Honours - HUMCASS Honours Student Profiles

Margaret Simmons

BA (Honours) in Sociology (Part-time) 2003-2004

Topic: The Politics of the Quilt
Examining the ways in which patchwork quilting was used to resist subjugation and articulate the stories and lives of enslaved women in the Antebellum South of America.

I chose to do Honours because I discovered at the end of my undergraduate degree how little I really knew about so many things. I felt that I had only just begun my learning journey and Honours was another step along that path.

I am undertaking my Honours degree part-time because of work and family commitments, which has allowed me to pace the work out. Of course, not everyone has this luxury or wants to spend two years doing the degree, but this year, I can now concentrate solely on the dissertation. I believe Honours is an introduction to independent study, and I enjoy closeting myself away with books and journals (luckily Honours students are allowed to double their borrowing quota of books for double the time). I have really been able to hone my research skills too - discovering different ways to access material. Honours also allows you to establish networks and liaisons with staff and other academics in your field which go beyond the didactic pupil/teacher relationship of the undergraduate years.

I would recommend Honours to anyone who has a 'burning question' they want answers to and a passion for a particular topic.

I am not sure where my learning journey is going to take me after honours - a masters or even PHD has been mooted and whilst that once sounded like a fairy-tale, honours has definitely helped me see the possibilities in that direction.

Fleur Gabriel

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Communication Full time (2003)

Thesis topic:
"Slim Shady is not responsible for your actions:" Eminem and the Making of Identities. I used the theoretical perspective of governmentality to explore the different ways rapper Eminem has been constructed as both a celebrated rap icon and as a threat to mainstream society. The thesis considered how material practices shape a field of possible action for Eminem and thus how he is able to "know" himself as a person and performer. It then explored the kinds of identity positions he has opened up for others according to histories of rap performance, and notions of agency in directing the flow of textual representations across various cultural sites.

Why I did Honours:
Towards the end of my undergraduate degree I felt like I'd only just begun to understand the key themes, concepts and ideas I had been studying. Honours provided an opportunity to not only undertake a specific research project in my field of study and get a sense of what postgraduate work is like, but to really consolidate and build on the understandings and skills I'd been developing.

What I got out of Honours:
It was great to develop a substantial piece of work that really interested me and it was very satisfying to see the ideas through. My writing improved as well as my oral and presentation skills, and perhaps most importantly, honours really boosted my confidence in my own ability.

Whether you choose to do honours as a bridge into postgraduate study or as an added qualification in the workplace, it's something to enjoy and be proud of in its own right. I would recommend it to those students who feel like their work isn't quite finished and who feel able and are willing to handle the demanding study workload and time commitment.

Future plans:
I'm currently undertaking PhD studies because, funnily enough, towards the end of my honours degree I felt like I'd only just begun to understand the key themes, concepts and ideas I had been studying. It seems that the more you know, the more there is to know, and I'm not finished yet!

Yvonne Joyce

BA (Hons) Sociology - Full time

My thesis is concerned with the role of refugees and asylum seekers in the 2001 federal elections. Commentators then and since have claimed that the issue was used in the campaign in such a way as to encourage racism in the community in order to gain popular support. Of particular interest was the idea that narratives and messages of racism could occur in the absence of overt racist language. Through the perspective of race critical theory I am analysing 2001 campaign literature including, how-to-vote cards, campaign leaflets, and political speeches to evaluate the claim that a 'race card' had been played in the election.

I decided to go on with honours for a number of reasons but the big push for me was the questions about the 2001 elections that were bugging me. My teenage daughter and I were outside the DIMA office in the months following the 2001 elections protesting against mandatory detention. My daughter was approached by a middle-aged woman who wanted to know what was going on. She then told my daughter, "They [refugees] should all be shot". This really got me wondering: what's going on that people can publicly condone the extermination of a group of people that have done little more than try to enter Australia unauthorised? Having watched the election with dismay I wondered to what extent the government had a role in encouraging such disturbing attitudes. If they did: how? These questions essentially are what have driven me through honours.

Honours has been hard work, stressful, frustrating and a messy process but immensely satisfying.

Lia Crichton

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Communications (part-time) 2002-2003

Thesis topic: The crime fiction of Patricia Cornwell and Agatha Christie; how modernity and post-modernity can be viewed through their work

Why I did Honours: The small class sizes and one-on-one tuition. You learn more and gain a better understanding. Hopefully Honours will enable me to teach Years 11 and 12 in either Media or English.

What I've gained from Honours so far: A more in-depth understanding of concepts introduced at undergraduate level.

