CHNS 3611 Chinese for Specific Purposes 1

Written assignment guidelines

Final research proposal (40%): You are required to write a more comprehensive research
proposal on a mini empirical research project related to your major area of studies. The topic
of your project should relate to issues in China, about China or Chinese culture, education,
business, economy, etc. It can be cases, events or problems taking place in other countries,
including Australia, as long as it relates to China in some way. (Length: minimum 2000
Chinese characters but no more than 2200 characters. If you use word count in Microsoft
Word, it needs to be more than 2000 words, because the count includes punctuation.)

Due: at 23:59 on Friday, May 30 in Week 13

You have already written a research proposal and received your tutor’s feedback on your
chosen mini research project and especially on your literature review. This second and final
research proposal requires you to choose a different research project (it can be a broadly
related topic to your first project or a totally different one). This research proposal should
include a clear and specific Title and the following sections with the recommended sub-
headings in Chinese:

• Introduction:
o Provide some background information to help your reader understand your
research topic.
o State the issues, debates or cases around the topic you are going to investigate.
o Explain the rationale for selecting this topic and its significance in your
relevant field.
o Clearly state your research aims.
注意简洁，不要使用过多篇幅。 因为你们的课题不同，并不对字数做硬性规定，
但建议不要超过全文的三分之一。 背景介绍只包括与你的主题相关的信息。
• Literature review:

o At this final stage, you are expected to have completed an extensive literature
reading. You should have a general idea of the related studies that have been done
by other people on your chosen topic.
o You need to show evidence that you have conducted an extensive search for the
publications and have had serious engagement with some articles or other
resources. You are also required to discuss and evaluate on the issues in question
instead of a summary of what you have read. Have you identified any gaps in the
literature (any questions that have not been investigated or any studies that you
think need improvement in any way),
o While there is no upper limit to how many books or journal articles you need to
read and review, a minimum of 8 articles/books is required. This is the minimum
number that can enable you to complete a comprehensive literature review. The
books/articles can be in either English or Chinese (but English resources can not
exceed half of the total resources used).
o Your research question(s): what is/are the specific question(s) you want to
investigate through your project?
o Based on your literature review above, reflect on and demonstrate a principled
individual perspective on the issues in question. Restate the significance of your
project. What contributions it is going to make to the knowledge in your field?

You have presented the literature review in your individual oral presentation. Please make
relevant changes based on your tutor’s comments.

Note: please submit your individual presentation PPT or script (if applicable) together with
your research proposal (in separate files) in this same dropbox, even though you have
submitted it for the Individual presentation. This is for the reference of the marker of your
final proposal.

• Methodology: introduce your research method and research setting, participants, data
collection methods and procedures. Justify the data collection methods you are going
to use in this project. Why and how can the participants provide the primary data you
need for this project?
• Timeline: In this section, you should include a description of how you are going to
distribute your time (one semester, 13 weeks from now). Please also discuss any
possible challenges or barriers in the course of completing this project.
• Conclusion
o In this section, you will present the expected results of your project based on your
interview or survey questions or both (Place the complete questionnaire including
both open-ended and close-ended questions or all interview questions in
Appendix).
o Any further investigations about this topic that you are unable to complete by this
project, but you think are worth conducting?
o Are there any practical implications of your project?
o Do you have any suggestions to other researchers?

• Reference: Please follow the guide discussed in class. Check class notes on Canvas.
• Appendix: Include your complete questionnaire and/or interview questions.
Note: Reference and Appendix are not included in the word count. They need to be excluded
from your word count on the cover sheet.

Format requirements:
1. If necessary, you may add sub-headings for your Literature Review section.
2. Use 宋体 size 14 font and 2.0 line spacing.
3. Use Chinese writing format. （使用中文书写格式）
4. Write in plain Chinese. Don’t use jargon.
5. Please following APA 7 for English references. The guides for Chinese references are
on Canvas.
6. Please attach an assignment cover page to your assignment. You must fill up the
Wordcount.
7. Please include page numbers.
8. Use MS Word or PDF. Canvas might have trouble reading or formatting other
formats.


Submission notes:

The final proposal is due on Friday in week 13, by 23:59 on the 30th of May. A soft
copy with a cover sheet is to be submitted on Canvas by this due date. Simple extension
may be allowed by written application through the Uni system. Faculty late submission
guidelines apply beyond simple extension period (5% deduction per day for late
submissions). That means you cannot pass this assessment, if you submit your paper 10
days (including the weekend) after the extended deadline. If you apply for Special
Consideration, please notify Irene, preferably before your submission. Please also notify
Irene if you encounter difficulties in meeting this deadline.

Please also note that this assessment task is compulsory. You will Absent Fail this unit if
you fail to submit this task.


Marking criteria

Your essay will be assessed on the following:
• Topic and quality of research
• Critical analysis of literature and discussion of the issues in question
• Expressions and presentation
Please see the marking sheet to be used below:

Marking sheet for your final essay Student ID:

Category and value Description Your mark
Topic and quality of
research

10 marks

Topic: relevance; originality; appropriateness

Quality of research: clear and appropriate research
questions; appropriateness
of method; adequacy and relevance of data; good
quality of research instruments (surveys, interview
questions)

Critical review of
literature and
discussion of the issues
in question

20 marks

Evidence of extensive reading and good understanding
of the relevant issues/debates in the field
In-depth analysis and evaluation of literature
Logical and coherent presentation of ideas (including
rationale and significance of project, conclusion etc.)
Reasonable planning and anticipation of results
Evidence of originality and critical thinking

Expressions and
presentation

10 marks


Clarity, coherence,
Appropriate vocabulary,
Correct grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Clear structured and easy to follow
Accurate citation in text/reference
Length (include word count in the coversheet)
Correct format (coversheet font, spacing, subheadings
etc.)

Total: 40 marks

General comments:

学霸联盟