GCST3637: Semester 2, 2022

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Units GCST3637 Semester 2 2022 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

GCST3637: Cultural Politics of Difference

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit follows a decolonial feminist ethics of learning through: (1) Complaining, (2) Caring and (3) Creating. We begin by exploring methodologies of complaint and critique through Indigenous, decolonial, postcolonial, critical race, and queer feminist scholarships. Second, we slow down to ask after and reflect on issues we care about in our diverse communities. Finally, we turn to modes of creating academic-activism, which could range from poetry to policy writing, cookbooks to comics, theatre to technology. From our classroom, we work in solidarity to bring to the attention of communities we belong to new proposals that will help us respond to challenges and injustices in the world.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	GCST3637
Academic unit	Gender and Cultural Studies
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 2000 level in Gender Studies or Cultural Studies
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Jane Park, jane.park@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Final project Final project	40%	- Due date: 22 Nov 2022 at 23:59	2500wds
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation Presentation	25%	Please select a valid week from the list below	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Proposal Proposal	25%	Please select a valid week from the list below	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Participation CANVAS participation and engagement.	10%	Weekly	n/a
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 02	Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 03	Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 04	Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 05	Audre Lorde, The Black Unicorn	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 06	Gloria Anzaldúa, Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 07	Gloria Anzaldúa, The Gloria Anzaldúa Reader	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 08	Aileen Moreton-Robinson, Talkin' Up to the White Woman	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 09	Aileen Moreton-Robinson, The White Possessive	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 10	Peer-reviewed workshops	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 11	Peer-reviewed workshops	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 12	Peer-reviewed workshops	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 13	Peer-reviewed workshops	Workshop (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
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.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of cultural differences in contemporary social contexts, drawing on critical theories and methodologies.
LO2. Demonstrate strong knowledge of critical theories and methodologies that have been used to apprehend complex social and cultural realities.
LO3. Confidently apply knowledge of theoretical and methodological approaches to real-world concerns.
LO4. Produce a creative, critically reflexive response using unit understandings to address a complex real life problem.
LO5. Critically reflect on the challenges and opportunities of seeking to intervene in or change the conditions of everyday life.
LO6. Develop an ethics of care and social responsibility to different and diverse communities.

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

This is a new unit and student feedback will be sought for the first time in Sem 1, 2020.

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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