Write a concise review of the literature presented in the required readings for weeks 1-2 and the introductory lectures. Your review should identify key themes in the literature and relate those themes to your own learning objectives and fields of interest or practice.

The purpose of this assessment task is to ensure that you understand the key principles and processes in Social Impact Assessment. You are required to demonstrate a critical understanding of the introductory readings and lectures and the issues they raise and the relevance of this discourse to your own fields of interest and practice. This assessment aims to provide you with a clear overview of the field and the issues in doing SIA in cross-cultural settings.

Please note that the reference list for this paper is not included in the word limit.

Grading Criteria for Assessment 1:

Grade

%

Criteria

F

Fail

<50%

Failed to complete all aspects of the assigned task, Fail papers will not succeed in demonstrating an understanding of the key issues or will not clearly relate those issues to the student’s learning objectives or field of interest or practice. If you fail this assignment, you should ensure you consult with the unit convenor.

P

Pass

50-64%

This is the standard required to pass this assignment. To achieve a pass you must write clearly and coherently, demonstrate an understanding of the issues and their relevance to your learning objectives and provide accurate referencing.

CR

Credit

65-74%

Credit range assignments will fulfil all the requirements for a pass grade, but provide a convincing integration of the literature rather than a series of loosely related reviews of individual papers. Synthesis of the issues into a personal position will push the paper to the higher Credit range.

D

Distinction

75-84%

In addition to the above, assignments must demonstrate in-depth thought and reflection on the way that the key issues in the literature relate to the field of cross-cultural and inter-cultural engagement Distinction grade papers must demonstrate very strong communication skills, including an ability to deal with complexity in engaging and effective ways.

HD

High Distinction

>85%

In addition to meeting the above criteria, assignments will demonstrate exceptional writing, and will demonstrate a capacity for deep personal reflection and clarity about personal learning objectives in the unit. High Distinction grade assignments will show exceptional communication skills, analytical understanding and self-awareness.

Write a paper that focuses on some aspect of the tutorial topic and relates the readings, discussion and your own understanding of the issues raised to the broad themes of the unit such as power, culture, ethics and social change.

The purpose of this assessment task is to allow each student to demonstrate a deeper understanding of one area of the field covered by the unit. It requires a written paper, an oral presentation and some leadership of discussion. For external students the ‘oral’ presentation will take the form of an online posting on iLearn and leadership of online discussion. The goal is to demonstrate a capacity to draw others into a thoughtful and high level (i.e. conceptual rather than simply descriptive) discussion.

Each student is required to present to the class on a specific tutorial topic. You will nominate your preferred tutorial (from weeks 4 -11) in week 1. In every tutorial session all students (including external students) are expected to prepare by reading at least 2-3 papers per week. The role of the student(s) leading the tutorial class is not to summarise papers that everyone should have read for themselves, but to lead a discussion of the issues raised in the papers around the questions listed for each tutorial topic. It is recognised that as adult learners the class members bring a range of experience and insights to the task of understanding SIA and cross-cultural negotiation, and that a wide range of fields of practice are implicated. Different students will bring different perspectives, approaches, experience and expectations to the tutorial topic they are leading. Co-presenters are encouraged to work together to present stimulating and provocative discussion sessions. It is certainly not expected that each student will ‘read’ a pre-prepared paper. It is therefore required that your written paper reflects upon your presentation and is responsive to the class discussion rather than simply a reflection on the literature.

Your contribution to the class and online presentation and how well you lead and encourage discussion in class (or on-line) is important to this assessment. Written papers will not be assessed if a student fails to present to the class or, in the case of external students, make an online posting and clear contribution to leading the online discussion for their chosen topic.

Grading Criteria for Assignment 2:

Grade

%

Criteria

F

Fail

<50%

Failed to complete all aspects of the assigned task, Fail grade will be awarded where a student does not complete the presentation task. Fail grades will also be awarded where the tutorial paper fails to engage with the class discussion of the topic and limits itself to re-presenting information from the set readings. Any plagiarism will also produce a fail grade in this assignment.

P

Pass

50-64%

This is the standard required to pass this assignment. Good discussions that demonstrate a reasonable grasp of the selected topic area, a reasonable engagement with class discussion, the set reading and the student’s own experience and are generally well written will receive Pass grades.

CR

Credit

65-74%

In addition to the above, credit range assignments will demonstrate a coherent synthesis of class discussion and/or the literature that produces a clear position in the discourse in the paper.

D

Distinction

75-84%

To achieve a Distinction grade, a tutorial paper must demonstrably integrate both the literature and the class discussion into a convincing discussion of the literature as part of a sophisticated discussion of negotiation-based SIA or a related field of practice. Distinction grade assignments must demonstrate very strong communication and presentation skills.

HD

High Distinction

>85%

In addition to meeting the above criteria, assignments will demonstrate exceptional writing, and will demonstrate a capacity for deep personal reflection. High Distinction grade assignments will show exceptional communication skills, analytical understanding and awareness of the implications of the discussion for practice. 

Choose one of the following topics and write a case study based research essay that addresses the question: What is the value of SIA, or related negotiated approaches to social change, in addressing the needs of diverse populations? Illustrate your argument with reference to a case study.

• Indigenous rights and cross-cultural SIA
• SIA as a tool in addressing vulnerability and resilience in disaster settings
• SIA in formal planning systems
• SIA as conflict resolution in cross-cultural settings

The purpose of this assessment is to apply your understanding of SIA in cross-cultural settings, and the principles and practices of using negotiated approaches, to a research-based case study essay. You will select an essay topic and present evidence to report on an example relevant to the topic. The target is to produce work of publishable quality.

Grading Criteria for Assignment 3:

Grade

%

Criteria

F

Fail

<50%

Failed to complete all aspects of the assigned task, Fail grade will be awarded for papers that reflect poor research, poor understanding or poor writing. Any plagiarism will also produce a fail grade in this assignment.

P

Pass

50-64%

This is the standard required to pass this assignment. It is anticipated that most papers will demonstrate good research skills, present a well-chosen case study and relate the argument developed in the essay to the key ideas developed in the unit. Pass grade essays will demonstrate a reasonable grasp of the selected topic area, a reasonable engagement with relevant literature through research and will be generally well written will receive Pass grades.

CR

Credit

65-74%

In the higher grades papers will need to demonstrate higher level understanding and be moving towards publishable quality in both writing and analysis. The case studies will be concise and convincing with excellent use of available data to illustrate issues and support arguments. In the credit range, papers will not only demonstrate understanding of the broad themes of HGEO802, but also deliver an argument that applies coherent synthesis of the framework offered by the unit into a well-presented case study.

D

Distinction

75-84%

To achieve a Distinction grade, a research essay must demonstrably deliver a case study that reflects both excellent research skills and conceptual understanding. Distinction grade essays must demonstrate very strong communication and presentation skills.

HD

High Distinction

>85%

In addition to meeting the above criteria, HD essays will demonstrate exceptional writing skills at a publishable level. The best papers will integrate deep personal reflection on both the case and the broader themes into a concise and sophisticated argument.