Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Justine Lloyd
Contact via justine.lloyd@mq.edu.au
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
12cp
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines the consequences of living in a world where mediated forms of communication have replaced many forms of face-to-face communication. Through a survey of key thinkers in the sociology of media and communication you will examine questions such as: How do new media technologies impact society? How are media shaped by social structures? Is watching television a ritual activity? What kinds of community are possible via the internet? These topics are used to illustrate how key concepts in sociology – such as change, modernity, self, community, and sociability – can be applied to the study of media contexts.
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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 |
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Tutorial Participation | 20% | Ongoing |
Reflection on Weekly Responses | 20% | 5pm 24.3.2016 (end of week 4) |
Essay Plan | 20% | 10am 9.5.2016 (beg. Week 9) |
Research Essay | 40% | 5pm 10.6.2016 (end of Week 13) |
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%
In class response to set readings, 5 minutes max (2-3 students per week), beginning in week 5.
As well as regular, general participation in the discussion based on the weekly readings, you will participate in group work during the tutorials. This will involve structured discussion and exercises. Your overall mark for the task will reflect your preparation for tutorials, as well as your engagement with the in-class exercises.
Due: 5pm 24.3.2016 (end of week 4)
Weighting: 20%
Two pages (500 words) reflection on readings for first three weeks of semester, addressing the following questions:
Q: How have sociologists understood the relationship between media and society? What are the main challenges and opportunities facing sociologists when they are trying to understand this relationship?
For further details on this assignment please see the expanded Course Notes available on the SOC 279 Ilearn site.
Due: 10am 9.5.2016 (beg. Week 9)
Weighting: 20%
Essay plan should be maximum of 500 words (2 pages) and provide a preliminary list of readings you wish to consult (not included in the word count).
This exercise is designed to give you the opportunity to develop a focused response to your chosen question and to get feedback on an outline of your approach to the essay. You may set it out as dot-points, or as a brief capsule summary of your ideas.
For further information and instructions on this assignment, please see the expanded Course Notes, available on the SOC 279 ilearn web site.
Due: 5pm 10.6.2016 (end of Week 13)
Weighting: 40%
An original research essay (2000 words) on a set topic covering themes and issues discussed in the course.
For a list of topics and marking criteria for the essay, please see the expanded Course Notes available on the SOC 279 ilearn web site.
In this unit attendance at lectures and tutorials is essential for successful completion of the course.
Please consult the timetable for the latest information on lecture and tutorial times and locations.
You will need to enrol in one of the tutorial sessions.
You will also need access to the internet to access the ilearn site for SOC279.
Hard copies of the required readings will be collated in the Course Reader for SOC279 and will be available for purchase via 'Print on Demand (Student Materials)' from the Printery website.
WEEK |
LECTURE TOPIC |
Week 1 |
Introduction to Media Sociology/New Media |
Week 2 |
Sociological Approaches to Media |
Week 3 |
Media Communications and Social Change I |
Week 4 |
NO LECTURE: EASTER FRIDAY |
Reflection on reading assignment (weeks 1-4) |
due 5pm Thursday 24 March (end of Week 4) |
Week 5 |
Media Communications and Social Change II |
Week 6 |
Mediated Interaction |
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Mid-semester Break: 11-22 April |
Week 7 |
Case study: Political Economy of Media |
Week 8 |
Case study: Racism & Ethnicity |
Week 9 |
Case study: Gender |
Essay Plan Assignment |
Due 10am Monday 9 May (beginning of Week 9) |
Week 10 |
Case study: Accessibility/Disability |
Week 11 |
No lecture: Reading week incl. Individual consultation with lecturer/tutor on your essay plan (during week 10 you will have made an appointment to collect your plan in person during the consultation time this week) |
Week 12 |
No lecture: Reading week |
Major Essay |
due 5pm Friday 10 June (end of Week 13) |
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
New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/
Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.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://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources 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 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.
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In response to student feedback, the following changes were made in 2016:
new readings were added for weeks 6 & 7;
The lecturer and tutor wish to thank all students who contributed to this process for their ongoing input and thoughtful ideas.
Date | Description |
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21/03/2016 | Due date for first assignment corrected and updated; information about availability of hard copy 'Print on Demand' course reader updated. |