Students

CUL 120 – Living Culture

2015 – MQC1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Dr Elaine Laforteza
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
From the printed page to the internet, from figurative painting to digital photography, from radio to the iPod, from film to the webcam, the last hundred years have seen a radical transformation in the way ideas and values are communicated, and how we're entertained. These changes aren't just a revolution in technology, however. They have been accompanied by an even more radical transformation in how people understand their place in the world. From modem authority to post-modern multiplicity, from national identity to global fluidity, from passive consumption to interactivity, our understandings of who we are, how we relate to one another and how we identify ourselves have also been transformed. The aim of this unit, and cultural studies in general, is to introduce you to how these changes are related to one another, and how they affect the way we live, play and work.

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:

  • 1.Demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of Cultural Studies, in particular, the concepts and thinkers that are central to the field.
  • 2.Engage critically with cultural texts and practices from everyday life.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.
  • 4.Demonstrate commitment to the problematisation of inequality.
  • 5.Create alternative solutions to everyday problems.
  • 6.Engage with the ideas of others, present ideas in a coherent manner, and offer evidence to support their arguments.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Essay 1 (Minor Essay) 20% Week 6
Essay Plan 15% Week 9
Essay 2 (Major Essay) 35% Week 13
In-class quizzes 30% Variable

Essay 1 (Minor Essay)

Due: Week 6
Weighting: 20%

Essays must be submitted through Turnitin and as a hard-copy to your lecturer. Instructions will be available on the unit iLearn page.

Essay questions are on iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 1.Demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of Cultural Studies, in particular, the concepts and thinkers that are central to the field.
  • 2.Engage critically with cultural texts and practices from everyday life.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.
  • 4.Demonstrate commitment to the problematisation of inequality.
  • 5.Create alternative solutions to everyday problems.
  • 6.Engage with the ideas of others, present ideas in a coherent manner, and offer evidence to support their arguments.

Essay Plan

Due: Week 9
Weighting: 15%

Students must submit a detailed plan of their final essay for feedback from their lecturer. Detailed instructions for this task will be posted on the unit webpage. Essay plan guides and a sample essay guide are on iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 1.Demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of Cultural Studies, in particular, the concepts and thinkers that are central to the field.
  • 2.Engage critically with cultural texts and practices from everyday life.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.
  • 4.Demonstrate commitment to the problematisation of inequality.
  • 5.Create alternative solutions to everyday problems.
  • 6.Engage with the ideas of others, present ideas in a coherent manner, and offer evidence to support their arguments.

Essay 2 (Major Essay)

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 35%

Essay must be submitted through the Turnitin link and the Grademark link. Both are on iLearn.

Essay questions are also on iLearn


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 1.Demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of Cultural Studies, in particular, the concepts and thinkers that are central to the field.
  • 2.Engage critically with cultural texts and practices from everyday life.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.
  • 4.Demonstrate commitment to the problematisation of inequality.
  • 5.Create alternative solutions to everyday problems.
  • 6.Engage with the ideas of others, present ideas in a coherent manner, and offer evidence to support their arguments.

In-class quizzes

Due: Variable
Weighting: 30%

We will have three ‘surprise’ in-class quizzes during the semester between weeks 3 and 12.

In each you will be asked to display your knowledge of particular key terms and concepts introduced in the lectures and readings. Each quiz will be worth 10%. If you are absent you must produce a medical certificate if you wish to sit a supplementary quiz.

Please note: one of these in-class quizzes will occur before week 6 as an early assessment task. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 1.Demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of Cultural Studies, in particular, the concepts and thinkers that are central to the field.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.

Delivery and Resources

CUL120 is delivered through a 2 hour lecture and a one hour tutorial every week. Lectures will incorporate theoretical, philosophical and 'real-world' analysis of weekly topics. Tutorials give students the opportunity to unpack and discuss the weekly topics and issues with their peers and their tutor in more detail.

All the required readings and guides for assessments are available on iLearn. Announcements, updates, unit material (i.e. assessment task guidelines and submission links, lecture slides, reading materials) are on iLearn. Further material will be disseminated during class time.

N.B. Please use your student email account to contact your lecturer and receive important announcements regarding this unit.

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/

Results

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.

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

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:

Learning outcomes

  • 2.Engage critically with cultural texts and practices from everyday life.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.
  • 4.Demonstrate commitment to the problematisation of inequality.
  • 5.Create alternative solutions to everyday problems.
  • 6.Engage with the ideas of others, present ideas in a coherent manner, and offer evidence to support their arguments.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1 (Minor Essay)
  • Essay Plan
  • Essay 2 (Major Essay)

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

  • 1.Demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of Cultural Studies, in particular, the concepts and thinkers that are central to the field.
  • 2.Engage critically with cultural texts and practices from everyday life.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.
  • 4.Demonstrate commitment to the problematisation of inequality.
  • 5.Create alternative solutions to everyday problems.
  • 6.Engage with the ideas of others, present ideas in a coherent manner, and offer evidence to support their arguments.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1 (Minor Essay)
  • Essay 2 (Major Essay)
  • In-class quizzes

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

  • 2.Engage critically with cultural texts and practices from everyday life.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay Plan
  • Essay 2 (Major Essay)

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

  • 1.Demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of Cultural Studies, in particular, the concepts and thinkers that are central to the field.
  • 2.Engage critically with cultural texts and practices from everyday life.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1 (Minor Essay)
  • Essay Plan
  • Essay 2 (Major Essay)
  • In-class quizzes

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

  • 1.Demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of Cultural Studies, in particular, the concepts and thinkers that are central to the field.
  • 2.Engage critically with cultural texts and practices from everyday life.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.
  • 4.Demonstrate commitment to the problematisation of inequality.
  • 5.Create alternative solutions to everyday problems.
  • 6.Engage with the ideas of others, present ideas in a coherent manner, and offer evidence to support their arguments.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1 (Minor Essay)
  • Essay Plan
  • Essay 2 (Major Essay)

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 outcomes

  • 1.Demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of Cultural Studies, in particular, the concepts and thinkers that are central to the field.
  • 2.Engage critically with cultural texts and practices from everyday life.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.
  • 4.Demonstrate commitment to the problematisation of inequality.
  • 5.Create alternative solutions to everyday problems.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1 (Minor Essay)
  • Essay Plan
  • Essay 2 (Major Essay)

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

  • 2.Engage critically with cultural texts and practices from everyday life.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.
  • 5.Create alternative solutions to everyday problems.
  • 6.Engage with the ideas of others, present ideas in a coherent manner, and offer evidence to support their arguments.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1 (Minor Essay)
  • Essay Plan
  • Essay 2 (Major Essay)
  • In-class quizzes

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 outcomes

  • 1.Demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of Cultural Studies, in particular, the concepts and thinkers that are central to the field.
  • 2.Engage critically with cultural texts and practices from everyday life.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.
  • 4.Demonstrate commitment to the problematisation of inequality.
  • 5.Create alternative solutions to everyday problems.
  • 6.Engage with the ideas of others, present ideas in a coherent manner, and offer evidence to support their arguments.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1 (Minor Essay)
  • Essay 2 (Major Essay)

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

  • 1.Demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of Cultural Studies, in particular, the concepts and thinkers that are central to the field.
  • 2.Engage critically with cultural texts and practices from everyday life.
  • 3.Demonstrate a critical awareness of the material effects of ways of knowing, and a capacity to intervene in those processes.
  • 6.Engage with the ideas of others, present ideas in a coherent manner, and offer evidence to support their arguments.

Assessment task

  • Essay 2 (Major Essay)