Outline

Overview

Life today is characterised by mounting concerns over inequality, oppression and environmental sustainability. Following Karl Marx's insistence that "The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it", the unit engages with exploring other possible ways of organising the world in which we live. Social scientists are well placed to diagnose and propose responses to the biggest challenges we face. Students will apply a social science lens to persistent problems in our economy, society and environment. The unit evaluates prevailing and alternative policy models in the context of the forces shaping and contesting states and economies.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	SSPS4101
Academic unit	Social and Political Sciences
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	ANTH3998 or ANTH3999 or CRIM3998 or CRIM3999 or ECOP3998 or ECOP3999 or GOVT3898 or GOVT3900 or SCLG3998 or SCLG3999 or SLSS3998 or SLSS3999
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	36 credits points towards a major in a relevant subject area in the social sciences or humanities
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Danielle Celermajer, danielle.celermajer@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Opinion piece and commentary Assignment	40%	Formal exam period Due date: 21 Jun 2020 at 23:59	2000wd
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Project Outline Assignment	30%	Week 09 Due date: 03 May 2020 at 23:59	1500wd
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Online discussion contribution Assignment	30%	Weekly	1000 words total
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Online Discussion Contribution

The total of the Online Discussion Contribution is worth 30% of the total mark for the unit.

For each week from weeks 3-11, two or more students will be nominated to locate a piece of media relevant to the topic of the week. This may be a short piece of journalistic writing, film clip, a podcast or some other form relevant to the topic, including a painting, piece of public art or a poem. You are asked to share it with others via CANVAS and write a 500 word post relating it to the topic and the questions we are asking. Each student will do this once. Each students is then asked to write two further posts of 250 words each commenting on something that others have posted.

It is important that you engage creatively and critically with the question and respond in an informed and engaged manner. Active engagement means that you are aware of the problems posed in the topic and that you are thinking creatively about what it means in your world. A mark out of 10 is awarded for your semester-long contribution to the online discussion contributions. The mark recognises different learning and communication styles. Sharing your thoughts, insights (and confusion) and working through ideas is what is most valuable for learning, and therefore most valued when it comes to marks.

The 500 word Online Discussion Contribution is due Tuesday before class meets on the respective topic by 11.59PM via Canvas.

The 250 word responses are due the Thursday before the class meets on the relevant topic by 11.59pm via Canvas.

Critical reading reflection

The critical reading reflection is worth 30% of the total mark of the unit. This 1500-word assignment is a vehicle for you to critically reflect on three of the topics during the first part of the unit. You are asked to select three readings from the primary or secondary readings, and for each of them write 500 words where you will draw out what you see as their key arguments, and then critically reflect on them in light of the key themes of the unit. The idea is that you engage with the texts in a way that demonstrates both that you have grasped the arguments and are able to make connections between what the author is arguing and your own thinking about contemporary issues. You can include in your 500 words an annotated bibliography of up to five other texts, from the reading or beyond, that have assisted you in your engagement with the text. Annotated means that you add one sentence to each reference that explains its relevance. More information on the critical reading reflection and its assessment criteria will be communicated mid-semester.

The Critical Reading Reflection is due on Monday May 3 by 11.59PM via Turnitin.

Opinion piece

The Opinion Piece and commentary (a combined assessment) are worth 40% of the total mark for the unit. This assignment is designed to assess your critical abilities to engage with a pertinent social problem but also your creative capabilities to engage publics in ways that you think will help them to think about it differently.

The Opinion Piece has become an important medium for intellectuals and social and political activists to engage publics to consider contemporary social and political issues in ways that will influence how they understand and think about them. A good Opinion Piece is one that approaches the topic on its own terms and uses conceptual ideas to explore the topic critically and inventively as well as theoretical and empirical insights to engage others to reflect upon and formulate alternatives.

The assessment will comprise 2 parts. The Opinion Piece itself should be no more than 800 words. Remaining 1200 words is a more reflective piece on how you constructed your argument, your argumentative strategies, your target audience, the choice of media outlet and how the material of the course informed your choice of topic and approach.

The Opinion Piece should not be referenced but can include hyperlinks. The reflective piece should include at least six scholarly readings and four non-scholarly but authoritative resources (governmental and NGO reports, legal documents, media, documentaries, manifestos). More information on the Opinion Piece and its assessment criteria will be communicated in week 11.

The Opinion Piece and commentary assessment is due on Monday June 21 by 11.59PM via Turnitin.

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	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.

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:

Work not submitted on or before the due date is subject to a penalty of 5% per calendar day late. If work is submitted more than 10 days after the due date, or is submitted after the return date, the mark will be 0.

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.

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	Introduction: Expanding imaginaries of worlds ending	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	The affects of worlds ending	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Indigenous Hope in a Dystopian Settler State: The White Possessive & Decolonization	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Extractivism versus the Ancestors: Yindjibardi meet Fortescue Metals	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Interpreting the Past: Slavery and Indenture	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Telling Stories of Dispossession	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Responses to the Holocaust	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Migrant Worlds: Navigating Labouring Lives	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Palestine: Living in the Unliveable	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	A crisis of police violence? Living, surviving, and resisting racialized state violence	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Facing Loss, caring for the more than human	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Facing Loss, becoming more than human	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Integration and conclusions	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

A 90% attendance rate is required.

Tor this unit, this means attending 90% of tutorials in person and 90% of lectures in person or if this is not possible, indicating that you have watched them on line.

Failure to attend 50% of classes could result in your case being taken to the Board of Examiners.

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 accessed through the Library eReserve, available on 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. Conceptualise a social sciences question in relation to real world issues.
LO2. Locate contemporary social and political transformations against a broader historical, political and cultural background.
LO3. Undertake academic literature review on a social sciences topic/question.
LO4. Participate in structured class discussions on readings and ideas introduced in the course.
LO5. Draw on a range of social sciences debate to construct and produce a piece of public argumentation

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.

This unit will be team taught and has been adjusted to address critical contemporary concerns.

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

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

SSPS4101: Social Sciences and Social Change

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

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

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect