Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Ana Napoli Carneiro
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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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 provides students with an introduction to global sustainability issues and the significance of law to them. No previous knowledge of law or sustainability is required. This unit is relevant to a broad range of disciplines, as it deals with environmental policy, science and politics, ethics, philosophy and the legal system. In particular, it considers the synergies between these areas, in the context of sustainability issues. The unit takes an international and comparative approach to sustainability and sustainable development, but with legal concepts and processes as the main focus. While sustainability is dealt with in many different ways, this unit considers sustainability through an interdisciplinary lens and the development of multifaceted solutions to current global dilemmas.
All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.open.edu.au/student-admin-and-support/key-dates/
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Moderation
Detailed marking rubrics will be made available on iLearn.
Late assignments
In the absence of a successful application for special consideration due to a disruption to studies, any assessment task submitted after its published deadline will not be graded and will receive a mark of zero. Applications for a Disruption to Studies are made electronically via ask.mq.edu.au and should be accompanied by supporting documentation. Students should refer to the Disruption to Studies policy for complete details of the policy and a description of the supporting documentation required.
Word limits
Word limits will be strictly applied and work above the word limit will not be marked.
Electronic submission
All assessments in the unit are to be submitted electronically. Plagiarism detection software is used in this unit.
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Assessment Two - Quiz | 30% | 15/01/2017 |
Research Essay | 40% | 19/02/2017 |
Participation | 30% | Ongoing |
Due: 15/01/2017
Weighting: 30%
Online Quiz Due: 13 January - 15 January 2017 (Sunday) (Week 7) Weighting: 30%
Students will be required to demonstrate their knowledge of the material covered in weeks 2-6 (inclusive), by answering 15 multiple choice questions online.
The quiz will be available from 6 am on Friday, 13 January, until 11:55 pm on Sunday, 15 January. You must ensure that you will be available to logon to ilearn to complete the quiz during this time. If you will be unable to do this, you must apply for special consideration (with supporting documentation) via https://ask.mq.edu.au.
Once you access the quiz, you will have 30 minutes to complete the quiz. Once 30 minutes have elapsed, your answers will automatically be submitted. Please ensure you have a reliable computer and internet connection before you attempt the quiz.
Due: 19/02/2017
Weighting: 40%
Research Essay Due: 19 February 2017 Weighting: 40% Assessment Three – Research Essay Due Date: 9pm - Sunday, 19 February (Week 12) Word limit: 2000 (excluding reference list / bibliography)
Students will be required to submit a 2000-word essay based on the case study selected for the assessment. The essay will assess your ability to research relevant scholarly work on your chosen case study, form a thesis, analyse the available material, and then present a coherent and compelling argument as a polished academic essay.
The major written assessment in LAWX102 will be based on the five case studies outlined on iLearn. Each case study overview (on iLearn) sets out a range of issues raised by the case. Using these issues to guide you (and identifying additional relevant issues), you will draft your own essay question.
Essays should refer to a range of material in addition to the required readings for this unit, and should be correctly and consistently referenced. You must use a minimum of 6 scholarly references (peer-reviewed academic books and journal articles). Avoid relying on non-peer reviewed sources, and avoid websites like blogs. Newspapers can be useful in supporting your scholarly research, but they do not count as scholarly sources themselves.
The written assessment should consist of an introductory paragraph, a series of key points with a brief note of supporting material (short quotes from authors, citations of the key texts, several facts that would go with the key point if you were to write it up as a paragraph), and a concluding paragraph.
The introductory paragraph should be no more than around 300 words, and should set out the overarching argument of your essay, and provide some indication of how your essay will proceed. This should be followed by an outline of your key points, supported by key evidence. This should show the reader how the argument would be structured (citing the sources). Key points are like paragraphs in the body of an essay – i.e. each key point is made up of material that you think would make a good paragraph. Aim for at least 4 and no more than 7 key points in your outline. The concluding paragraph should be no more than around 300 words, and should summarise the overarching argument, and discusses the implications and importance of the argument. Make sure to use appropriate referencing, including a bibliography or references list (depending on which referencing system you are using).
The marking rubric for this assignment is available on iLearn.
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 30%
Assessment Four – Online Participation Due Date: Ongoing Weight: 30%
Your participation mark will be based on your on line discussions. These will be based on the set readings and questions made available each week on iLearn. You are expected to contribute to discussions regularly. Further details about your participation will be provided on iLearn. Comments should have a maximum of 100 words per question.
This unit requires students to listen online (through Echo360) a weekly one-hour lecture.
Student workload, in accordance with university guidelines, is 3 hours per credit point per week
(over a 15 week term), and can be estimated as follows:
22 hours – listen to recordings and online participation
55 hours – readings, review of online content and self-study
63 hours – assessment tasks
Suggested Text:
Elizabeth Fisher, Bettina Lange and Eloise Scotford, Environmental Law: Test, cases and materials (Oxford University Press, 2013 edition)
or
Godden, Lee. Environmental law : Scientific, policy and regulatory dimensions (Oxford University Press, 2010 edition)
Both textbooks are available through the Co-op Bookshop (external students please order through the bookshop). Copies will also be placed on reserve through Macquarie University Library.
Additional material:
There are many (free) student resources related to the prescribed texts available through Macquarie University Library (Unit Readings).
http://www.mq.edu.au/about/campus-services-and-facilities/library
Extra material, including reading lists, will be placed on the unit’s iLearn page. Students are
required to access the page regularly to review online content and readings.
REFERENCING
Students must acknowledge all materials used, quoted, paraphrased or mentioned. In referencing, students should comply with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (3rd edition). The guide is available to download (for free) at: https://law.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1586203/FinalOnlinePDF-2012Reprint.pdf
Alternatively students may use any other recognised academic style. For further information, please refer to: http://libguides.mq.edu.au/Referencing
Unit Schedule |
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Week |
Description |
Notes |
Week 1 |
Topic: Introduction |
Students should choose one case study outlined on iLearn. The case study should be the focus for the written assessment. |
Week 2 |
Topic: Sustainability Principles |
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Week 3 |
Topic: Legal Principles |
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Week 4 |
Topic: Climate Change, Professor Lesley Hughes (video access on iLearn – Student Panel Discussion Video)
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Week 5 |
Topic: Science, Sustainability and the Law
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Week 6 |
Topic: Ethical Investing Guest speaker: Dr Stuart Palmer, Australian Ethical Investment
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Week 7 |
Topic: Environmental Law, Justice Nicola Pain (video access on iLearn) |
Quiz – Friday 13 January to 15 January 2017 |
Week 8 |
Topic: Building Climate Wise Communities
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Week 9 |
Topic: Human Rights and Fracking: An International People’s Tribunal Guest speaker: Dr Tom Kerns, Director, Environment and Human Rights Advisory; Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, North Seattle College, Skype lecture
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Week 10 |
Topic: Eating environmentally in the Anthropocene Guest speaker: A/Professor Andrew McGregor, Acting Head of Department of geography and Planning |
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Week 11 |
Topic: Corporate Sustainability, Professor Dexter Dunphy (video access on iLearn)
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Week 12 |
Topic: Future Forecast and Action Concluding lecture discussion with students as we forecast the future and how we can respond
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Writen assignment due Sunday, 19 February |
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.
The University recognises that students may experience events or conditions that adversely affect their academic performance. If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties at exam time or when assessment tasks are due, you can consider applying for Special Consideration.
You need to show that the circumstances:
If you feel that your studies have been impacted submit an application as follows:
Outcome
Once your submission is assessed, an appropriate outcome will be organised.
You can withdraw from your subjects prior to the census date (last day to withdraw). If you successfully withdraw before the census date, you won’t need to apply for Special Circumstances. If you find yourself unable to withdraw from your subjects before the census date - you might be able to apply for Special Circumstances. If you’re eligible, we can refund your fees and overturn your fail grade.
If you’re studying Single Subjects using FEE-HELP or paying up front, you can apply online.
If you’re studying a degree using HECS-HELP, you’ll need to apply directly to Macquarie University.
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 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: