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Unit of study_

HSTY2613: Russia's Revolutions: 1905 to Present

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

This course surveys the history of the revolutionary project in Russia from the first clash with tsarism in 1905 through the twin revolutions of 1917, Stalin's dictatorship and World War II, and the breakup of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. Out of the Russian empire, the Bolsheviks claimed to be building a new socialist utopia: a scene of radical social and cultural experimentation. How successful were they and what legacy have they left for the post-Soviet world?

Unit details and rules

Unit code HSTY2613
Academic unit History
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
12cp at 1000 level History units
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator David Brophy, david.brophy@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Tutorial Participation
10% - Ongoing
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Assignment Take-home Exam
35% Formal exam period 1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3
Assignment Essay Proposal & Bibliography
10% Week 06 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4
Assignment Research Essay
45% Week 12 2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

  • Tutorial participation: Prepare for, and participate in, weekly tutorial discussions.
  • Essay abstract and bibliography: Write a 500 word abstract describing your proposed essay topic and the approach you will take, and compile an annotated biblioraphy. 
  • Essay: Write a 2500 word essay presenting original research in primary sources and engagement with secondary scholarship.
  • Take-home exam: Choose two questions from a list of prescribed questions and write responses of 750 words to each.
  • Successful completion of all assessment tasks is required to pass this unit of study. Please refer to the Canvas site for detailed information.

Assessment criteria

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.
Absent fail

0 - 49

When you haven’t completed all assessment tasks or met the attendance requirements.

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:

As per Faculty rules. Successful completion of all assessment tasks is required to pass this unit of study.

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 1) Introduction 2) Approaches to Twentieth-Century Russia Block teaching (2 hr)  
Week 02 1) The Tsar’s Realm: Russia as Empire 2) Serfdom to Stolypin Block teaching (3 hr)  
Week 03 1) The Russian Radical Tradition 2) The Dress Rehearsal: 1905 Block teaching (3 hr)  
Week 04 1) Russia in World War I 2) 1917: Twin Revolutions Block teaching (3 hr)  
Week 05 1) Forging the USSR? Reconstructing the Empire? 2) Socialism in One Country and the NEP Block teaching (3 hr)  
Week 06 1) Gender and the Family in the New Society 2) The Aesthetics of Revolution: Literature & Art of the 1920s Block teaching (3 hr)  
Week 07 1) Collectivisation and Cultural Revolution 2) The Great Purge Block teaching (3 hr)  
Week 08 1) The USSR in World War II 2) TBC Block teaching (3 hr)  
Week 09 1) The Origins of the Cold War 2) Post-War Soviet Society Block teaching (3 hr)  
Week 10 1) Stalin’s Death and De-Stalinization 2) Dissidence and Socialist Legality during the Thaw Block teaching (3 hr)  
Week 11 1) Gorbachev and Glasnost’ 2) Crisis, Collapse, Coup: Explaining the Fall Block teaching (3 hr)  
Week 12 1) Russia in the 1990s and the Rise of Putin 2) Post-Soviet Politics in Ukraine and Central Asia Block teaching (3 hr)  
Week 13 1) Russian Historiography since the Fall 2) Conclusion Block teaching (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.

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. Communicate arguments and ideas in a clear and effective way, both in writing and through oral/visual presentation
  • LO2. Identify, summarise, and analyse the information and perspectives provided by historical sources
  • LO3. Critically engage and respond to a body of existing historical scholarship
  • LO4. Demonstrate an ability to identify and select relevant and intellectually sound resources for historical research
  • LO5. Be able to acquire and evaluate new knowledge through independent research on a prescribed essay topic

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.

Minor adjustments to prescribed readings for certain weeks.

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.