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Unit of study_

ARBC3691: Modern Egypt: History, Culture, Society

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit focuses on Egyptian cultural and political history, from the Napoleonic expedition (1798) to the 2011 Uprisings and their aftermath. Masterpieces of the Egyptian literature and cinema will be studied in relation to the social and political history of the country, revealing its regional and international importance. Specific attention will be dedicated to the cultural vanguards in the 20th and 21st century.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ARBC3691
Academic unit Arabic Languages and Cultures
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 1000 level or 2000 level or 3000 level in Arabic Language and Cultures
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

Basic knowledge in the fields of modern Middle East history, colonial history and Islamic studies

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Lucia Sorbera, lucia.sorbera@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Class Presentation
Critical analysis of weekly readings. More on Canvas
20% Ongoing equivalent to 1000wds
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Essay Plan
Short Essay
20% Week 07 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Final Essay
Long essay
60% Week 13 4000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Assessment summary

Based on the feedback provided for the short essay, you need to develop a longer essay. More information about this assignment is on Canvas. 

Assessment criteria

Assessment grading

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

High distinction (85 - 100)
     

Distinction (75 - 840
     

Credit (65 - 74)
     

Pass (50 - 64)
     

Fail  (0 - 49)
    

For more information see the Department of Arabic Language and Cultures guidelines for the grades, which are published on the Canvas Webite of this Unit of Study

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:

The Assessment Procedure 2011 provide that any written work submitted after 11:59 pm on the due date will be penalised by 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. If the assessment is submitted more than ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded. However, a unit of study may prohibit late submission or exclude late penalties only if expressly stated.

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 Introduction and overview of the Unit, including readings, assessments and cultural activities Seminar (2 hr) LO1
Week 02 The French Occupation of Egypt: 1798-1801 and the question of the “beginning” of Modern Egypt Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Muhammad 'Ali and the Creation of Modern Egypt Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 04 The Late XIX Century, the 'Urabi Revolution and the Down of Nationalism: traditional and new historiographies Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05 Feminism in Egypt: an ongoing revolution? Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 The Labour and the Students’ Movements, history and present days; Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 07 The Human Rights Movement: from the 1990s until today; Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 The 2011 Revolution in Tahrir and beyond Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Classics in Egyptian Modern Literature Part 1 Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Classics in Egyptian Modern Literature Part 2 Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 11 Classics in Egyptian Cinema 1 Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 12 Classics in Egyptian Cinema 2 Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 13 Final Round Table on Egypt Today Seminar (2 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

1 x 3 hours Zoom sessions lectures and tutorials per week

Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.

Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

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.

Required readings

All radings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas

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 a systematic understanding of the relationship between culture and politics in Egyptian contemporary history
  • LO2. Analyse the history, causes and consequences of popular uprisings and revolutions in Twentieth and Twentieth-First Centuries
  • LO3. Develop a solid knowledge of the main works in Egyptian literature and cinema
  • LO4. Analyse the history of political and social movements in Egypt, such as the students' movement, the Marxist, the feminist and Islamism
  • LO5. Discuss the central role occupied by Egypt in the regional and international politics
  • LO6. Situate current political and cultural debates about democracy, freedom and social justice and human rights in Egypt within the appropriate historical context

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 is the first time this unit has been offered

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this unit

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit

Work, health and safety

There are no specific WHS requirements for this unit

Disclaimer

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