In order to pass this unit students need to attain an aggregate of at least 50 marks garnered from the following:

1. summative quizzes (worth 24 marks in total);
   • In the case of students in Group 1, the summative quizzes consist of Quizzes A to M (inclusive).
   • In the case of students in Group 2, the summative quizzes consist of Quizzes X to Z (inclusive).
2. Problem Question 1 (worth 25 marks);
3. Problem Question 2 (worth 25 marks);
4. the final on-line examination (worth 26 marks).

The assessment scheme in this unit requires students to engage with the unit’s entire syllabus, rather than just study a few out of the twelve topics. To stand any real chance of getting anything better than a bare pass, you are going to have to engage adequately with the summative quizzes. Doing well in these will make all the difference to your final grade.

Summative Quizzes (Quizzes A to M or X to Z)

External students may elect to join Group 1 or Group 2, depending on whether they prefer to be assessed by means of weekly summative quizzes or by means of three periodic summative quizzes. Summative quizzes serve not only to further advance student learning but also to test their understanding of the issues being studied.

Group 1 students will attempt 12 weekly summative quizzes referred to as Quizzes A to M. These are the same quizzes as will be attempted by internal students. The deadline for each quiz is set out in the Unit Schedule: put simply, one quiz is due each Sunday evening (apart from Quiz H, which falls on a Monday evening). Each quiz consists of two questions, making 24 questions in total. Generally speaking, the first question in each quiz will focus on the issues looked at in previous topics, while the second question will tend to relate to the present topic. The questions will become available to students once they have successfully completed all on-line activities relating to that week’s topic.

Group 2 students will attempt just three summative quizzes (instead of Quizzes A to M). These will be known as Quizzes X, Y and Z. The questions making up these quizzes will be different to the ones that make up Quizzes A to M. The deadlines for Quizzes X, Y and Z are as follows:

• Quiz X: 11 pm, 20 March 2015
• Quiz Y: 11 pm, 1 May 2015
• Quiz Z: 11 pm, 31 May 2015

Quiz X will consist of six questions and will relate to Topics 1 – 5 (inclusive). Quiz Y will consist of eight questions and will relate to Topics 1 – 9 (inclusive). Quiz Z will consist of ten questions and will relate to Topics 1 – 12 (inclusive). There will therefore be 24 questions in total, the same number of questions as in Quizzes A to M.  

In the case of Groups 1 and 2 each quiz question will be worth one mark. The quizzes will be conducted using iLearn and students must post their responses via iLearn. Most questions will follow a multiple choice format, with students being required to select the best out of a range of possible answers. However, students will also be required to write a short statement justifying their choice of answer.

Marks will be awarded in relation to each quiz question as follows:

• Correct answer selected and adequate justification given:                     1 mark
• Correct answer selected but no adequate justification given:               0 mark
• Incorrect answer selected but adequate justification given:                  1 mark
• Incorrect answer selected and no adequate justification given:           0 mark

A justification will be deemed adequate only if it fulfils all of the following criteria:

• it displays a sound understanding of the relevant information and concepts covered in the lectures and/or readings;
• it displays an ability to correctly apply that material in answering the question;
• if an answer other than the convenor's preferred answer has been selected then it offers sufficient explanation as to why the selected answer is as good as or better than the convenor's preferred answer;
• it does not exceed 100 words in length, and
• it is provided as part of the student’s on-line response to the quiz (ie not as a separate email, etc).

Guidance on writing succinct justifications, as well as examples of what will be deemed adequate and inadequate, can be found in the document entitled Guide to Answering Summative Quiz Questions, which can be found on iLearn.  

Unlike with formative quizzes, in the case of summative quizzes students only have one opportunity to submit and justify their answers. Once submitted, neither the answer nor the justification can be amended or supplemented.

The Group 2 assessment scheme is intended for external students who find it difficult to commit to undertaking the same amount of study each week. Even so, students are encouraged to join Group 1 if at all possible. Group 1 assessment is preferable for the following reasons:

1. It is in the student’s interest to study consistently throughout the session. Group 1 assessment encourages this.
2. The answers to Quizzes A to M will be released on a weekly basis, meaning that commencing Week 2 you will develop an idea of how you are progressing in the unit. The answers and accompanying feedback will also develop your learning from the outset. The answers to Quizzes X to Z will only be released periodically.

Since Group 1 is considered the preferred option then all students will start out in that group. It is incumbent on students to notify me by email if they wish to transfer to Group 2. This must be done by 11 pm on Sunday, 1 March 2015. Failure to notify me by that time will result in you remaining in Group 1 (the default setting). Once students have notified me of their wish to transfer to Group 2 then they will be barred from attempting Quizzes A to M (unless notified otherwise). I cannot accept any transfers from Group 1 to Group 2 (or vice versa) after 11 pm on Sunday, 1 March.

Answers to each quiz will be released on iLearn immediately after its deadline, along with additional feedback via a pdf document posted to iLearn. For that reason, under no circumstances can an extension be granted for submission of answers.

Although you will know whether you have a question right immediately after the deadline, you will not know whether you have gained a mark until the justifications have been manually graded. This will be done shortly after the quiz deadline and students will be notified of the results online as soon as possible thereafter. If you wish to challenge a mark then this must be done by email to the convenor within 72 hours of the release of the marks relating to the relevant quiz.

At the end of each quiz, students will be asked to enter into a box a question or comment you would like discussed at the corresponding on-campus session. This question or comment does not form part of the quiz.

You are encouraged to ask honest questions or make honest comments. Ask what you genuinely want to know or say what you really think. There are no points to be gained by asking ‘smart’ questions or making ‘clever’ comments. You will not be penalised if your question or comment reveals that you are having difficulty understanding the material studied in this unit, nor will you be criticised for asking ‘dumb’ questions.

Problem Question 1

Date for release of question:                                      8 am, Friday 3 April 2015 (start of recess)

Deadline for student submission:                             11 pm, Sunday 19 April 2015 (end of recess)

Students will write a 2,000-word answer in relation to a hypothetical situation. Guidance on how to succeed in relation to the mid-Session assignment, along with the marking rubric, will be posted online at the time of the question’s release. The assignment will relate to issues covered in Topics 1 – 5 (inclusive).

Problem Question 2

Date for release of question:                                      8 am, Saturday 16 May 2015 (end of Week 10)

Deadline for student submission:                             11 pm, Sunday 24 April 2015 (end of Week 11)

Students will write a 2,000-word answer in relation to a hypothetical situation. Guidance on how to succeed in relation to the mid-Session assignment, along with the marking rubric, will be posted online at the time of the question’s release. The assignment will relate to issues covered in Topics 1 – 9 (inclusive).

Final examination

Date for release of exam question:         9 am, Monday 15 June 2015

Deadline for student submission:                             1 pm, Monday 15 June 2015

There will be a take-home examination lasting four hours. Guidance on how to succeed in the final examination, along with the marking rubric, will be posted online at least one week prior to the exam’s release. The final examination may relate to issues covered in any part of the unit.

Please see the Unit Notes and Unit Schedule for information on delivery and resources (available via iLearn).