I'd definitely recommend Honours as a good stepping stone to other things - whether a Masters / PhD or working. It's a testing ground - a way of seeing what you're able to achieve.

Plans after graduation: secondary teaching.

Andrea Davidson

Bachelor of Social Welfare (Hons) (full-time) 2002

Thesis topic: "'Us', 'Them' and 'Those': an analysis of Government policy in regards to refugees." The analysis encompassed: a review of Australian immigration policy since Federation, especially since the second world war, and an examination of domestic legislation governing refugees in general and the granting of Temporary Protection Visas in particular.
Why I did Honours: I wanted to do further study, and honours offered me a chance to explore the refugee issue in a comprehensive format that isn't possible in undergraduate work. Previously I was a computer supervisor and then an Accounts Manager for a Hospital. I left work four years ago to study Welfare full-time, as I wanted to change careers.
What I got out of Honours: A greater understanding of the issue, a chance to research an issue of importance and relevance to my interests, great experience - especially the knowledge I have gained. Honours was also a good introduction for further study.

Future plans: I may either continue studying full-time or look for work in a policy role.

Daphne Seah

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Communications (full-time) 2002

Thesis topic: ' "One Year Later": Mediating and Constructing Cultural Identities following September 11'. How the media through its S11 coverage helps influence the way we think about other people in terms of their ethnicity and nationality.

Why I did Honours: To further my interests in Mass Communications - it will help advance my career whether it's work or academia.

What I got out of Honours: A more critical understanding of and perspective on the media. I learnt to look at the deeper meaning - not just the surface - a lot goes on underneath!

I'd recommend Honours to others if they qualify, but with the warning that there's a lot of hard work ahead. If you work hard you'll be rewarded - you reap what you sow.

Future plans: I'm returning to Singapore and applying for jobs - I'm interested in working in radio or TV production. Maybe doing further study in a couple of years.

Paul van Breugel

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Politics (part-time) 2001-2002

Thesis topic: "The Ghosts of '75: The Australian Senate, Supply and Democratic Practice". An investigation of the place of supply in the democratic system, and how the current arrangements affect the validity of Australian federal government.

What I got out of Honours: It deepened and sharpened my academic skills, and gave me a really good understanding of the research process. That's something you don't have a really good appreciation of as an undergraduate. It gave me the chance to do something in depth - whereas as an undergraduate, you do lots of little 'bits'.

I'd recommend Honours to anyone who has the time and energy! Someone who enjoys the work they've done as an undergraduate would really appreciate the chance to get their teeth into something substantial. Especially if you had the sense that you're just starting to get into something and then you finish the subject - knowing that there's a whole lot more to find out about that particular issue.

I did Honours at the same time as I was studying for a Grad. Dip. Ed. and working part-time. Doing it part-time was a real advantage. My thesis was better as a result - it gave me more time to mature my ideas.

Future plans: I'll be taking up a full-time teaching position next year, and plan to enrol in a Masters or PhD part-time.

Larissa Walker

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Communications (full-time) 2002

Thesis topic: "Real Identities and Gender in Reality TV ". Looked at the way the identities of participants on reality TV shows are constructed, and how authentic this 'reality' is.

What I got out of Honours: What I enjoyed most was that, instead of 3 years of doing set classes and essays with predetermined questions, I got to do something that I was really interested in - to pick my own topic and shape the questions I wanted to answer. Another good thing was being surrounded by other people who are highly motivated and driven by the same interests as you - it makes an environment which is conducive to study.

I'd recommend the course because although it's a lot of hard work and stressful at times it teaches you to be disciplined and to develop really good research skills which will be useful whatever you do afterwards - whether it's a job or going on to further study.

Future plans: I'm thinking of going on to further study after a 6 month break.

Ian Weir

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Sociology (full-time) 2002

Thesis topic: "A Call to Order: Media Discourse post September 11". Looked at social responses to September 11, particularly the role of shame and pride in restructuring US identity.

What I got out of Honours: From my perspective after I'd finished my bachelor's degree and been in the workforce for 5 years, then came back to study, I found the limitations in the theory I had. Doing Honours opened up the contradictions I experienced with earlier models and gave me new theories to work with. On the research side, when I first tackled it it seemed huge, but I learnt that I can manage - I felt overwhelmed by data at first but in the end produced something I was proud of and gained a lens to conceptualise with.

I'd recommend Honours to others - as a test for yourself to see if you have something more to give. Having got through it successfully I realised I did have something more to give.

Future plans: I'll be enrolling in a PhD in 2003.