Question: 2000 words, 45%
Due Date: Friday 26 May 2017
In this final piece of assessment students must write a research essay answering one of the questions below. A research essay is an essay that answers a question using information gathered from proper scholarly research. The two most important things to remember when working on this essay are question and research: you must answer the question, and you must do so on the basis of research into your chosen topic.
Most of the questions below are related to one of this unit's weekly topics. A great place to start your research is the list of References and Further Readings in the relevant weekly topic guide. Students must also do their own research through the library catalogue. Please note that students cannot write on the same topic in assessment tasks 2 and 3.
Please reference your essays fully and correctly, using either Oxford or Harvard referencing style. Essays will be examined using the following criteria: Question; research; essay structure; quality of writing; presentation and referencing.
1- Choose a major event in Australia's past. How did this event change Australia?
2- Is Australia (still) a racist country? Answer with reference to the lives and experiences of Australia's Indigenous peoples in the 21st century.
3- What is multiculturalism? Is Australia an example of a successful multicultural nation? Why/why not? Explain with reference to Australia in the 20th and/or 21st centuries.
4- ‘The Anzac Legend has very little to do with the reality of the experiences of members of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF).' Do you agree? Why/why not?
5- 'When it comes to Asia, Australia is truly an "anxious nation". Do you agree? Explain why/why not with reference to Australia in the 20th and/or 21st century.
6- ‘The experience of Julia Gillard as Prime Minister demonstrated that sexism is alive and well in Australia today.' Do you agree? Why/why not?
7- Why is sport so important to ordinary Australians? Answer with reference to at least one sporting code in Australia in the 21st century.
8- Why do Australians seem so unable to come to terms with the reality of their continent's environment?
9- Compare Australia's history with the history of your home country. How is it similar? How is it different? Explain with reference to proper scholarly sources about Australia and your home country.
10- How is Australia perceived in your home country? Explain with reference to at least 6 news reports as well as proper scholarly sources about international attitudes towards Australia.