Students

SOC 222 – Theories of Modernity

2017 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Pauline Johnson
Contact via pauline.johnson@mq.edu.au
W6A 833
email for appointment
Sandey Fitzgerald
Tutor
James Dorahy
Contact via 8078
W6A 838
TBA
Sandey Fitzgerald
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
12cp at 100 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Modernity is characterised by a number of specific developments such as: democracy, capitalism, industrialism, nationalism, individualism and bureaucratisation. These are partly antagonistic, partly complementary tendencies. In this unit we will be examining these diverse trends through the prism of a range of classical theories of modern society. We will consider from among the following: Marx, Nietzsche, Weber, Durkheim, Mead, the Frankfurt School and Foucault. None of these has the key but we suggest that all remain a vital source of illumination into tendencies and potentials of the contemporary world.

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:

  • learn how to think sociologically
  • learn how to apply those concepts in everyday life
  • develop writing, research and analytical skills
  • read and write critically
  • learn to communicate your own ideas simply and directly

General Assessment Information

All four tutorial exercises are to be to be submitted via Turnitin by 5pm of the due dates. The journals are to be handed in to Faculty Administration in the Sociology box by 5pm on the due date. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
journal 30% No Ongoing
Exercise 1 15% No week 4
Exercise 2 15% No week 6
Exercise 3 20% No week 9
Exercise 4 20% No week 13

journal

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 30%

This unit requires building up your skills in reading some challenging social theory and you will need to come to all classes ( lectures and tutorials). The tutorials are also the place where you can prepare yourself for the written tutorial exercises. Tutorials require your attendance and participation. They are your “space” where you can raise questions, discuss and clarify readings, concepts or other questions around the unit. Only you can make the tutorial work for yourself. Thus, you will need to prepare for each class. This will mean doing the readings for each week and attend the lecture. In addition to the participation in the tutorial you are required to keep a workbook. The  journal should contain your reflections on lectures, the tutorial and the readings. It should also be about questions that come to your mind as you prepare for each week, comments about topics, summaries of the readings or questions that emerge as we go through the course week by week. We will collect the workbook at the end of the course in order to be able to assess your engagement with the material of the course. The workbook is part of the participation mark (30%).


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • learn how to think sociologically
  • learn how to apply those concepts in everyday life
  • develop writing, research and analytical skills
  • read and write critically
  • learn to communicate your own ideas simply and directly

Exercise 1

Due: week 4
Weighting: 15%

Tutorial Exercises 1 - 4 You are required to write four (4) tutorial exercises. Each exercise has to be 600 words long. The task is to choose one (1) of the provided questions from a week (before the due date of the exercise) and answer it by using lecture material, the required reading(s) and the suggested readings as provided in the outline. 600 words is not much. You will need to be concise and get straight to the point. We are not asking for a summary of a theorist‟s work but we are asking you to work out a specific idea about modern societies as developed by a theorist.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • learn how to think sociologically
  • learn how to apply those concepts in everyday life
  • develop writing, research and analytical skills
  • read and write critically
  • learn to communicate your own ideas simply and directly

Exercise 2

Due: week 6
Weighting: 15%

Tutorial Exercises 1 - 4 You are required to write four (4) tutorial exercises. Each exercise has to be 600 words long. The task at hand is to choose one (1) of the provided questions from a week (before the due date of the exercise) and answer it by using lecture material, the required reading(s) and the suggested readings as provided in the outline. 600 words is not much. You will need to be concise and get straight to the point. We are not asking for a summary of a theorist's work but we are asking you to work out a specific idea about modern societies as developed by a theorist.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • learn how to think sociologically
  • learn how to apply those concepts in everyday life
  • develop writing, research and analytical skills
  • read and write critically
  • learn to communicate your own ideas simply and directly

Exercise 3

Due: week 9
Weighting: 20%

You are required to write four (4) tutorial exercises. Each exercise has to be 600 words long. The task at hand is to choose one (1) of the provided questions from a week (before the due date of the exercise) and answer it by using lecture material, the required reading(s) and the suggested readings as provided in the outline. 600 words is not much. You will need to be concise and get straight to the point. We are not asking for a summary of a theorist's work but we are asking you to work out a specific idea about modern societies as developed by a theorist.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • learn how to think sociologically
  • learn how to apply those concepts in everyday life
  • develop writing, research and analytical skills
  • read and write critically
  • learn to communicate your own ideas simply and directly

Exercise 4

Due: week 13
Weighting: 20%

Tutorial Exercises 1 - 4 You are required to write four (4) tutorial exercises. Each exercise has to be 600 words long. The task at hand is to choose one (1) of the provided questions from a week (before the due date of the exercise) and answer it by using lecture material, the required reading(s) and the suggested readings as provided in the outline. 600 words is not much. You will need to be concise and get straight to the point. We are not asking for a summary of a theorist‟s work but we are asking you to work out a specific idea about modern societies as developed by a theorist.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • learn how to think sociologically
  • learn how to apply those concepts in everyday life
  • develop writing, research and analytical skills
  • read and write critically
  • learn to communicate your own ideas simply and directly

Delivery and Resources

Technologies used. This unit has a presence on ilearn (ilearn.mq.edu.au) and you will be required to have regular access to a reliable broadband internet connection and a computer.

Weekly Readings

You will find these listed in your online unit in iLearn.

 

 

Unit Schedule

You will find a course calendar in your iLearn 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_2016.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 (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

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://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

  • learn how to apply those concepts in everyday life

Assessment tasks

  • journal
  • Exercise 1
  • Exercise 2
  • Exercise 3
  • Exercise 4

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 outcome

  • read and write critically

Assessment tasks

  • journal
  • Exercise 1
  • Exercise 2
  • Exercise 3
  • Exercise 4

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 outcome

  • learn to communicate your own ideas simply and directly

Assessment tasks

  • journal
  • Exercise 1
  • Exercise 2
  • Exercise 3
  • Exercise 4

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

  • learn how to think sociologically
  • read and write critically

Assessment tasks

  • journal
  • Exercise 1
  • Exercise 2
  • Exercise 3
  • Exercise 4

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

  • learn how to think sociologically
  • develop writing, research and analytical skills
  • read and write critically

Assessment tasks

  • journal
  • Exercise 1
  • Exercise 2
  • Exercise 3
  • Exercise 4

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

  • learn how to apply those concepts in everyday life
  • develop writing, research and analytical skills

Assessment tasks

  • journal
  • Exercise 1
  • Exercise 2
  • Exercise 3
  • Exercise 4

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

  • learn how to think sociologically
  • read and write critically
  • learn to communicate your own ideas simply and directly

Assessment tasks

  • journal
  • Exercise 1
  • Exercise 2
  • Exercise 3
  • Exercise 4

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 outcome

  • learn how to apply those concepts in everyday life

Assessment tasks

  • journal
  • Exercise 1
  • Exercise 2
  • Exercise 3
  • Exercise 4