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Unit of study_

GCST3638: Nature, Culture, Power

Understanding our place in a changing environment is a 21st century priority. This unit uses feminist, decolonising, and multispecies, frameworks to investigate how environmental problems are shaped by intersecting factors of gender, race, sexuality, ability, economic status, and colonialisms. Drawing on examples such as climate change, toxic contamination, resource extraction, and biodiversity loss, this unit examines the material and conceptual links between human and non-human natures, and cultural, political, economic and social forces.

Details

Academic unit Gender and Cultural Studies
Unit code GCST3638
Unit name Nature, Culture, Power
Session, year
? 
Semester 1, 2022
Attendance mode Normal day
Location Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Credit points 6

Enrolment rules

Prohibitions
? 
GCST2631
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Cultural Studies or Gender Studies
Corequisites
? 
None
Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff and contact details

Coordinator Thom van Dooren, thom.van.dooren@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Essay 2
Long Essay
50% Formal exam period 2,500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Tutorial Participation
Actively contributing to tutorial discussions
10% Ongoing Weeks 2-13
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Essay 1
Short Essay
30% Week 08 1,500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Reading Exercises
Weekly submission of discussion questions relating to the readings
10% Weekly 500 words (across 12 weeks)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Detailed information on assessment and late penalties can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

 

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.

Special consideration

If you experience short-term circumstances beyond your control, such as illness, injury or misadventure or if you have essential commitments which impact your preparation or performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic honesty, academic dishonesty, 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 dishonesty or plagiarism seriously.

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

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes

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. identify and explain key theories and concepts in the environmental humanities that pertain to the human dimensions of contemporary environmental issues
  • LO2. apply these concepts and theories to case studies and examples of environmental issues in personal, Australian, and transnational contexts
  • LO3. identify and critique the presentation of environmental problems as value-neutral
  • LO4. identify, research, and critically analyse a specific environmental issue using theories and concepts learned in this unit, and to produce a grounded and convincing argument vis-a-vis this issue
  • LO5. communicate research in scholarly written text and oral presentation (in tutorial discussions)

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 is the first time this unit has been offered.

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.