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Unit of study_

ANTH3604: The Anthropocene

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Anthropogenic climate change is the primary challenge facing the next generation of leaders. Anthropology's holistic approach to the social world provides key insights into the ways human/environment interactions have caused - and can mitigate - climate change. This unit will explore social/political/cultural aspects of climate change, focusing on current indicators and outcomes, and seek to understand and evaluate different forms of mitigation. The unit will rely on Anthropology's close association with social justice issues, and will focus on climate change effects in the developing world.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ANTH3604
Academic unit Anthropology
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in the Anthropology major
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Paul Mason, paul.mason@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation hurdle task Ethnographic vignettes
mini ethnographies related to weekly reading developed & presented in group
10% Multiple weeks 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Online task hurdle task Class Debate
Summary, exegesis and analysis of class debate
20% Week 04 1,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO4 LO3
Assignment Book review
Book review
30% Week 08 1,200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment hurdle task Project Paper
Anthropological essay on climate change and conservation science
40% Week 13 1,800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

- participate in a class debate and submit a written a 1000 word report (20%),

- 1200 word review of an academic book on the anthropocene (30%),

- 1800 word project paper on topic of choice (40%),

- group presentation with individual contributions of 500 words (10%)

Assessment criteria

Result code

Result name

Mark range

Description

HD

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

DI

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

CR

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

PS

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

FA

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

AF

Absent fail

0 - 49

When you haven’t completed all assessment tasks or met the attendance requirements.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Standard university late penalties apply for all assignments. If attendance in the class debate or presentation is compromised, students need to contact the lecturer asap.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Week 1: From the Holocene to the Anthropocene Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6
Week 02 Week 2: Climate Change and Solastalgia Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO7
Week 03 Week 3: Individualism and Environmentalism Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 04 Week 4: Class Debate. Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 05 Week 5: Indigeneity and the Anthropocene Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 06 Week 6: Eco-Certified Personhood Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 07 Week 7: Rewilding Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 08 Week 8: Circular economy Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 09 Week 9: Bureaucracy and Policy Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 Week 10: Local and Global dimensions of the Anthropocene Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Week 11: Extraction Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 12 Week 12: OneHealth Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 13 Week 13: Post-anthropocene Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of key concepts and ethnographic methods in the discipline of anthropology, and how these link to related disciplines.
  • LO2. show coherent and critical appreciation of how anthropology contributes to contemporary debates about climate change.
  • LO3. demonstrate a high level of awareness of the ethical issues related to the study and representation of humans and the environment.
  • LO4. undertake independent library research and use the concepts and the research findings of scholars to support and develop one's own ideas about humans impacts on the environment.
  • LO5. identify and critique the influence of social and cultural values on one's conception of climate change, especially among other scholars working in various fields including anthropology.
  • LO6. explain anthropological ideas related to climate change to a broad intellectual and non-intellectual audience and to be able to inform public opinion using sound anthropological knowledge.
  • LO7. apply and adapt problem-solving skills and disciplinary knowledge in interdisciplinary study and project work related to the issue of climate change.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit is being offered for the first time in 2021.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.