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Unit of study_

MECO6913: Public Opinion, Policy and Public Sphere

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

This unit analyses the relationship between professional communication and public opinion. It focuses on theories of influence and persuasion in the context of the development of policy, and how these are reflected in the public sphere. It develops the notion of the public sphere as represented by Habermas, Fraser, Schudson and others, focusing in particular on the transformation of the public sphere in terms of postmodern public relations.

Unit details and rules

Unit code MECO6913
Academic unit Media and Communications
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Catherine Page Jeffery, catherine.pagejeffery@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Mei Li, mei.li@sydney.edu.au
Shima Saniei, shima.saniei@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation group assignment Group presentation
Assessment details will be available on the MECO6913 Canvas site
15% Multiple weeks 500 words (equivalent)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Report
Assessment details will be available on the MECO6913 Canvas site
20% Week 05
Due date: 29 Aug 2022 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Essay
Assessment details will be available on the MECO6913 Canvas site
45% Week 09
Due date: 04 Oct 2022 at 23:59
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Stakeholder position paper
Assessment details will be available on the MECO6913 Canvas site
20% Week 13
Due date: 06 Nov 2022 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Assessment details are provided on the MECO6913 Canvas site.

Note: all assessments must be submitted in order to be eligible to pass the 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

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

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.

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:

Assessments submitted after the deadline will be penalised at a rate of 5% per day. Assessments received 10 or more days after deadline will receive 0 marks.

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 Why the public sphere in 2022? Online class (2 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 02 The public sphere in context - ideas, ideology and institutions Online class (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 A public of citizens Online class (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 04 Critiquing the Habermasian public sphere Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Changing media, changing publics Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Global Public Spheres Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Public Opinion in an era of misinformation Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Negotiating the public sphere: professional communicators in practice Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 2022 and beyond - the future of the public sphere Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Group presentation workshops Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Presentations 1 Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Presentations 2 Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Presentation feedback and discussion Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

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. This requirement includes online (Zoom) attendance
  • Lecture recording:  Lectures will be recorded and may be made available to students on the unit Canvas site. 
  • 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 available online via the Readings tab in the Unit Canvas site.

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. research and analyse the roles of various stakeholders, including states, NGOs and other civil society actors in the formation of public policy
  • LO2. critically assess the communication approaches, strategies and tactics these stakeholders employ
  • LO3. reflect on the role of the professional communicator in influencing public opinion and legitimating policy
  • LO4. interrogate theoretical positions and assumptions regarding the concept of the public sphere and processes of public opinion formation in a postmodern context
  • LO5. employ theoretical frameworks to analyse political communication
  • LO6. collaborate in discussion, debate and role-play on issues of global policy governance.

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.

Students have previously reported that the number of required readings was problematic, given their complexity. These readings have been reduced with new, more explanatory readings included. Students also sought a peer assessment option for the Group Presentation which is now included.

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.