Students

INTS104 – Societies of Europe

2016 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Maryam Khalid
W6A 327
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is a general education unit, team taught in English. It encourages students to develop intercultural competency by providing them with cultural information about a range of societies in Europe and inviting them to explore these issues in further depth through guided research for written tasks. The unit is divided into sections according to individual cultures which offer information about a range of factors that shape the society concerned. Through the lectures, tutorials, online discussions and their own research, students are able to gain an overview and a better understanding of Europe and its diverse cultures. Assessment is by coursework.

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:

  • to obtain factual knowledge about a range of European cultures, including about selected current issues affecting Europe
  • to analyse and reflect critically on past and present concepts of European and national cultural identities
  • to gain an appreciation of cultural diversity and a range of issues related to cultural and cross-cultural questions
  • to engage with relevant key concepts arising from cultural studies in a European context
  • to develop research skills on topics relevant to the unit
  • to become familiar with the basic conventions of academic research and writing
  • to work and collaborate with others effectively

General Assessment Information

Indicative examples of assessment tasks will be available on iLearn.

Late Submissions

All assessment tasks in this unit are compulsory and must be submitted on time. As a general rule, extensions will not be granted without a valid and documented reason. Requests for special consideration (including requests for extensions) must be made in a timely manner through https://ask.mq.edu. You must follow the instructions at https://ask.mq.edu.au regarding providing supporting documentation. You cannot miss more than 2 tutorials without a valid and documented excuse. Work commitments are not a valid excuse for missing tutorials or requesting extensions for assessments.

Late submissions will be penalised by 5% for each day (including weekends) the assignment is late. No assessment tasks will be accepted after feedback has been provided to the class. Assessment tasks handed in early will not be marked and returned before the due date.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Review essay 30% 11 September
Major essay 45% 13 November
Participation 15% Ongoing
Quiz 10% 16 October

Review essay

Due: 11 September
Weighting: 30%

Students will choose one of the two articles posted in iLearn under the 'Review Essay' heading in the 'Assessments' tab, and write a review essay of 1000 words on the selected article.

A review essay engages in a critical discussion of a work with emphasis on the intellectual merit of the work being reviewed. Review essays should engage with the key arguments and assumptions of the article, and offer a critical discussion of these in the context of broader literature and debates on the topics raised by the article. In the context of scholarly inquiry, a critical discussion evaluates the contribution of the text under review to the relevant discipline(s). As a starting point, consider how the article seeks to advance the debate(s) in which the author has chosen to participate. This means you must situate the work in the intellectual context in which it is written. In particular, you need to identify the controversies or problems that the author seeks to address. Once you have addressed the key questions and focus of the article, you are then in a position to critically examine the intellectual merit of the work. This can include things like assessing whether the evidence supports the author's thesis, whether the author has considered alternative explanations for the same outcome, and whether the argument is internally consistent.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • to obtain factual knowledge about a range of European cultures, including about selected current issues affecting Europe
  • to analyse and reflect critically on past and present concepts of European and national cultural identities
  • to gain an appreciation of cultural diversity and a range of issues related to cultural and cross-cultural questions
  • to engage with relevant key concepts arising from cultural studies in a European context
  • to develop research skills on topics relevant to the unit
  • to become familiar with the basic conventions of academic research and writing

Major essay

Due: 13 November
Weighting: 45%

The major essay question will be posted in iLearn under the 'Major Essay' heading in the 'Assessments' tab. Students will write an essay of 2000 words on this topic. Students will draw on at least one society covered in the INTS104 lectures, and at least 5 scholarly (peer-reviewed) sources beyond the readings on iLearn. Further instructions will be posted on iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • to obtain factual knowledge about a range of European cultures, including about selected current issues affecting Europe
  • to analyse and reflect critically on past and present concepts of European and national cultural identities
  • to gain an appreciation of cultural diversity and a range of issues related to cultural and cross-cultural questions
  • to engage with relevant key concepts arising from cultural studies in a European context
  • to develop research skills on topics relevant to the unit
  • to become familiar with the basic conventions of academic research and writing

Participation

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 15%

Beginning in Week 2, tutorial attendance and participation are required. Tutorials will explore the content and themes from the previous week's lecture; students will be expected to engage in critical analysis of unit readings also. Tutorials are a compulsory component of this unit. No more than two tutorials should be missed. Absence from more than two tutorials needs to be supported by relevant documentation such as medical certificates (submitted online via https://ask.mq.edu.au). Unexplained absence more than two tutorials is a possible ground for exclusion from the unit.

Please arrive on time for classes. Arriving late is very disruptive. All classes start five minutes past the hour. If you should arrive late, it is your responsibility to ensure you are marked on the class roll and to find out what you have missed.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • to obtain factual knowledge about a range of European cultures, including about selected current issues affecting Europe
  • to analyse and reflect critically on past and present concepts of European and national cultural identities
  • to gain an appreciation of cultural diversity and a range of issues related to cultural and cross-cultural questions
  • to engage with relevant key concepts arising from cultural studies in a European context
  • to become familiar with the basic conventions of academic research and writing
  • to work and collaborate with others effectively

Quiz

Due: 16 October
Weighting: 10%

This online quiz will test your knowledge of the material covered from weeks 1 to 8. Further instructions regarding this assessment task will be provided on iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • to analyse and reflect critically on past and present concepts of European and national cultural identities
  • to engage with relevant key concepts arising from cultural studies in a European context

Delivery and Resources

The unit includes a weekly 1 hour lecture (from Week 1) and a 1 hour tutorial (from Week 2).

