Skip to main content
Unit of study_

INDG3003: Race, Racism and Indigenous Australia

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

In this unit students critically examine race and racism and their impacts on Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Students consider theories of structural and cultural violence; how racism is linked to poverty, justice and human rights; critical whiteness theory; and race representation. With an emphasis on Indigenous Australia, students gain an understanding of visible and invisible racism and skills for unmasking racism in a process of constructive individual and social change.

Unit details and rules

Unit code INDG3003
Academic unit Indigenous Academic Units
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Indigenous Studies or 12 credit points at 2000 level in Diversity Studies
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Lynette Riley, lynette.riley@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Lynette Riley, lynette.riley@sydney.edu.au
Christine Evans, christine.evans@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Case Study
Essay Major
40% Formal exam period
Due date: 13 Nov 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 17 Nov 2023
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Presentation Tutorial presentation
Presentation
25% Ongoing
Due date: 06 Nov 2023 at 23:00

Closing date: 18 Nov 2023
equivalent to 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO7 LO5 LO4 LO3
Assignment Critical Resource Analysis
Essay Minor
35% Week 08
Due date: 18 Sep 2023 at 23:00

Closing date: 29 Sep 2023
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO7 LO6

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

  • Consistently strong and ongoing demonstration and evidence of superior organisational and conceptual skills. The work is extremely well conceived, coherent, logical, original and lucid as well as professionally prepared.
  • Impressive and original depth of understanding of the content and discipline is displayed. Information is gathered from a wide range of current & relevant sources beyond the core materials.
  • Convincing synthesis of evidence, critical analysis and understanding of multiple perspectives to formulate a coherent argument.
  • Critical assessment and analysis of the relationship between theory, research and practice. Possible insightful and/or original deployments of theory or theoretical concepts. Implications for personal and professional practice are carefully considered and explored. Work potentially worth dissemination and/or postgraduate study.

Distinction

75 - 84

 
  • Consistently strong and ongoing demonstration of very good organisational and conceptual skills. The work is well conceived, coherent, logical and lucid as well as professionally prepared.
  • Thorough and comprehensive understanding of the content and/or discipline gathered from a wide range of current & relevant sources beyond the core materials.
  • Convincing synthesis of evidence, critical analysis and understanding of multiple perspectives to formulate a coherent argument.
  • Insightful critique or consideration of relationship between theory, research and practice. Personal / professional implications for practice considered.

Credit

65 - 74

  • Strong organizational & conceptual skills and evidence that the task is logical and coherent and professionally prepared.
  • Considers topics and issues in the broader disciplinary context. Evidence of having read current and relevant sources beyond the core materials.
  • Credible argument making relevant use of evidence, analysis and understanding. Able to apply concepts and draw and justify conclusions.
  • Critical or evaluative discussion/thinking about links between theory, research and practice.

Pass

50 - 64

  • Demonstrates task organization and conceptual understanding in a style which is mostly logical, coherent and flowing.
  • Clear understanding of topic. Demonstrates understanding of materials presented in core texts and readings.
  • Demonstrates some evidence of analytical and evaluative skills. Able to apply fundamental concepts and draw and justify conclusions.
  • Beginning to develop critical reflection and analysis of practice through theory and research. Relevant concepts etc applied in a generally appropriate and thoughtful way.

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
Week 01 Race, Racism and Indigenous Australia Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 02 Knowledge, Biopolitics and Race. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO7
Week 03 Cultural Bias in Resources. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 04 1. Critical Whiteness Studies. 2. Aboriginal Education and Wicked Problems. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 1. Indigenous race representation through media. 2. What is laughing at 'Racism'? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Violence, Power and Race. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO7
Week 07 Intersectionality: Class, Race and Gender Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO7
Week 08 1. Reconciliation - Rhetoric or Reality? 2. Impacts of Racism on Aboriginal Languages. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 1. Transnational comparison. 2. Critical Colonial Race Theory Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Kinship Presentation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 11 Effects of Racism on Indigenous Australia. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 12 Thinking differently? What is putting your foot in it? And Workshop: “I’ve put my foot in it when ….!” Or “I really need to know …” Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 13 Anti-Racism Strategies Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO5 LO7

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.

Required readings

Readings will be provided through Canvas by Library Services.

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. Examine the nature and sources of racism.
  • LO2. Explore theoretical perspectives on representations of race.
  • LO3. Demonstrate skills in unmasking racism at a personal and systemic level; and how this has impacted across nations historically.
  • LO4. Debate the historical and contemporary impact of race and racism in Australia with particular reference to Indigenous Australians, in local, national and international arenas.
  • LO5. Appraise the historical impact of racism for Indigenous Australians in social systems such as: education, health, and employment.
  • LO6. Critically evaluate media and print material for racist content.
  • LO7. Comprehend and analyse processes involved in equity and anti-racism strategies.

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.

Student feedback will be followed up and integrated in the course.

Note: All Assessessmnet Tasks must be submitted to pass this unit of study.

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.