Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Rachael Brown
Contact via rachael.brown@mq.edu.au
W6A, Rm 726
Mondays 2-3pm and Thursdays 3-4pm
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
12cp or admission to GDipArts
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit is devoted to examining the ways in which evolutionary biology can shed light on the nature of the human mind and culture. The unit begins with an introduction to evolutionary theory and a discussion of some foundational issues concerning its nature and structure. What is fitness? What is adaptationism? What is the unit of selection? A substantial part of the unit, however, involves investigating extensions of evolutionary theory to the explanation of human mind and culture. The unit examines recent theories of cultural evolution, evolutionary epistemology, and evolutionary psychology. A special study is made of the ambitions and limitations of socio-biology: in particular, of socio-biological explanations of human sexual and ethical behaviour.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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iLearn Quiz 1 | 10% | 27/08/14 |
iLearn Quiz 2 | 10% | 10/10/14 |
iLearn Quiz 3 | 20% | 12/11/14 |
Tutorial participation | 20% | N/A |
Essay | 40% | 17/11/14 |
Due: 27/08/14
Weighting: 10%
An online quiz (administered via iLearn) covering material from Topic 1 and 2 of the course. The quiz will include both multiple choice and short answer questions. The quiz will be available on the unit iLearn site for completion from midday on Friday 22nd of August until midday on Wednesday 27th of August. Once you begin the quiz you will have 2.0 hours in which to complete it. You may only attempt the quiz once.
If you do not complete the quiz without a medical certificate you will be deemed to have failed the assessment. Reasons such as needing to attend another course, or work commitments outside of University will not be considered as grounds for non-completion.
Due: 10/10/14
Weighting: 10%
An online quiz (administered via iLearn) covering material from Topic 3 of the course. The quiz will include both multiple choice and short answer questions. The quiz will be available on the unit iLearn site for completion from midday on Monday 6th of October until midday on Friday 10th of October. Once you begin the quiz you will have 2.0 hours in which to complete it. You may only attempt the quiz once.
If you do not complete the quiz without a medical certificate you will be deemed to have failed the assessment. Reasons such as needing to attend another course, or work commitments outside of University will not be considered as grounds for non-completion.
Due: 12/11/14
Weighting: 20%
An online quiz (administered via iLearn) covering material from Weeks 7-12 of the course. The quiz will include both multiple choice and short answer questions. The quiz will be available on the unit iLearn site for completion from midday on Friday 7th of November until midday on Wednesday 12th of November. Once you begin the quiz you will have 3.0 hours in which to complete it. You may only attempt the quiz once.
If you do not complete the quiz without a medical certificate you will be deemed to have failed the assessment. Reasons such as needing to attend another course, or work commitments outside of University will not be considered as grounds for non-completion.
Due: N/A
Weighting: 20%
Internal students are required to attend 70% of all tutorials, prepare for tutorials and to participate in discussion of required readings for each tutorial.
The mark is based in part on the extent to which students come to class well prepared, having done the required reading and having considered the tutorial questions/exercises. It is also based on the extent to which students make a constructive contribution to classroom discussion.
Class participation marking criteria:
(Adapted from Tyler, J. (2004) Class Participation Assessment Guide. Department of Education, Brown University).
External students are required to post online a discussion point in response to set readings by the end of the week in which those readings are set. They should also provide courteous and relevant feedback on at least one other post in 7 weeks of the semester. The marking criteria are the same as for internal students.
Due: 17/11/14
Weighting: 40%
Students will write a research essay of 2000 words which provides a careful critical examination, based on reasons, argumentation and evidence, of one of the topics covered in the course. A list of essay questions will be made available on iLearn, and the research essay must answer one of these set questions.
A detailed essay plan must be brought to the tutorial two weeks before the due date for the essay for discussion and feedback (i.e. Week 11). An essay plan worksheet will be provided on iLearn to aid in production of this plan. External students will be paired to share essays and to provide feedback. Copies of the plans and feedback must be sent to the course convenor during Week 11.
Lectures: 2 hours per week
Tutorials: 1 hour per week
Echo 360 lectures online
Required Materials:
Wk. | Lecture A Topic | Lecture B Topic | Tutorial Topic | Key Events |
Topic 1. Introduction | ||||
1 | What is Philosophy of Biology? | What is Natural Selection? | No tutorials this week | |
Topic 2. Adaptation, Perfection, Function | ||||
2 | Adaptationism I | Adaptationism II | Evolution, Natural Selection | |
Topic 3. What is Selection Acting On? | ||||
3 | The Cooperation Paradox | Gene's Eye View | Adaptationism | |
4 | Extended Phenotype | The Organism Strikes Back | Gene's Eye View | Test 1 due 27/8 |
5 | Group Selection | Biological Individuality | Extended Phenotype, Responses to Gene's Eye View | |
6 | Extended Inheritance: Epigenetics, Memetics | Niche Construction and Developmental Systems Theory | Group Selection | |
Topic 4. Evolutionary Explanations of Human Behaviour | ||||
7 | A History of Human Uniqueness | Sociobiology | Extended Inheritance, DST | |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK | ||||
8 | PUBLIC HOLIDAY | Sociobiology | Essay Writing | Test 2 due 10/10 |
9 | Evolutionary Psychology | Evolutionary Psychology | Sociobiology | |
10 | Gene-Culture Co-evolution | Gene-Culture Co-Evolution | Evolutionary Psychology | |
11 | Cognitive-Niche Construction | Cognitive-Niche Construction | Essay Workshop | Essay plan must be completed. |
12 | Comparing and Integrating Approaches | Comparing and Integrating Approaches | Gene-Culture Co-Evolution and Cognitive-Niche Construction | |
13 | No lectures this week - Essay Meetings | No lectures this week - Essay Meetings | No tutorials this week - Essay Meetings | Test 3 Due 12/11 |
Essay Due 17/11 |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
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As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Date | Description |
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04/08/2014 | Inconsistency between essay blurb and course timeline rectified. |
30/07/2014 | Year for dates of assessment were corrected. |