BLB1114 Legal Research Methods - ORT,CT Assessment

Research Question Choose one of the below research questions - these questions are the same as those available for Assessment Two Research Essay:

1. Australian law currently provides enough human rights safeguards for its citizens. Therefore, there is no need for further protections in the form of a Bill of Rights or a Charter of Rights. Discuss

2. Is judicial activism a problem in Australia, or is it just a part of the common law?Discuss [you may not use the articles from within Exercise 3B from session 3 in Assessment 1]

3. Has access to justice in the Australian legal system now become a privilege rather than a right? Discuss [you may not use the articles from within Exercise 3A from session 3 in Assessment 1]

4. How, if at all, should First Australians be recognised in the federal Constitution? Discuss this statement in light of the proposed ‘Voice to Parliament’ referendum.

Part A – Secondary Source Analysis (approx. 250 words)

Find one secondary source that is relevant to your chosen research question. Critically analyse the secondary source by considering the claims or arguments made by the author, and the quality of evidence used to support the author’s claims or arguments. In your analysis, provide one significant quote for the secondary source, and reference the quote in a fully AGLC compliant footnote. Provide a fully AGLC compliant reference for the source in your bibliography.

Part B – Peer-Reviewed Secondary Source Analysis (approx. 250 words)

Find one peer-reviewed secondary source that is relevant to your chosen research question. Critically analyse the peer-reviewed secondary source by considering the claims or arguments made by the author, and the quality of evidence used to support the author’s claims or arguments. In your analysis, provide one significant quote for the peer-reviewed secondary source, and reference the quote in a fully AGLC compliant footnote. Provide a fully AGLC compliant reference for the source in your bibliography.

Part C – Comparative Analysis and Reflection of Secondary Sources (approx. 300 words)

Compare your two selected sources for Part A and Part B by critically analysing the similarities and differences between the two sources in terms of their credibility and the strength of the claims or arguments made by each source. Reflect upon the relative value of these two sources in terms of their relevance to the research question, potential use in your subsequent research essay, and the aspects of the research question that these two sources do or do not address.

Instructions

You must write three analyses in this assessment (as outlined above). You do not need to submit your three analyses separately, they can be within a single document and contain only one bibliography. You do not need to write your analyses in essay format (no need for an introduction, essay body, conclusion, etc). You do not have to use a nonpeer-reviewed source in Part A if you do not wish to – all that is necessary is that the Part B source is peer-reviewed. Please note you are not permitted to use any secondary sources used in the power point sessions of this unit, for example the articles referred to in session 3.

Your analyses must use clear and intelligible written expression, and clearly assert your perspective on the quality or value of your chosen sources. You must provide referencing and a bibliography in compliance with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation 4th edition. Please use double spacing and Times Roman font for the presentation of your work.  A late penalty of 5% per day will be deducted for the late submission of your work via the dropbox. Work uploaded more than 3 days after the due date, without a valid extension, will not be marked. Task description

1.Read over the Details and Instructions sections provided above. Then, before the end of the first week of class, choose your preferred research question.

2.Conduct some preliminary research into your research question and select one secondary source and one peerreviewed secondary source. Begin your analyses of these sources.

3. In this assignment, you will rely primarily on your own initiative to complete your analyses. However, there are many resources at your disposal, including the Library, student services, your BLB1114 teacher, and your fellow students via discussion boards on VU Collaborate. Remember that we will have a workshop on AGLC in a Week 1 workshop.

4. Ensure you have submitted your three analyses to the correct dropbox by 11.59pm on the Sunday of Week 1.

Process Please note and follow the process steps below:

1.Read and consider the research questions provide above in the Details section.

2.Choose one of these research questions. 

3.Conduct preliminary research on your research question and select two secondary sources relevant to it. a.Remember that your Part A secondary source does not have to be peer-reviewed, but it can be if you wish. b.Remember that your Part B secondary source must be peer-reviewed. Use Ulrichsweb or a manual investigation of the source to confirm it is peer-reviewed.

4. Begin writing your analyses, remembering to address each of the matters referred to above in the Details section. a.Remember to provide footnote citations where possible and at least for your significant quotation, and remember to provide a citation of your source in the bibliography. b.Remember that you do not have to write your analyses in essay format, or submit them on separate documents if you do not wish to.

5.Complete and submit your three analyses to the correct dropbox