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Unit of study_

ANTH3604: The Anthropocene

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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 Anthropology
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Michael Edwards, michael.edwards@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Michael Edwards, michael.edwards@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation In-class presentation
1 x 1,000-word equivalent in-class presentation (20%)
20% Multiple weeks 10 mins per student
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation Canvas discussion contributions
discussion board post
20% Multiple weeks 100 words x 10 discussion posts = 1,000
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Review of paper
1,000-word review essay
20% Week 04
Due date: 15 Mar 2024 at 23:59
1,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Ethnographic reflection
1 x 1,500-word ethnographic essay (20%)
20% Week 08
Due date: 18 Apr 2024 at 23:59
1,500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Research essay
1 x 1,500-word research essay (40%)
20% Week 13
Due date: 24 May 2024 at 23:59
1,500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Assessment summary

  • 1 x 1,000-word equivalent in-class presentation (20%) – this assessment is marked based on students’ seminar presentation over the course of the semester
  • 10 x 200-word Canvas discussion posts (20%) - this assessment is marked over the course of the semester and is required for a minimum of 10 out of 13 weeks
  • 1 x 1,000-word review of paper (20%) – this assessment is due on Sunday of Week 4
  • 1 x 1,500-word ethnographic reflection (20%) – this assessment is due on Monday of Week 9
  • 1 x 1,500-word research essay (20%) – this assessment is due by on Sunday of Week 13

Assessment criteria

Result name Mark range Description
High distinction 85 - 100 To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars established by the faculty.
Distinction 75 - 84 To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars established by the faculty.
Credit 65 - 74 To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars established by the faculty.
Pass 50 - 64 To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars established by the faculty.
Fail 0 - 49 To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, fail to demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard established by the faculty. This grade, with corresponding mark, should also be used in cases where a student fails to achieve a mandated standard in a compulsory assessment, thereby failing to demonstrate the learning outcomes to a satisfactory standard. In such cases the student will receive the mark awarded by the faculty up to a maximum of 49.

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:

For every calendar day up to and including ten calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to late work. The penalty will be calculated by first marking the work, and then subtracting 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. For work submitted more than ten calendar days after the due date a mark of zero will be awarded. The marker may elect to, but is not required to, provide feedback on such work.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction: What is the Anthropocene? Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 02 Approaching the “anthropos” intersectionally Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 03 Climate change across rural and urban ecologies Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 04 Capitalism, commodification and resource extraction Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05 Biodiversity loss and feral proliferation Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Waste and toxicity Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 07 More-than-human approaches Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Affects of the Anthropocene Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 (In)justice(s) in the Anthropocene Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Food and nourishment Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Science and technology Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Art and/as activism Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Reflecting on the Anthropocene Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

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. Gain an expert understanding of recent disciplinary developments that inform environmental and social justice thinking and discourse in the Anthropocene.
  • LO2. Evaluate complex ideas including understanding the contestation of ideas in the social sciences and humanities and being open to new ideas, methods, and ways of thinking.
  • LO3. Reflect critically on theoretical and empirical knowledge and communicate these ideas in oral and written form.
  • LO4. Develop the skills to design, apply, evaluate and theorize about scholarly developments that contribute to professional practice including problem-solving and interdisciplinary approaches.
  • LO5. Develop collaboration and communication skills that enable the practical application of concepts, practices and policies studied within the course.
  • LO6. Acquire research and research presentation skills to justify and interpret findings and conclusions to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

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 was offered for the first time in 2021. It will continue to be redesigned in response to student feedback.

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.