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	Sonja Van Wichelen, sonja.vanwichelen@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Social Change Proposal Report Assignment	40%	STUVAC Due date: 06 Jun 2022 at 23:59	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Social Change Proposal Outline Assignment	25%	Week 09 Due date: 25 Apr 2022 at 23:59	1000wd
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Online Discussion Contribution Online Discussion Contribution	35%	Weekly	250 words per week (1500 total)
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Online Discussion Contribution

The total of the Online Discussion Contribution is worth 35% of the total mark for the unit. For this assessment you are expected to read the required reading material for each of the thematic weeks (week 2-11) and reflect on this material through an online submission of around 250 words. Your contribution can be your own reflection but can also be a 250 response to someone else’s reflection—as long as this includes direct engagement with the required readings. It is important that you engage critically with the material and write your reading reflection in an informed and engaged manner. Active engagement means that you are aware of the problems posed in the literature and are thinking analytically about the approaches that the authors take. 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. It is possible for students to gain full marks for participation during the semester. Out of 9 contributions you can miss 3, which means that marks will be given to 6 online contributions in total (1500 words). The Online Discussion Contribution is due Thursday before class meets on the respective topic by 11.59PM via Canvas.

Social Change Proposal Outline

The Social Change Proposal Outline is worth 25% of the total mark of the unit. The 1000-word assignment is a vehicle for you to undertake preliminary independent research into one of the three thematic areas (or other areas after discussion with me). The idea is that you conceptualize a clear and concrete social problem and narrate an outline which forms the basis of your future Social Change Proposal (report). The outline should have four sections: 1) Background, 2) Central Problem, 3) Change Proposal 4) Annotated Bibliography (5 resources). It should use at least one scholarly reading (from the required list or recommended list) and at least one external media, legal, or government resource (newspaper, report, legislation). You do not have to worry about utilizing a system of citation for this assignment, but the annotated bibliography should contain five clear references to further literature and resources that will help you with your future report. Annotated means that you add one sentence to each reference that critically assesses the reading and how it will be useful for your project. More information on the Outline and its assessment criteria will be communicated in week 7 before the Easter break. The Outline is due on Monday April 25 by 11.59PM via Turnitin.

Social Change Proposal Report

The 2500-word Change Proposal is 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 think of possible solutions. The Social Change proposal comes in the genre of the formal report. Reports are a common format to tackle issues in policy, government, or law. A good report is one that approaches the topic on its own terms and uses conceptual ideas to explore the topic critically and inventively and uses insights from the empirical material to reflect upon and formulate alternatives. Drawing on the preliminary work in your Outline, you further expand on what is needed to tackle your particular social problem. Who are the stakeholders involved (government, legal or social institutions, businesses, communities)? And how will you be engaging with these stakeholders in your proposal. The report should use at least four scholarly readings and four non-scholarly but authoritative resources (governmental and NGO reports, legal documents, media, documentaries, manifestos). More information on the Social Change Proposal and its assessment criteria will be communicated in week 11. The report is due on Monday June 6 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	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Knowledge, Power and Climate Change	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	The Politics of the Anthropocene	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Posthuman Sustainability	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	The Ethics of Genomics	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	The Challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Global Pandemics and Sovereign Politics	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	SCP Workshop - Conceptualising the Problem	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 09	SCP Workshop - Engaging Actors of Change	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 10	SCP Workshop - Writing a Report	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 11	The New Inequality	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	The Burnout Society	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Technofutures and Labour	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 the readings can be accessed via the Canvas site.

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. Undertake a general review of resources relating to a social sciences topic/question including government, NGO, legal resources
LO5. Participate in structured class discussions on readings and ideas introduced in the course.

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.

Workshops have been brought forward to allow more time for the report writing.

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, 2022 [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