor for 2015 TBC)
What we will cover today…
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Why do the thesis unit?
What is a thesis?
Choosing topics and supervisors
The thesis unit
Key dates
FAQs and your questions….
http://www.law.monash.edu.au/currentstudents/enrolments/honours/
Why Do the Thesis Unit?
You CAN qualify for an LLB Hons degree without doing
the thesis unit
BUT
High achieving students should do this unit because:
- Research skills highly prized
- It is a ‘rite of passage’
- Supervision/mentoring is a unique learning
opportunity
- Important for scholarships, higher degree and point of
difference
- 20% mark up on this unit (still, for current students)
What is a ‘thesis’?
• Narrow “a core idea/argument”
• A genre of formal writing which expounds
your own thesis
= Hons LLB thesis 10,000 words
Past theses are in the library – have a look....
How do I find a topic?
• What area of law do I want to work /find work in?
(instrumental)
• What area of law do I enjoy/am passionate
about? (interest based)
• Which member of staff do I want to get to know
better/learn from more? (supervisor/learning
relationship based)
• Look at the list we provide....
• READ to work out which topic option is most
viable AND whether you will find this interesting
for a sustained period
How do I find a supervisor?
• Who have you enjoyed/learned from most as
a teacher?
• Look at Research Profiles of staff
• Talk to past Hons students...
• Check who is away on leave...
• ASK...(send them a polite email with some
sense of your topic/options)
What does the Research Unit involve?
Intended to support you in your thesis work
• Provides a peer group to aid and assist you
Unit =
• 3 fullish days plus Hons Conference of 2 days
- Orientation Day in 2nd weekish of 1st semester
- 2nd Day around Easter
- (Optional) Coffee morning at beginning of
Semester 2
- 3rd Day mid 2nd Semester
- HONS Conference – last 2 days of 2nd Semester
The HONS Conference
• Obligation and enlighted self interest to
attend at least 1/2 day of previous year’s
Conference
• This year Hons Conference is Thursday 16th &
Friday 17th October (am only) at Monash City
Chambers (Lonsdale street...)
• You are the audience and helpers
• Introduce 2 current Hons students to talk
about this and their experience of Hons....
Key dates….
• Applications for Hons Unit closing 28/11/14
• Offers (by email) 20/12/14
• Manual enrolment during enrolment period,
ideally 20-23/12/14
• Submission of Thesis proposal (supervisor
agreement) 11/2/15
• Confirmation of supervisor & topic around
1/3/2015
Some FAQs
• You need GPA of 72 in LAW units to qualify for
the Thesis unit
• We must be able to find a superviser for your
topic (permanent staff)
• Apply for Hons on Application form and we
advise you of outcome- then enrol manually
with documentation
• Thesis proposal (short description of topic and
supervisor sign off - due beginning of March)
• You can be OS for part of time but only with
supervisor’s consent
More FAQs
• No longer a second “winter” intake- just one a
year...
• Results for thesis unit – tend to be Distinctions
and High Distinctions
• Generally don’t like you to change topics
midstream...but lots of refining of topics along
the way
Your questions?