ASSESSMENT 1: Debate Summary Paper - 1000 word paper on a topic from Weeks 1 – 7.

Submission: all essays have to be submitted through turn-it-in, which can be accessed via the CUL399 ilearn site.

The paper will constitute the basic research and arguments you will be making in your team debate. You will write and debate on one of the topics from Weeks  1 – 7.

Write 1000 words outlining the position you will be taking/making within the context of your team debate. This paper should develop the arguments you will be making for your team (your argument will need to be different from, yet compliment, the arguments made by other members on your team). In your paper you need to discuss HOW you are going to argue your position in the context of what the other team members argue, and WHAT research you will be drawing on to make your argument. You will need to reference (in-text referencing), and include a Bibliography drawing on the essential and further readings.

Further information about this assessment will be discussed in the lectorial, and a more detailed description of the assessment criteria, rubrics, and requirements will be in iLearn.

Grading Criteria for this assessment:

You will be graded on the following:

1. The structure of your argument in relation to your team members arguments. For example, you need to develop an argument that is different from your other team members, but that will contribute to your overall team debate, and therefore compliment your team members arguments.

2. The quality of your analysis, argumentation and fluency on the cultural issue or topic you have chosen to write about

3. The type of research you draw on to form your arguments (unit readings, further readings: scholarly and media)

4. The rigour of your argument: the logic, structure and flow

5. The academic fluency and the style in which you write your argument

6. Use of scholarly referencing and bibliography, as well as the presentation of your paper in terms of format, spelling, syntax, grammar and expression

ASSESSMENT 2: Team Debates (same topic as the debate summary)

Depending on class numbers, you will form teams of 2, 3 or 4, and in lectorials will spend time with your team working on your arguments around one of the lecture topics from Weeks 1-7. During the lectorials from Week 8 -10 your team will debate another team on your chosen topic. The debate will be formally structured with a designated time keeper and adjudicator, and the team will be given a set time in which to present their arguments.

Your debate summary (assessment 1) will have contributed to developing your argument. HOWEVER, a debate does not constitute simply reading out your debate summary. For a start, you will have no more than 4 mins to make your point (1000 word debate paper is approximately 8-10 mins read out). Therefore you will have to  summarise your argument i  way that is clear and effective for your team debate, but which also conveys a depth of understanding of your topic.

For reasons of fairness and equity, all grades for the debates will be handed back in lectorials after all the debates are completed.

** Further information about this assessment will be discussed in the lectorial, and a more detailed description of the assessment criteria, rubrics, and requirements will be in iLearn.

Grading Criteria for this assessment:

You will be graded on the following:

1. The fluency and lucidity in which you speak and present your arguments

2. Your ability to convey your understanding (through argument, research and content) of your topic so that you are able to look at the audience and engage their attention

3. Your ability to be able to use or refer to the other points your team members make in your presentation

4. Your contribution to audience question and answer time at the end of the debate

5. Your ability to rebut the arguments of the other team (either in person, or in collaboration with your team members).

ASSESSMENT 3: Final Essay - 2500 words

Submission: all essays have to be submitted through turn-it-in, which can be accessed via the CUL399 ilearn site.

Detailed information about the Final Essay Question will be posted on i-learn. Discussion of the Final Essay will take place in one of the Lectorials.

The Final Essay requires students to apply the lectorial content, readings and their own research to a particular cultural debate or topic of their choice taken from Weeks 1 – 7.

It is recommended that you build on your debate topic by arguing,analysing and evaluating both sides of the debate. However, you are also able to change to a different topic (from Weeks 1-7) if desired.

In the essay you are to outline both for or against positions that are generally taken in relation to the particular topic of your choice, and you are also to take a position by arguing which side of the debate you find most convincing and why. (This assessment is a research-based, analytic, evaluative and critically self-reflective assessment that requires you to communicate, by academic scholarly means, your ideas via well- reasoned arguments, while taking into consideration various scholarly viewpoints).

** Further information about this assessment will be discussed in the lectorial, and a more detailed description of the assessment criteria, rubrics, and requirements will be in iLearn.

