Research Essay

OVERVIEW
Assessment #2 is a research essay of 1500 words. It is worth 35% of your overall mark for the
subject. . It is to be submitted electronically to the Dropbox for this subject (Assessments >
Dropbox).
The Essay must be typed (12 point font), formatted on A4 paper, double spaced and have a 2cm
margin
A bibliography must be included
Marks will be deducted for late submission without an extension being granted
LENGTH
1500 words
DUE DATE
Week 3
DETAILS
Choose one of the following essay topics:
1. Guilt or innocence in criminal trials in Victoria is still decided by 12 jurors. With reference to the
historical development of juries and contemporary trial practice (including comparative
approaches in other Australian jurisdictions) critically examine whether criminal trials should
continue to be decided by juries of 12 and justify your argument.
2. The advent of articial intelligence, machine learning and robotics is challenging traditional
conceptions of criminal culpability in society. With reference to contemporary examples and
criminal justice philosophy, identify the challenges in this area and propose a model for
accountability in the future.
3. The importation of English criminal law and procedure to early colonial Australia was centred
around its establishment as a penal colony. With reference to the key characteristics of the early
criminal justice system in colonial Australia, describe how the particular features of Australia’s
society, geography and development shaped Australian criminal justice in a different way to that in
England in the 19th century, and how some of those developments can still be seeing our criminal
justice system today
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA AND SUBMISSION
The weighting of marks in the essay is as follows:
1. Strength, relevance and originality of your work (answering the question) – 25%
2. Breadth and depth of research – 25%
3. Structure and coherence of your argument (considering different perspectives, critical analysis
of issues) – 20%
4. Presentation, grammar, punctuation, language and structure of your essay – 15%
5. Observance of scholarly standards (footnoting, referencing, citations etc) – 15%
See the rubric and submit your assessment via this Assessment 2: Research Essay
(/d2l/common/dialogs/quickLink/quickLink.d2l?ou=589286&type=dropbox&rcode=VU1390443) dropbox.