Students

RSN 280 – Russia: Myths and Facts

2014 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Yulya James
Contact via yulya.james@mq.edu.au
W6A 203A
Friday from 12pm to 2pm
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
12cp
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This is a general education unit that is taught in English. The unit surveys the history of Russia through the different events that caused the most controversial discussions among scholars. Students explore a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time. The events discussed are set against the rich background of the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth to the twentieth century. 

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.
  • Plan and write an essay using appropriate academic style and referencing.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Seminar /Online presentation 30% TBA
Essay 1 20% TBA
Quiz 20% TBA
Essay 2 30% TBA

Seminar /Online presentation

Due: TBA
Weighting: 30%

15 minute presentation on a selected topic to the history of Russia. Internal students will present in class. They should provide a bibliography and Powerpoint or audio/visual aids. External Students will send a video file or a text file of their presentation, a bibliography as well as any Powerpoint.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.

Essay 1

Due: TBA
Weighting: 20%

A research essay in English (1,000 words). Must include references,bibliography (not included in word count) and be written in an academic style.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.
  • Plan and write an essay using appropriate academic style and referencing.

Quiz

Due: TBA
Weighting: 20%

Quiz to review key events in the history of Russia


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.

Essay 2

Due: TBA
Weighting: 30%

A research essay in English (1,500 words). Must include references,bibliography (not included in word count) and be written in an academic style.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.
  • Plan and write an essay using appropriate academic style and referencing.

Delivery and Resources

There are no texts to buy for this unit but students are required to read all the texts assigned by the lecturer prior to each class. Most of these will be available on iLearn. It is the student’s responsibility to check iLearn regularly for texts for forthcoming lectures.

iLearn is an essential tool for RSN280. It is used to communicate with students, post resources and useful links. All students must log on to iLearn at the beginning of semester and check for updates regularly. To log on, go to: www.ilearn.mq.edu.au and use your Student ID number and your MyMQ Portal password.

Unit Schedule

TBA

Policies and Procedures

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.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

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.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.

Assessment tasks

  • Seminar /Online presentation
  • Essay 1
  • Quiz
  • Essay 2

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Plan and write an essay using appropriate academic style and referencing.

Assessment task

  • Seminar /Online presentation

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Plan and write an essay using appropriate academic style and referencing.

Assessment tasks

  • Seminar /Online presentation
  • Essay 1
  • Quiz
  • Essay 2

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.
  • Plan and write an essay using appropriate academic style and referencing.

Assessment tasks

  • Seminar /Online presentation
  • Essay 1
  • Quiz
  • Essay 2

Problem Solving and Research Capability

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.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Plan and write an essay using appropriate academic style and referencing.

Assessment tasks

  • Seminar /Online presentation
  • Essay 1
  • Quiz

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment tasks

  • Seminar /Online presentation
  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.

Assessment tasks

  • Seminar /Online presentation
  • Essay 1
  • Quiz
  • Essay 2

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

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:

Learning outcome

  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.

Assessment task

  • Seminar /Online presentation

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
09/07/2014 Updated convenor details