For lecture times and locations please see the Timetables Portal.

Please attend the tutorial group in which you have enrolled.

The unit will be taught in English; all assessment components should be submitted in English.

As this unit involves a series of lectures in preparation for independent research. Attendance at all lectures is highly recommended, attendance at tutorials is compulsory. Students who miss more than two tutorials without evidence of an unforseen and serious disruption (e.g. illness, supported by a medical certificate) will not be able to pass the unit. Ongoing work commitments are not a valid reason for missing classes.

It is expected that you prepare for each lecture and tutorial with the help of the set reading material which can be accessed via the iLearn online platform. Each lecture and tutorial will then offer further information, references and relevant internet sources thus guiding you towards more independent research.

Weekly lectures commence in Week 1 and are recorded (Echo). Please note that the recorded lectures are predominantly catering for those students who have a timetable ‘clash’. We strongly recommend that you attend the live lecture.

Lecture recordings will be released in line with the course’s progression and will be available for 2 weeks after the relevant lecture.

While the lectures introduce you to specific European cultures which illustrate a broader cultural issue, the tutorials provide you with the opportunity to explore the relevant topic in more depth and to enhance your essay writing skills. Adequate preparation for the tutorials will allow you to explore the relevant topic in more depth through active participation in group discussion which in turn creates an ideal base for more independent research when preparing for your essays. In addition to becoming actively involved in the lectures and tutorials, it is also recommended that you broaden your understanding of each culture by undertaking the suggested additional reading on iLearn.

In order to stay informed about the organisation and content of the course, you are expected to visit the iLearn site for INTS104 at least once a week to obtain all updated information.

Online Unit

This unit has an online presence.

Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/ Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

- For technical support go to: http://mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/informatics/help - For student quick guides on the use of iLearn go to: http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/guides.htm

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

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.

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

Please submit requests for extensions via the above link as Disruption to Studies. Please note that unless you have documentary evidence of disruption to your studies (medical certificate, etc), you will not be granted an extension.

IT Help

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.

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 outcome

  • to develop research skills on topics relevant to the unit

Assessment tasks

  • Review essay
  • 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

  • to gain an appreciation of cultural diversity and a range of issues related to cultural and cross-cultural questions
  • to become familiar with the basic conventions of academic research and writing

Assessment tasks

  • Review essay
  • Major essay
  • Participation

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

  • to obtain factual knowledge about a range of European cultures, including about selected current issues affecting Europe
  • to engage with relevant key concepts arising from cultural studies in a European context

Assessment tasks

  • Review essay
  • Major essay
  • Participation
  • Quiz

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

  • to obtain factual knowledge about a range of European cultures, including about selected current issues affecting Europe
  • to analyse and reflect critically on past and present concepts of European and national cultural identities
  • to gain an appreciation of cultural diversity and a range of issues related to cultural and cross-cultural questions
  • to engage with relevant key concepts arising from cultural studies in a European context
  • to develop research skills on topics relevant to the unit
  • to become familiar with the basic conventions of academic research and writing

Assessment tasks

  • Review essay
  • Major essay
  • Participation
  • Quiz

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

  • to analyse and reflect critically on past and present concepts of European and national cultural identities
  • to gain an appreciation of cultural diversity and a range of issues related to cultural and cross-cultural questions
  • to engage with relevant key concepts arising from cultural studies in a European context
  • to develop research skills on topics relevant to the unit

Assessment tasks

  • Review essay
  • Major essay
  • Participation
  • Quiz

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

  • to obtain factual knowledge about a range of European cultures, including about selected current issues affecting Europe
  • to engage with relevant key concepts arising from cultural studies in a European context
  • to develop research skills on topics relevant to the unit
  • to work and collaborate with others effectively

Assessment tasks

  • Review essay
  • Major essay
  • Participation
  • Quiz

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

  • to analyse and reflect critically on past and present concepts of European and national cultural identities
  • to develop research skills on topics relevant to the unit
  • to become familiar with the basic conventions of academic research and writing
  • to work and collaborate with others effectively

Assessment tasks

  • Review essay
  • Major essay
  • Participation
  • Quiz

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

  • to analyse and reflect critically on past and present concepts of European and national cultural identities
  • to gain an appreciation of cultural diversity and a range of issues related to cultural and cross-cultural questions
  • to engage with relevant key concepts arising from cultural studies in a European context
  • to develop research skills on topics relevant to the unit
  • to become familiar with the basic conventions of academic research and writing
  • to work and collaborate with others effectively

Assessment tasks

  • Review essay
  • Major essay
  • Participation
  • Quiz

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

  • to gain an appreciation of cultural diversity and a range of issues related to cultural and cross-cultural questions
  • to engage with relevant key concepts arising from cultural studies in a European context
  • to develop research skills on topics relevant to the unit
  • to work and collaborate with others effectively

Assessment tasks

  • Review essay
  • Major essay
  • Participation
  • Quiz