Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Peter Rogers
Contact via peter.rogers@mq.edu.au
|
---|---|
Credit points |
Credit points
3
|
Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
12cp
|
Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
Unit description |
Unit description
This unit offers students an opportunity to examine the social relationships that underpin crime and criminal behaviour, the policy and politics of crime, and our understanding of 'justice' in the modern world. The unit brings criminology and sociology together as social sciences, providing insight into both social and criminal justice. Particular attention is paid to the purpose and aims of the criminal justice system. The 'cycle of justice' is unpacked, including: interacting with the police; what happens in court; and how we punish people and what we expect to happen after punishment has been administered. Issues discussed include: questions of how crime is defined, measured and prevented; criminal responsibility and victimisation; the form and function of law in democratic society; gender-based violence; hate crimes; and crimes of the powerful; as well as an introduction into debates surrounding terrorism and security. Students are encouraged to re-examine the socially constructed nature of crime, questioning the purpose of law and the role it plays in maintaining, or disrupting, established notions of fairness and equity from a criminological perspective.
|
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 |
---|---|---|
Attendance and Participation | 20% | ONGOING |
Online Quiz | 25% | Week 7 |
Court Report | 55% | Week 13 |
Due: ONGOING
Weighting: 20%
External student 'attendance' is monitored through ilearn - for example access to online materials, downloading content etc.
External student participation is also monitored through ilearn using other online activities - for example participation in the group discussion boards, wiki activities and engagement in the online community of learning. This is monitored weekly by the unit convenor in a manner more rigorous than you may have experienced in other units.
External students have historically struggled to do well in demonstrating participation; this can occur as a result of students not reading instructions or by lacklustre engagement with the online tools. I am hoping to reverse that trend with simple tasks and clear instructions. Remember we are a community of learning - our collective learning experience is enriched by increased participation. The more you engage the more you help each other to do well.
As an external student 5% of the final unit grade is allocated according to the following criteria:
15% of your performance will be assessed against:
This will reflect, for example, your engagement with wider reading materials through self-directed research (e.g. posting articles and events for debate in the general discussion boards or reflecting on your experiences and views through ilearn discussions of relevant topics), your participation in related discussions with staff and students (e.g. providing evidence of 'discussion' means you must make multiple posts each week). Such activity generates evidence of independent study and helps to show you have done more than the bare minimum work.
Attendance & Participation tests all of the learning outcomes and graduate capabilities through a reflexive engagement with the learning experience gauging commitment and effort throughout all areas for the duration of the course. However there is a particular emphasis on your demonstration of a commitment to continuous learning.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
You will also need to keep an eye on the announcements during the course as new tasks for external students may appear throughout the course to help you show an active engagement and participation.
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 25%
The online quiz will test some basic knowledge on the course content for the first 6 weeks of the unit. It also tests student engagement with web resources and awareness of some basics about the Australian criminal justice system required for completion of later assessments. It serves to review and consolidate previous learning techniques, strategies and writing skills that are a core of social science, sociology and criminology disciplines.
This test will be made available through i-learn from week 5 until week 7 of the term (including the semester half-term break). Students may complete the quiz at any time within this period. Failure to complete the quiz within this time will result in a mark of ‘0’ for the online quiz component. Instructions for the completion of the quiz will be provided in i-learn when the quiz is released. This focuses on discipline specific knowledge and developing a basic set of reflections at the lower order level of learning. Nonetheless it remains vital as a basis for your further study and as a commitment to continuous learning testing a narrow but important range of capabilities and learning outcomes.
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 55%
In observing justice in the courtroom, would you say that what you saw was the IDEAL of justice being DONE or the PROCESS of justice being MANAGED?
Make reference to specific cases and contrast and compare the outcomes to support your claims.
A full break down of the assessment requirements will be provided in the i-Learn space. refer to this guidance for a full breakdown of the assessment, the stages you go through and details of how to make observations.
Teaching
LECTURE & TUTORIALS are used in this unit. A 2 hour lecture is supported by one hour tutorials in smaller groups. Locations will be confirmed through the online system. Rooms may change depending on timetabling and enrollments so check these on the online timetable regularly for updates.
Required and recommended resources
The required texts (and weekly readings) for this unit of study are not listed in the online unit guide.
The reference for weekly readings will be posted in the iLearn system, we cannot post up large sections of the books due to copyright restrictions.
Please note there are two text books used as required readings for this unit, it is recommended you purchase at least one of them. These books are listed in iLearn. Both books should be available through the Co-op bookstore on MQ campus, though stock may be limited. You can also check the second hand book store on campus or book exchanges for cheaper second-hand copies. Visit the book store for more information.
Supplementary readings may be made available on iLearn and in e-reserve where possible, but your required readings each week are usually from one of the two textbooks.
Technologies Used & Required
Enrolled students on this course will need access to a computer and to the internet (both of which are avaiable through MQU campus). Though use of a solid internet connection off campus will facilitate the ease of access to online learning materials and support.
WEEK 1 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE UNIT |
WEEK 2 |
KEY CONCEPTS |
WEEK 3 |
WHAT IS JUSTICE? |
WEEK 4 |
THE POLITICS OF CONTROL |
WEEK 5 |
ASSESSMENT WORKSHOPS |
WEEK 6 |
HOW DOES JUSTICE HAPPEN? |
WEEK 7 |
WHATS TO JUDGE |
WEEK 8 |
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? |
WEEK 9 |
A DIFFERENT APPROACH |
WEEK 10 |
CRIME STOPPERS |
WEEK 11 |
WHO SUFFERS MOST? |
WEEK 12 |
UNIT SUMMARY |
WEEK 13 |
NO LECTURE |
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/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
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.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
WHAT HAS CHANGED in 2015
This unit has been streamlined and the assessment orientation is now aligned with MQ assessment policy. The 'online quiz' component has been reviewed and made more rigorous; this includes updated empirical material and a deeper reflection in some of the questions on the online Lawlink and BOCSAR resources available to students. We are also reapplying an amended assessment of student preparation for tutorials linked to a commitment to continuous learning as a graduate capability.