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Unit of study_

NYUS2106: The Australian Experience

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study is only available to students approved to be participating in the NYU Sydney Program.

Unit details and rules

Unit code NYUS2106
Academic unit Arts and Social Sciences
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Yuri Ogura, yuri.ogura@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Lauren Nilsson, lauren.nilsson@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Long Essay
Final Paper referencing at least 6 scholarly courses and 2 course readings
40% Formal exam period
Due date: 04 Jun 2024 at 23:59
3500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Presentation Primary Source Presentation
Locate primary source and present this to class based on the week's topic
10% Multiple weeks 10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small continuous assessment Weekly Reading Quiz
Students respond to questions on the required readings for 10 weeks
10% Multiple weeks 200-300 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Follow up paper
A write-up of your presentation is due the week following your presentation
10% Multiple weeks 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Short Essay
Select one case study and explain key concepts raised in required reading
20% Week 06
Due date: 26 Mar 2024 at 23:59
1500-1800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Long Essay Proposal
Students provide a short overview of their initial response for final paper
10% Week 10
Due date: 30 Apr 2024 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

Primary Source Presentation: Students will lead a presentation and discussion based a primary reading from the week's topic
Follow-up Paper: A write-up of your presentation is due the week following your presentation
Short Essay: Students write a short paper based on case study and reading from the first unit of the course
Weekly Reading Quiz: Before class, students will prepare a short summary of one of the set readings or viewings.
Long Paper Proposal: Submit a proposal to outline how they intend to approach their chosen topic for the final paper.
Long Essay: Students write a paper referring to at least six scholarly sources including at least two course readings.

Assessment criteria

For this course your total numerical score, calculated from the components listed above, correspond to the following letter grades:

A 94 to 100
A- 90 to < 94
B+ 87 to < 90
B 84 to < 87
B- 80 to < 84
C+ 77 to < 80
C 74 to <77
C- 70 to < 74
D+ 67 to < 70
D 65 to < 67
F 0 to < 65

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 The Concept of Country - Indigenous Land Rights and Settler Colonialism Block teaching (3.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 02 Farmers or Hunter-Gatherers? The Dark Emu Debate Block teaching (3.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 03 The Redfern Story: Contemporary First Nations Identity, Art and Performance Block teaching (3.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 04 Reconciliation, the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the ‘Voice’ referendum Block teaching (3.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05 The Legacies of the ‘White Australia’ Policy Block teaching (3.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Post-WWII Migration and Australian Multiculturalism Block teaching (3.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 07 Everyday Multiculturalism, Homebuilding & Eating Australian Identity Block teaching (3.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Larrikinism, ‘Wogboy’ and the Anti-Authoritarian Impulse Block teaching (3.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 The Suburbs, the ‘Battlers’ and the Politics of Taste Block teaching (3.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Critiques of Whiteness: Legally Brown Block teaching (3.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Chris Lilley’s Race, Class and Gender Drag Block teaching (3.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras: A Queer History of Sydney and the Same-Sex Marriage Plebisite Block teaching (3.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Drag, Colonialism and Camp Politics in Australia Block teaching (3.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Studying at NYU Sydney is an academically intensive and immersive experience, in which students from a wide range of backgrounds exchange ideas in discussion-based seminars. Learning in such an environment depends on the active participation of all students. And since classes typically meet once or twice a week, even a single absence can cause a student to miss a significant portion of a course. To ensure the integrity of this academic experience, class attendance at NYU Sydney is expected promptly when class begins. Attendance will be checked at each class meeting.

Unexcused absences may be penalized with a two percent deduction from the student’s final course grade for every week's worth of classes missed, and may negatively affect your class participation grade. Four unexcused absences in one course may lead to a Fail in that course. Being more than 15 minutes late counts as an unexcused absence.

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

All readings for this unit can be access through NYU Brightspace

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. Develop a critical understanding of Australian culture and society
  • LO2. Develop an Australian perspective on the politics of race, class, and gender in a postcolonial context
  • LO3. Develop an understanding of the ways in which issues in Australian society are both local and transnational
  • LO4. Develop critical comparisons between Australia and America
  • LO5. Develop a comparative approach to cultural analysis
  • LO6. Develop an ability to undertake nuanced readings of primary source material – especially popular culture

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.

Updated a few topics and assessment due dates updated for semester 1 2024

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.