Social Science Question

SOSS3006 Assessment 1 Brief

Summary of Information

Course and Term:SOSS3006: Social Sciences in the Workplace – T2 2025

Assessment Name:Assessment 1 - Project Brief

Weighting:50%

Length:1500 words (+/- 10%)

Group work:No

Due date:30/6/25, 11:59 pm

Submission Location:Moodle Assessment Dropbox

Late penalty:5% per day, up until day 5. After that submissions are not accepted.

Assessment Description:

You are to write a project brief (1,500 words) on the project or projects the host organisation has allocated to you during your internship. The project brief includes the organisational context, rationale for the project and the proposed methods or approach you will use to complete the project.

Course Learning Outcomes addressed in this task:

• CLO1: Demonstrate an advanced understanding of research and policy work in NGOs or
• government organisations
• CLO 2: Investigate the dynamics of working within an organisation
• CLO4: Design and apply appropriate research methodologies to policy problem solving
• late submission policy where assessments are penalised at 5% per day, capped at 5 days, after which students cannot submit an assessment.

Relevance

This assessment prepares you for future learning by enhancing your understanding of research and policy work, organisational dynamics, the role of projects in addressing organisational needs, and applying research methodologies. As this project brief is directly tied to your internship, and assigned projects, it provides a valuable opportunity to develop skills in research and policy, report writing, project design and organisational analysis. These skills will be directly useful in future employment across government, university, NGO and private sectors.

How to complete the assessment:

The first assessment for this course is a project brief. This is to explain what you are doing during your internship and why what you are doing is important. A sample project brief will be included in the Moodle page.

Your brief should:

• Outline the context in which you are working including the type of organisation you are in and its overall structure, its focus or mission and the key stakeholders for the project.
• Clearly state the nature, scope, scale and significance of your project including how your project addresses an organisational need and how this is linked to social action.
• Outline your research approach or design and the method you are using for data collection.
• If you are part of a group project, discuss your specific contributions to the project.
• Explain the key outcomes for this project.

• Research & Referencing:
  • As is relevant, ensure your project brief includes evidence to support your statements, arguments and descriptions.
  • You must include in-text citations and a Reference list following Harvard Referencing.
  • In-text references are part of the word count, but your list of references does not form part of the word count.
• Writing:
  • Use report style in presenting your overview (refer to the Assessment 1 – Project Brief Framework on Moodle).
  • Write using paragraphs and only use dot points to explain any specific task elements.
  • Use 1.5 spacing.
  • Ten percent longer or shorter than the word count is acceptable for this assignment.

Generative AI Permission

Planning/Design Assistance

You are permitted to use generative AI tools, software or services to generate initial ideas, structures, or outlines. However, you must develop or edit those ideas to such a significant extent that what is submitted is your own work, i.e., what is generated by the tool, software or service should not be a part of your final submission. You should keep copies of your iterations to show your Course Authority if there is any uncertainty about the originality of your work.

If your Convenor has concerns that your answer contains passages of AI-generated text or media that have not been sufficiently modified you may be asked to explain your work, but we recognise that you are permitted to use AI generated text and media as a starting point and some traces may remain. If you are unable to satisfactorily demonstrate your understanding of your submission you may be referred to UNSW Conduct & Integrity Office for investigation for academic misconduct and possible penalties.

As you write your Project Brief, it is a good idea to keep copies of draft versions to demonstrate how you have developed your response over time. For more information on Generative AI and permitted use please see here.

Please note simple editing assistance is also allowed as part of planning/design assistance.

Acknowledgement of AI

If you have used AI for Planning & Design Assistance, you must include an acknowledgement of AI use statement before the referencing section of the report, detailing how you have used AI. For example:

• I acknowledge the use of AI tools [list tools - e.g., ChatGPT] in the preparation of this report, specifically for [brief description, e.g., brainstorming ideas, refining structure, or improving clarity], with all content critically evaluated and edited to reflect my own understanding and analysis.

Submission Requirements

Electronic Submission:

• What to submit:
• Where to submit:
  • Submit via Turnitin, in the Assessment Hub on Moodle.
  • Note you will be able to see the similarity report and resubmit before the due date.
• Due date:
  • Monday 30 June 2025, 11.59pm.

Extensions:

• Special Consideration | UNSW Current Students.

• Special Consideration | UNSW Current Students.

Late submissions:

How you will receive feedback for this task:

Students will receive written feedback and a numerical grade through the Turnitin Feedback Studio in Moodle. These will be released within ten working days of the assessment due date.

Assessment Criteria

• Organisational analysis - Context of the organisation provided and analysis evident (15%)
• Theory & method - Effectively communicates conceptual or theoretical approach to subject matter and research design and method used (20%)
• Research - Evidence of appropriate background research undertaken (20%)
• Project Description - Clarity around project, outcomes, methodology and timelines (25%)
• Professional Expression & Format - Clarity of expression including language, grammar and written presentation of the research or project report (15%)
• Referencing & AI (at Planning & Design Assistance Level) - Project is supported with references in Harvard referencing style. AI tools if used are acknowledged and used appropriately (5%)