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Unit of study_

HSTY1023: Emerging Giant: The Making of America

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

Touching down on the shores of the 'New World', the first European colonists imagined the creation of an earthly paradise. But their mission soon floundered in the face of internal dissenters and alien cultures pursuing their own ideals. Fierce clashes between regions, races, social groups and other nations have marked American history ever since. Exploring the origins and outcomes of these contests from first settlement onward, this unit charts America's emergence onto the world scene in the nineteenth century.

Unit details and rules

Unit code HSTY1023
Academic unit History
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
HSTY2634
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Michael McDonnell, michael.mcdonnell@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Michael McDonnell, michael.mcdonnell@sydney.edu.au
Frances M Clarke, frances.clarke@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Participation
Participation
10% - n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment Document assignment
Document assignment
15% - 500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment Research paper
Research paper
40% - 2000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Skills-based evaluation Take-home Exam
Take-home exam
35% Please select a valid week from the list below 2hr
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

  • Document Analysis: A primary source analysis based on a source you will find and use as the basis for your essay later in the semester.
  • Document Essay: A research essay that builds on your primary source analysis to construct an historical argument that answers an original research question. 
  • Take Home Exam: A take home exam that will draw on your knowledge of the lectures and the unit’s core themes and questions.
  • Participation: Participation is assessed on the value of your contributions to class discussion and your completion of any relevant class exercises. We look to see that you have completed the readings, made an effort to respond to classmates’ contributions, asked thoughtful questions or added pertinent observations or arguments based on a close reading of the assigned texts or exercises. 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found in the Canvas site for this unit.

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.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard.

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

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. At the end of this unit, you should have a firm grasp of the broad development of American history from white colonization through the 1860s. Lectures are designed to give you a basic grounding in the chronology of early American history, as well as a sense of the way historians have interpreted this history over time. The final exam will allow you to consolidate and express what you have learned through lecture attendance.
  • LO2. You should have improved your ability to think creatively, independently, and analytically about the process of writing and researching history. The secondary readings for each week focus on how historians come up with new hypothesis by interpreting primary sources. To test and sharpen your understanding of these readings, you will conduct your own analysis of a range of primary sources in each tutorial. In addition, the major research assignment is intended to hone your creative and analytical abilities by having you create an original assignment designed around a source of your own choosing.
  • LO3. Facilitate independent learning. Setting a research assignment that requires a creative approach is meant to stimulate your intellectual curiosity and enhance your problem solving abilities. Having to contribute your own interpretation of primary sources in tutorials each week should also improve your analytical skills and allow you to participate in collaborative learning.
  • LO4. Cultivate your ability to examine the past from multiple angles and perspectives. Our lectures, tutorial readings and primary sources are all designed to help you understand the complexity of both the past itself and our modes of analyzing the past.
  • LO5. Develop your capacity to express what you have learnt in both written and verbal form. Our assignments require the ability to construct a logical, analytically sound, and compelling argument, written in flawless English. They will help improve your use of communications technology, since they require extensive use of online databases. And presenting the idea behind your research assignment to your tutorial group, responding to classmates’ presentations, and participating weekly tute discussions will also improve your communication skills.

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
LO1         
LO2         
LO3         
LO4         
LO5         

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

No changes have been made since this unit was last 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.