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Unit of study_

GCST3635: Bodies and Social Worlds

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

How are bodily life and social worlds intertwined? This unit draws on feminist and other perspectives to explore various body practices, such as dance, cosmetic surgery, nudism, work cultures and eating. The unit highlights the importance of diversity in bodily forms and norms and provides students with the tools to engage critically with the factors that shape embodied practices, including their own.

Unit details and rules

Unit code GCST3635
Academic unit Gender and Cultural Studies
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Gender Studies or 12 credit points at 2000 level in Diversity Studies
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Critical Response 1
15% -
Due date: 13 Sep 2020 at 23:59
750wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Critical Response 2
25% -
Due date: 30 Oct 2020 at 16:16
1000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Major project
35% -
Due date: 30 Nov 2020 at 16:17
2500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Participation Participation
10% Ongoing Throughout semester
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO2
Online task Encountering bodies exercise
5% Week 05 500wd equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO3
Online task Peer Essay Workshop
10% Week 12 1hour workshop/ 750 word equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3

Assessment summary

Critical Response 1: 15% 750 words Due Sun 13 Sept 

Encountering Bodies Exercise: 5% 500 word equivalent Due 21 September/ Week 5

Critical Response 2: 25% 1000 words Due 30 October

Peer Essay Workshop: 10% 750 word equivalent 16 November/ Week 12

Major Project 35% Due 30 November 2500 words

Participation: 10% Ongoing

Assessment criteria

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.

Result name

Mark range

Description

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fail

0 - 49

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

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

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.

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 Nature and Norms I Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 02 Nature and Norms II: Nudity and Cleanliness Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 03 Becoming-Intersectional I: Intersectionality Wars Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 04 Becoming-Intersectional II: Fitting and Misfitting Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 05 Encountering Bodies Exercise Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 06 Sport, regulation, fairness Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 07 The Sexed Body Multiple Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 08 Beyond Nature/Culture: Epigenetics Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 09 Experience: Between Foucault and Phenomenology Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 10 Gesture and Comportment: Negotiating Heteronormative and Racist Worlds Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 11 Protest, Police, and Prison Abolition Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 12 Race, Technology, Imagination Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  

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

A detailed reading schedule can be viewed at https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/27673/assignments/syllabus

 

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. Critically understand the politics of different theories of the body, and their scholarly implications.
  • LO2. An ability to evaluate and draw upon different sources of information in order think critically about the way your body is given meaning and effectivity in the social world.
  • LO3. Creatively apply research methodologies or approaches that engage with the body and/or bodily life.
  • LO4. Demonstrate higher-order critical and analytical skills through having undertaken independently chosen and researched case studies.
  • LO5. Demonstrate through engagement with unit materials and assessments an understanding of the cultural value of bodily differences.

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 semester this unit has run as at 3000 level.

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.