Grading Criteria for this assessment:

Your essay will be graded on a series of criteria including:

1. Conceptual understanding of your topic

2. Demonstration of analytical and evaluative skills (all of which will have been learnt when preparing for the debates).

3. The quality of your analysis, argumentation and fluency on the cultural issue or topic you have chosen to write about

4. The structure of your essay: a clear statement of its aims (in the introduction); clear organisation (in a logical order and with a clearly flowing discussion); distinctive and clear argument, and a well-stated conclusion.

5. The identification of appropriate themes and concepts from the set texts and demonstrate their usefulness in the analysis of your cultural issue or topic

6. The use of appropriate evidence and theory to support your claims and arguments

7. The adequate and appropriate citation of your sources.

8. The presentation of format, spelling, syntax, grammar and expression

9. The use of an appropriate method to reference of all sources you have used, including a properly formatted bibliography?

** Be sure to keep a copy of all your work submitted. Keep copies on disk or USB until the unit is over and you have received your final grade from the University.

ASSESSMENT 4: Participation-Collaboration

Students will comment on their teammate’s collaboration and contribution to the preparation of their team debate. The comment will be made on a prepared participation sheet, which can be downloaded from the i-Learn.

** Further information about this assessment will be discussed in one of the lectorials, and a more detailed description of the assessment criteria, rubrics, and requirements will be in iLearn.

Criteria for contribution will include:

• discussion with your other debate team-mates about your ideas in the lectorials each week (and/or at some other time off or on-campus),
• contribution to the argument your team will make in your debate and in lectorials each week,
• contribution of research (finding articles, books, etc. that will contribute to your argument) which you bring to tutorials and share with your teammates.

The comments you make about your team member will be taken into account by your tutor when marking for participation and collaboration.

For updates to tutorial times and classes please consult the MQ Timetables at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au

The Current Lectorial times and Location for CUL399 is below:

Lecture Location: C5C 230 - Collaborative Forum

Day: Tuesdays 

Time: 2 - 5pm.

From Week 1 -7, 11 the first 2 hours will comprise the lectorial (interactive lecture, and problem and enquiry based group work). The third hour will comprise either debate group work or consultation with the convenor.

From Week 8-10, the three hours will be devoted to the in-class debate teams.

Resources:

There is a CUL399 i-learn website, which can be accessed at: http://learn.mq.edu.au/

The i-learn site will contain the following, all of which can be downloaded: Unit Outline, Weekly Schedule of Lecture Topics, Assessment details, Essay Writing Tips, Essential and Further Reading Lists.

Also on the i-learn site you will be able to access ECHO360 and Turn-It-In, through which you will submit Assessment 1 and 3.

Extensions and Penalities:

You must NOT submit assessments after the due dates. Extensions for the first assessment will not be given unless a student has a medical certificate or equivalent, or where they have discussed the situation with the convenor or tutor BEFORE the assessment is due.

All late assessment (without medical or other certificates or evidence) will receive a penalty of 5% per day until handed in.

The Final Essay is in lieu of examination therefore late essay will not be marked unless you have made a formal application through the Disruption to Studies procedure. The Disruption to Studies procedure can be found at: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/procedure.html 

The Disruption to Studies Notification must be completed by the student and submitted online through www.ask.mq.edu.au

Attendance:

There are no tutorials for this unit, there is only a 3 hour lectorial once a week. Lectorials are lively and interactive with Q&A and problem solving group work taking place. Team debate groups will also be formed and practiced during this time. Not attending class will put you at a disadvantage. Therefore it is strongly recommended that students attend the lectorials unless the student has spoken to the convenor beforehand, or has evidence of sickness or unavoidable disruption. Not attending may affect your group 'Participation-Collaboration' and your team debate assessment. There will be a roll taken in lectures.

CUL399 also requires that students follow the unit on iLearn and stay informed of special announcements and additional information posted there. 

ALL questions and concerns about CUL399 should be, in the first instance, emailed to your tutor: Melanie Rosen. Melanie Rosen's  email can be found on i-Learn.

Assignment Submission:

There are no hard-copy submissions for CUL399. All written assessments should be uploaded through turn-it-in on the i-learn site. 

See the downloadable schedule of weekly topics and readings in i-learn