Outline

Overview

Australian history starts with the ground beneath our feet. With a thematic focus on gender, class, politics, foreign relations, or Indigenous and settler experiences of colonialism and environment, this advanced seminar equips you with skills to access a rich range of archival sources and material culture that will transform your historical understanding of Australian society.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	History
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 2000 level in History
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	James Findlay, james.findlay@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	James Findlay, james.findlay@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Major Research Essay Final Research Essay.	60%	Formal exam period Due date: 13 Nov 2023 at 23:59	4000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Participation Reflects your contribution to the weekly discussion in class and online.	10%	Ongoing	ongoing
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Short Paper Short paper in response to question.	15%	Week 05 Due date: 30 Aug 2023 at 23:59	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Essay Draft Essay draft for research essay.	15%	Week 08 Due date: 22 Sep 2023 at 23:59	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

1000 word short paper
1000 word essay draft
4000 word essay
Participation

Assessment criteria

Result name	Mark Range	Description
High Distinction	85-100	Work that is outstanding for the student’s present level of enrolment and shows potential for distinguished performance at higher levels
Distinction	75-84	Work that shows proficiency in the discipline of History
Credit	65-74	Work of significant promise, showing potential for further development
Pass	50-64	Work of a satisfactory standard.
Fail	0-49	Work that is not of an acceptable standard.

Please refer to the 2021 History Department Handbook for further details.

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:

In accordance with University Policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:00 pm 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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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	Week 1: "To see the past" an introduction to the fields of Australian history and historical films studies.	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 02	Week 2: Cinema and the Convict Stain. What role has screen culture played in celebrating and complicating the memory of those criminals transported to Australia?	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 03	Week 3: ANZAC and a National Cinema. This week we explore what makes a "national cinema" and does this framework help us to understand the war film in an Australian context?	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 04	Week 4: Settler Cinema. This week we explore how the particularities of Australian settler colonialism intersect with 'the pioneer legend' on screen.	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 05	Week 5: Memory and the Revival. This week we discuss the concept of 'Prosthetic Memory' in relation to the Australian film "Revival".	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 06	Week 6: Gender and the Historical Landscape. This week we assess second wave feminism's impact on the representation of gender and the Australian historical landscape in 'Revival' cinema.	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 07	Week 7: History, Documentary and Controversy. This week we explore Australian history in the documentary form.	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 08	Week 8: Immigration and Nostalgia. This week we explore the political implications of nostalgia when imagining migrant narratives on screen.	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 09	Week 9: Reading Week - NO CLASS	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 10	Week 10: Kelly, Masculinity and Social Banditry. This week we explore how contemporary politics of masculinity merge with more traditional aspects of the Ned Kelly legend.	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 11	Week 11: Reality Television as History. Are so called 'living histories' merely spin offs of Big Brother or is there more to their recreations of the past and how do we make sense of them as historical texts in Australia?	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 12	Week 12: Aboriginality on Screen. This week we explore the politics of representation in relation to Aboriginal Australians and their histories.	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 13	Week: 13 Postcolonial Visions. In our final week we consider new directions in Australian historical cinema. Can films decolonise the past on screen? And where should scholars of historical films studies turn to next?	Seminar (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

This class will be conducted as a weekly 2 hour seminar - both hours are compulsory. You will be required to do the set reading and annotation exercise for each week as well as watching the weekly film/TV program. Please come to class prepared to engage in discussions with your peers.

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.

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

Up to date readings (and films) list is available on the Reading List and Modules in Canvas.

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 expert knowledge of period, place or culture in Australian history.
LO2. Demonstrate expert understanding of a variety of approaches to interpreting Australian history, and skilfully employ and manipulate such approaches in their own work.
LO3. Skilfully analyse and interpret both primary evidence (textual and non-textual) and secondary literature.
LO4. Work both independently and collaboratively to develop and refine historical understanding and awareness.
LO5. Apply interdisciplinary approaches to the study of history.
LO6. Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural, political and social importance of film and television in Australia and its place in shaping a public knowledge of Australia's past.
LO7. Demonstrate the skills needed to construct an evidence-based argument or narrative in written, oral, visual, or digital form.
LO8. Demonstrate sophisticated information and digital literacy in research.

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.

Adjustments have been made to readings and timing of assessments.

Additional information

Please note: Students must attempt every assessment in order to pass this unit.

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

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

HSTY3805: Australian History

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links