BUSN3001ResearchEssayAssessment

Purpose: The Research Essay examines students ability to identify appropriate scholarlyresearch and media articles, critically analyse this literature and develop written arguments.This task helps students further develop their knowledge of accounting theory and theirwrittencommunicationskills.

This assessment task is to be completed individually.Required:

Criticallyanalysetheliteraturerelatingtoclimaterisk(orcarbon)disclosure.

Your research essay (at a minimum) should discuss the following:

(1) what motivates firms todisclose climate risk(or carbonemissions);

(2) theeffects of disclosingclimate risk(orcarbonemissions);and

(3)criticallyevaluatethelimitationsofvoluntarydisclosureofclimaterisk(or carbon emissions).

It is expected that your essay will be broadly researched and your arguments should be wellreasoned and evidenced with reference to the existing literature. You are required to use theHarvardreferencing system.

The word limit for this research essay is a strict 2,000 words (i.e. there is no 10% margin).Thisexcludesthereferencesattheendoftheessay(butincludesthein-textreferences).

Marksmaybedeductedforessaysthatexceed thiswordlimit.

AssessmentCriteria:

TheResearchEssaywillbeassessedbaseduponthefollowingcriteria(n.b.thesearenotevenlyweighted):

• Provides cohesive summary of case: ability to cohesively and compellinglycommunicatekey aspects of the case;
• Theory depth and relevance: coverage and depth in the focus areas of the essay,demonstrationof knowledge and understandingof theory;
• Critical analysis: level of critical analysis, argumentation, originality of ideas andinsight;
• Discussion of prevention: ability to use key arguments and theory to draw logicalconclusionsanddiscussionof howcasecouldhave beenprevented/mitigated;
• Evidence of scholarly research: extent of literature review, relevance of articles,substantiationof arguments withreferencesto literature;
• Structure and written expression: effective language and writing (including attentionto grammar and sentence construction), structure and coherence of the essay as awhole;
• Consistency with academic conventions: correct and consistent referencing,formattingand abiding by word count.

Note:The criteria listed above are not mutually exclusive but are complementary in theoverall assessment of the assignment. A well-written and organised essay will receive a zeromarkif it isnot relevantto the giventopic.

ThemarkingrubricusedtoassessthisResearchEssayisprovidedbelow.

Furthernotes:

• YoudonothavetousethesamereferencesidentifiedintheReferencing
• This is an essay, not a report, so keep use of subtitles to a minimum (or do not use anyatall). Rememberthat your essaymust have alogicalargumentand flow.
• Only use, and reference, media articles, journal articles and other references that arein English. The only exception is for any official government document (e.g. pressrelease or legal document) that is not available in English. Only include these ifabsolutelynecessary foryour essay.
• We are not looking for you to use a certain number of references for this assessment,but consider the 3 media articles, and 7 journal articles identified for the ReferencingExercise as a minimum or starting point for your research. However, we are lookingfor quality over quantity in terms of the references used: it is more important toshow that you understand and critically analyse the resources you have found thanlistingmanythat you only superficially discuss.
• Plagiarism and insufficient referencing are not tolerated. We expect a high standard interms of referencing in this assessment, as the Research and Referencing Exerciseprovided students the opportunity to develop these skills. Students are encouraged touse the Turnitin Originality Report function to check the work they plan to submit inthe lead-up to the submission date, and ensure their case analysis is entirely their own Ensure you allow sufficient time for Turnitin to complete this report whenplanning your essay submission. Instances of Academic Misconduct will be reportedanddealtwith accordingtoANUAcademic IntegrityPolicyandProcesses.
• It is critical that you carefully and correctly use the Harvard referencing system forthis assessment. If you are unfamiliar with the Harvard referencing system, the ANUAcademic Skills and Learning Centre (ASLC) provides detailed information onreferencingon its website.

GeneralInformation

Submission: Students must submit through the Turnitin system on Wattle. For additionalinformation regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU website.Late submission without anapproved extension is permitted for this task. However, late submissions are penalised at therate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submissionof assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after thedatespecified in thecourse outline forthe returnofthe assessmentitem.

Presentation: Your submissions must be word-processed and presented professionally, using12pt font and at least 1.5 line spacing. Ensure your grammar, expression and spelling arecarefullychecked beforesubmission.Longdirectquotesshouldbesinglespacedandindentedfrom theleft margin.

Essay Writing: The Academic Skills and Learning Centre (ASLC) provides a lot of supportforstudentsinwriting essaysthroughitswebsiteandalsoin-personthrough booked

appointments and drop-in clinics. The online booklet Essay Writingis useful in explainingthe basics of essay writing strategies. The ASLC website also provides useful information onreferencingand academic honesty.

Extensions and Penalties: Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are coveredby the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions will only beconsidered when evidence of medical illness (e.g. medical certificate or hospital admissiondocumentation) or other serious misadventure can be provided. Work or other personalcommitments are not acceptable reasons for extensions for coursework assessment. If youneed an extension, you must request it in writing on or before the due date. If you havedocumented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to requestanextensionon orbefore the duedate, you maybe abletorequest it afterthedue date.