Assignment requirements and submission

Detailed requirements and marking rubrics for each assessment are available from the iLearn site. All written assignments should be submitted online to Turnitin via the relevant links provided in iLearn. You are not required to submit a hardcopy of any assignments. Instructions for assignment submission using Turnitin are available at http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/assignments.htm

Assessment extensions and late penalties

Circumstances that affect your ability to complete assignments by the deadline must be discussed with the convenor (Sara) prior to the due date. Extensions will be granted only in unforeseen or exceptional circumstances. Appropriate supporting documentation as detailed in the University Disruption to Studies Policy will be required. The penalty for late submission of assignments is 1 mark per day (i.e. 1% of your total unit grade). An assignment worth 10% coming in 4 days late will therefore have 4 marks of the grade deducted. This means if it was graded as a P+ (6.5/10), it would be reduced to F (2.5/10). An assignment worth 30% coming in 4 days late would have 4 marks of the grade deducted. This means it would go from a P+ (19/30) to P- (15/30). Late assignments will not be accepted after the bulk of marked assignments have been returned to students.

Assessment feedback

All written assignments will be marked online and your grades will be returned to you through Turnitin. The grade will be in the form of a letter as consistent with University policy (HD, D, Cr, P, F) alongside individual written feedback. The standard return period for assessments is 3 weeks.

Online tutorial participation

External students are required to participate in online tutorial discussions and activities throughout the semester based on the required readings, and prepare a 'virtual presentation' based on a specific case study for week 7. More details about the online participation component of the unit is available on iLearn. If you are ill and unable to make an online contribution please contact the convenor. You will be required to present supporting evidence (e.g. medical certificates).

Exams

Details of University exam conditions and exam timetables can be found at: http://www.exams.mq.edu.au/ It is very important to note that the final exam period includes weekdays and weekends and all students (including international exchange students) are expected to present themselves for the GEOP215 exam at the time and place designated in the exam timetable. The timetable will be available in Draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the exams and in Final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of the exams.

Classes

External students complete the entire unit online. Each week there is a 2 hour lecture (Monday 10-12) which will be recorded and made available online alongside the powerpoint slides from the lecture. As each lecture builds on previous content and provides background material for the online tutorial discussions, there is an expectation that external students will keep up to date with lecture content.

Required and recommended reading

Required reading

The core text for this unit is:

• Williams, G., Meth., P and Willis, K. (2014) Geographies of Developing Areas: The Global South in a Changing World. London: Routledge (2nd edition)

Access to this text is essential for completing the requirements of this unit. The text is available for purchase through the Co-op Bookshop on campus. Copies are also available in the Library. In addition there are a range of journal articles and chapters that are required reading for tutorials. These will be listed on iLearn and available via MultiSearch.

Recommended reading

In addition to the core text, the texts listed below provide information on many of the general themes covered in the unit. Copies can be found in the Library.

• Desai, V. and Potter, RB. (eds) (2014) The companion to development studies, London: Hodder Arnold (3rd Edition)
• Potter, RB., Conway, D., Evans R. and Lloyd-Evans, S. (2012) Key concepts in development geography, Sage: London.
• Potter, RB., Binns, T., Elliott, JA. and Smith, D. (2008) Geographies of Development: An introduction to development studies. Essex: Pearson Education. (3rd Edition)
• Willis, K. (2011) Theories and Practices of Development. London: Routledge. (2nd Edition)

The below text is also a helpful resource and is available in the library:

• Hay, I. (2012) Communicating in Geography and the Environmental Sciences. Melbourne: Oxford University Press (4th Edition).

Technology used and required

All enrolled students have access to the GEOP215 website via iLearn. iLearn will provide access to lectures (powerpoint presentations for download and recordings through the University's echo360 lecture recording facility) as well as readings, links and forum discussions. Regular access to iLearn is required in order to complete the requirements of the unit.

During the semester, a number of 'virtual tutorials' will be arranged. These will function like a discussion forum but in real time and will provide an opportunity for external students to ask questions and discuss issues relating to the unit, and get an immediate response. They are optional and will be scheduled at key points of the unit (e.g. in the run up to assessments and exams) and held in the evening. The dates and times will be announced on iLearn.