Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Norbert Ebert
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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
Work and employment are basic social experiences. How can we understand them and why are they so important to us? This unit will search for answers by applying sociological key-concepts to contemporary Work and Employment issues. The unit consists of three parts. The first part examines the relevance of work for individuals and society. In the second part, we investigate the organisation of Work and Employment on a political, organisational and individual level. The final part deals with our experience of work. It contemplates the future of work in terms of work-life balance and the chances for individuals' self-realisation. On the basis of those three parts students will gain a clear understanding of work and employment in contemporary societies that will benefit their own careers as well as their understanding of society in general.
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:
How to get the most out of SOC(X)866 / SOCI705
SOC(X)866 / SOCI705 The Sociology of Work and Employment has a simple and easy to follow structure. It is based on the idea of learning in three ways: reading about, listening to and writing about fundamental questions related to work and employment in contemporary policy settings. Every week follows this pattern with a clear focus on a key question.
The assessments in SOC(X)866 / SOCI705 build on linking these three components of the course.
How to submit the assignments
The reflection task, the proposal and the final assignment have to be submitted via the turnitin links on iLearn by 11.59pm on the due dates. You can submit your assignment only ONCE! Please do not panic if you (for whatever reason) submit your assignment a few minutes late. We will not deduct marks for that. Your grades will be made available on gradebook on iLearn too, but remain subject to change until the end of the course and depend on your overall performance in the course.
If you have questions, need advice or want to discuss your assignment with the course convenor outside class room / online discussions, please email me directly (norbert.ebert@mq.edu.au).
How to deal with difficulties
The first rule is let me know asap and we will work out a way forward. The sooner I know, the sooner I can help. In particular, there is little I can do to help you once the due date of assignments has passed.
The second rule is, please raise general questions in class or the online discussion board before you individually email me. Often others have the same questions about referencing or contents related questions. Generally, the advice is to ask as early as possible and not avoid asking.
For issues affecting your performance, but which are unrelated to the course contents and prevent your from participating in tutorials or from submitting assignments or from completing the unit, please let me know and visit www.ask.mq.edu.au where you can submit the appropriate application including the required documentation. This is essential to grant you extensions in particular beyond the end of semester if required.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Participation | 20% | No | ongoing |
Reflection task 1 (1500 words) | 20% | No | 01/09/2017 |
Proposal | 20% | No | 27/10/2017 |
sociological analysis | 40% | No | 09/11/2017 |
Due: ongoing
Weighting: 20%
SOC(X)866 / SOCI705 is structured around weekly key topics related addressing fundamental questions and issues around work and employment. Every lecture will cover a particular angle or approach. Together with the readings, this will link directly to the four assessment tasks. The four tasks build on each other.
Participation has a clear purpose: Based on the lecture material and the reading(s), the on campus class for internals and the online discussion board for externals and OUA students is the space where you can discuss topics and examples related to the week, ask questions, clarify concepts or ideas from the lecture or the readings. By discussion exactly that, you automatically repeat and learn the course contents.
For external and OUA students participation requires discussions on iLearn and we encourage you to share and discuss with others what you think about the topic of the week.
For internal students it requires class attendance on campus.
Participation - online as well as on campus - means to think and discuss the weekly material on a particular topic with others. Your contribution will be assessed on the basis of your familiarity and understanding of the weekly course contents from the lecture and the reading(s). Discussion means further that you are required to engage with others. The focus is not so much the quantity, but the quality of your contributions.
The tutorials will provide you with clear guidance on how to approach your assessments, what the key points are you need to include and define. This way, you automatically repeat, discuss and learn the course contents.
Due: 01/09/2017
Weighting: 20%
The assessments in this course are linked and build on each other. The reflection task build on the class discussions, but goes a little bit further. The purpose is for you to learn how to articulate in writing the essence of a weekly topic.
The point of the reflection task is that you engage in depth with ONE of the weekly topics (from week 2-5) that has been covered before the due date.
The most important points to consider are:
a) identify the key question / topic of the chosen week and give a short basic answer which you then explain in more detail.
b) clearly name, define and explain in your own words the key concepts of the chosen week.
c) refer to and reference the reading(s) of the chosen week to back up your key points and demonstrate your understanding of the reading
What you are NOT supposed to do:
a) Do NOT exceed 1500 words.
b) Do NOT reference the lecturer or the lecture slides!
c) Do NOT copy the quotes used in the lecture from the reading into your assignment, but find your own.
d) Do NOT use readings or other materials other than the ones provided by the course.
The writing task is not an essay. It does not require an introduction or a conclusion. Focus on the key question / topic of the week.
Due: 27/10/2017
Weighting: 20%
Think of the proposal as a further elaboration of your reflection task. The proposal builds on the reflection task and is the next step towards your final assignment, the "sociological analysis".
You once again choose a weekly topic that has been covered up to here or the same week as you have chosen for your reflection task and articulate in writing what the essence of the weekly topic is in your own words. With the reflection task you have essentially worked out the core, the fundamentals for a topic, approach or concept relating to work and employment.
What you need to do for the proposal is to add (propose) where this can be applied and how you will elaborate it in a focused way in your final assignment. This can be based on an article, a policy (or extract of one), some specific stats from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, for example), a newspaper article, a news clip or any other accessible material. The link to the topic needs to be clearly articulated. In short, find a real world example and propose how you will analyse it in your final assessment.
The main points to consider are:
Due: 09/11/2017
Weighting: 40%
The final assignment builds on your reflection task and your proposal. It puts the two assignment together. You can stick with the topic you have covered before or choose a new one However, if you choose a new one you have to go through the steps of the reflection task and the proposal again for yourself to fulfill the requirements for the final assignment Following the instructions for the reflection task and the proposal your sociological analysis will have three parts:
a) a clear articulation of a weekly topic;
b) a clear description of an example / application / policy
c) the sociological analysis, elaboration and discussion linking a) and b)
Internal students are required to come to class on Tuesday nights. External and OUA students are required to listen to the recordedd lectures on iLearn and participate in the weekly discussions which are set up per week on iLearn. The readings used in this course are available through a link on iLearn.
Online discussions are being delivered through iLearn.
Should you encounter any IT problems, please contact IT directly via One Help.
1 |
01/08/2017 |
Introduction to SOC(X)866 / SOCI705 |
2 |
08/08/2017 |
The Structures of Work Societies |
3 |
15/08/2017 |
Capitalism at Work |
4 |
22/08/2017 |
The Productivity Obsession |
5 |
29/08/2017 |
How Technology Works for, against or with us |
01/09/2017 | Assignment 1 is due (20%) | |
6 |
05/09/2017 |
The Human Cost of Work |
7 |
12/09/2017 |
Corporate Individualism |
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19/09/2017 |
mid-session break |
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26/09/2017 |
mid-session break |
8 |
03/10/2017 |
(Un)Employment as Ideology |
9 |
10/10/2017 |
Capitalism: A Love Story |
10 |
17/10/2017 |
Working Hard for What? |
11 |
24/10/2017 |
Class and Diversity |
27/10/2017 | Assignment 2 is due (20%) | |
12 |
31/10/2017 |
How Gender Works |
13 |
07/11/2017 |
Work Societies Without Work? |
09/11/2017 | Final Assignment is due (40%) |
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
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.
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.
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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As an external or OUA student in SOC(X)866 / SOCI705 you are required to listen to the lectures online via iLearn and do the weekly readings.
Your tutorial is the weekly online discussion forum. What on campus students do in classes on campus, you do in the discussion forum. That is you will engage in the weekly topic to discuss the main points and concepts which are crucial for your assignments. It is your responsibility to "attend" online regularly. The online engagement is the foundation for your assignments. From experience students who engage in discussions are doing better in the assignments :-)
SOC(X)866 / SOCI705 Sociology of Work and Employment: List of Readings per week
1 |
No reading |
2 |
Beck U. (2000) The Brave New World of Work, pp. 10-16, Polity Press: Cambridge. Nisbet R. A. (1984) The Sociological Tradition, pp. 84-86, Heinemann: London. Stones R. (2017) Key Sociological Thinkers, pp. 72-75, Palgrave Macmillan: London. |
3 |
Anderson P. (1975) Passages from Antiquity to Feudalism, pp. 84-86 and 147-153, NLB: London. Elster J. (1984) Making Sense of Marx, pp. 278-288, Cambridge University Press: Cambrinde. Bell D. (1973) The Coming of Post-Industrial Society, pp. 12-32, Basic Books: New York. |
4 |
Brubaker R. (1984) The Limits of Rationality. An Essay on the Social and Moral Thought of Max Weber, pp. 8-48, Allen & Unwin: London. |
5 |
Blyton P. and Jenkins J. (2007) Key Concepts in Work, Technology, pp. 210-216, Sage: London. Rifkin J. (2004) The End of Work, pp. 3-14, Penguin Group: New York. Reese H. and Heath N. (2017) Inside Amazon’s Clickworker Platform:How Half a Million People Are Being Paid Pennies to Train AI, http://www.techrepublic.com/article/inside-amazons-clickworker-platform-how-half-a-million-people-are-training-ai-for-pennies-per-task/ |
6 |
Blyton P. and Jenkins J. (2007) Key Concepts in Work, Alienation, pp. 11-16, Sage: London. Hochschildt A. R. (1983) The Managed Heart. Commercialization of Human Feeling, pp. ix – 23, University of California Press: Berkely, Los Angeles, London. Blyton P. and Jenkins J. (2007) Key Concepts in Work, Emotional Labour, pp. 64-68, Sage: London. Blyton P. and Jenkins J. (2007) Key Concepts in Work, Human Relations, pp. 93-97, Sage: London. |
7 |
Bowman S. R. (1996) The Modern Corporation and American Political Thought. Law, Power and Ideology, pp. 180-184. |
8 |
Kurz, H. D. (2016) Economic Thought: A Brief History, pp. 113-131, Columbia University Press: New York. Blyton P. and Jenkins J. (2007) Key Concepts in Work, Unemployment and Underemployment, pp. 227-231, Sage: London. Harvey D. (2007) A Brief History of Neoliberalism, pp. 1-4, Oxford University Press: Oxford. |
9 |
No reading |
10 |
Lafargue P. (1973[1883]) The Right to be Lazy, pp. 9-13, Gordon Press: New York. Hughes J. A., Martin P. J. and Sharrock W. W. (1997) Understanding Classical Sociology, pp. 94-102, Sage: London. Ehrenreich B. (2010) Smile or Die. How Positive Thinking Fooled America and the World, pp. 1-13, Granta Publications: London. |
11 |
Dahrendorf R. (1970) Marx’s Theory of Class, in Readings on Social Stratification, edited by Tumin, M. M., pp. 3-17, Prentice Hall: London. Weber M. (1970) Class, Status, Party, in Readings on Social Stratification, edited by Tumin, M. M., pp. 27-39, Prentice Hall: London. Blyton P. and Jenkins J. (2007) Key Concepts in Work, Globalization and Labour Migration, pp. 87-92, Sage: London. |
12 |
Connell R. (2009) Gender in World Perspective, pp. 72-93, Polity Press: Cambridge. Bohnet I. (2016) What Works. Gender Equality by Design, pp. 1-17, The Belkamp Press of Harvard University Press: Cambridge & London. |
13 |
Kalleberg A. L. (2009) Precarious Work, Insecure Workers: Employment Relations in Transition, American Sociological Review, Vol. 74, No. 1, pp. 1-22. |