Students

PICT851 – Strategic Thinkers

2017 – S2 Evening

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Brian Cuddy
Level 2, Australian Hearing Hub
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
16cp in PICT units at 800 level or above including PICT850 and (admission to MPICT or MCPICT or PGDipPICT or GradDipPICT or GradDipCPICT or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MIntSecStud or GradDipIntSecStud)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit provides a capstone experience through the critical survey of key texts in the multidisciplinary field of security studies. The unit is not lecture-based, but is conducted as a reading-intensive seminar. Students will read a selection of classic texts and, through a series of review essays, glean, apply, critique, and compare insights from those texts as they relate both to the academic discipline of security studies and to real-world security questions. The readings will develop the intellectual history of the field, allowing for an examination of shifting conceptual frameworks and research traditions, and for a comparison of alternative methodological approaches. And they will highlight important substantive questions that matter for security policy and practice. In particular, students will be encouraged to undertake a critical examination of the assumptions that underlie important debates and issues in the field today. Students are required to read three or four full texts over the course of the unit.

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:

  • Demonstrate specialized knowledge and cognitive skills in their chosen field of study by mastering important concepts, ideas and debates in the field of Security Studies, and aligning them with key scholars and dominant paradigms.
  • Demonstrate high levels of independent and advanced reading and research skills.
  • Produce sophisticated academic written research of both a theoretical and empirical nature, towards making an original contribution to the students' chosen field of study.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze critically, reflect on, and synthesize complex information relating to their field of study, and apply it to practical problems in a contemporary setting.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Essay 1 25% No Variable (Weeks 2 - 6)
Essay 2 25% No Variable (Weeks 7 - 9)
Essay 3 25% No Variable (Weeks 10 - 13)
Active Engagement 25% No Weekly

Essay 1

Due: Variable (Weeks 2 - 6)
Weighting: 25%

A key aim of this unit is to critically engage with a number of classic texts in the field of Security Studies.  Analytical essays that address core questions arising from these texts are a very good method for achieving this aim. Students will write three such essays over the course of the unit--one for each text studied. In responding to a set question, students should exhibit a mastery of the book under review, showcase their ability to analytically and systematically think through a problem, and develop a reasoned argument about the nature of strategic thinking. As with any piece of writing, a clear, persuasive thesis and thematic coherence are of utmost importance. Essays should reflect that the student has completed the readings, but they should not be mere summaries of the readings.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate specialized knowledge and cognitive skills in their chosen field of study by mastering important concepts, ideas and debates in the field of Security Studies, and aligning them with key scholars and dominant paradigms.
  • Demonstrate high levels of independent and advanced reading and research skills.
  • Produce sophisticated academic written research of both a theoretical and empirical nature, towards making an original contribution to the students' chosen field of study.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze critically, reflect on, and synthesize complex information relating to their field of study, and apply it to practical problems in a contemporary setting.

Essay 2

Due: Variable (Weeks 7 - 9)
Weighting: 25%

See Essay 1 for a description of this assessment task.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate specialized knowledge and cognitive skills in their chosen field of study by mastering important concepts, ideas and debates in the field of Security Studies, and aligning them with key scholars and dominant paradigms.
  • Demonstrate high levels of independent and advanced reading and research skills.
  • Produce sophisticated academic written research of both a theoretical and empirical nature, towards making an original contribution to the students' chosen field of study.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze critically, reflect on, and synthesize complex information relating to their field of study, and apply it to practical problems in a contemporary setting.

Essay 3

Due: Variable (Weeks 10 - 13)
Weighting: 25%

See Essay 1 for a description of this assessment task.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate specialized knowledge and cognitive skills in their chosen field of study by mastering important concepts, ideas and debates in the field of Security Studies, and aligning them with key scholars and dominant paradigms.
  • Demonstrate high levels of independent and advanced reading and research skills.
  • Produce sophisticated academic written research of both a theoretical and empirical nature, towards making an original contribution to the students' chosen field of study.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze critically, reflect on, and synthesize complex information relating to their field of study, and apply it to practical problems in a contemporary setting.

Active Engagement

Due: Weekly
Weighting: 25%

The unit is discussion-based rather than lecture-based and as such its success relies on the full participation of all students. Active engagement by students will increase the unit's value as an exercise (both individual and collective) in critical thinking, analysis, and communication. Internal students are expected to read the assigned materials in advance of each class, attend each class, and actively contribute to the discussion in each class. External (including OUA) students will participate via iLearn discussion forums. All students will take turns leading the classroom or online discussions. Grades are dependent on criteria such as (but not limited to) the quality of the engagement with the text and any other supplementary reading materials, new lines of inquiry posed, and engagement with peers and the convenor.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate specialized knowledge and cognitive skills in their chosen field of study by mastering important concepts, ideas and debates in the field of Security Studies, and aligning them with key scholars and dominant paradigms.
  • Demonstrate high levels of independent and advanced reading and research skills.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze critically, reflect on, and synthesize complex information relating to their field of study, and apply it to practical problems in a contemporary setting.

Delivery and Resources

DELIVERY AND RESOURCES

 

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

  • You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes reading weekly required materials, actively participating in the unit either in class (internal students) or via the iLearn discussion forum (external, including OUA, students), and preparing assessments.
  • Internal students are expected to attend all seminar or tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activities.
  • In most cases students are required to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit.

 

REQUIRED READINGS

  • Students should obtain a copy of each of the three books to be read in this unit. There are various editions of the three books in (and out of) print; students can obtain any edition. Physical copies of the books are available at Macquarie University Co-op bookstore.
    • Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War
    • E. H. Carr, The Twenty Years’ Crisis, 1919-1939
    • George F. Kennan, American Diplomacy
  • The citations for all other required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site.  Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means.

 

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

  • Computer and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement.
  • 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.
  • Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at  http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/.

 

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically.  This will only happen through the unit iLearn site. 
  • Assessment tasks must be submitted as a MS word document by the due date.
  • Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process.
  • The granting of extensions is subject to the university’s Disruptions Policy. Extensions will not in normal circumstances be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Disruption to Study: http://www.students.mq.edu.au/student_admin/manage_your_study_program/disruption_to_studies/. 

 

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • If an assignment is submitted late, 5% of the available mark will be deducted for each day (including weekends) the paper is late.
  • For example, if a paper is worth 20 marks, 1 mark will be deducted from the grade given for each day that it is late (i.e. a student given 15/20 who submitted 4 days late will lose 4 marks = 11/20).
  • The same principle applies if an extension is granted and the assignment is submitted later than the amended date.

 

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • Stated word limits include footnotes and footnoted references, but not bibliography, or title page.
  • Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure.
  • If the number of words exceeds the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words over the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%).
  • The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener.

 

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER

 

STAFF AVAILABILITY

  • Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not usually be answered over the weekend or public holiday period.
  • Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff.

Unit Schedule

Weeks 1, 2

Introduction

Weeks 3, 4, 5, 6

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War

Weeks 7, 8, 9

E. H. Carr, The Twenty Years’ Crisis

Weeks 10, 11, 12

George Kennan, American Diplomacy

Week 13

Conclusion

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

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze critically, reflect on, and synthesize complex information relating to their field of study, and apply it to practical problems in a contemporary setting.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3
  • Active Engagement

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate specialized knowledge and cognitive skills in their chosen field of study by mastering important concepts, ideas and debates in the field of Security Studies, and aligning them with key scholars and dominant paradigms.
  • Demonstrate high levels of independent and advanced reading and research skills.
  • Produce sophisticated academic written research of both a theoretical and empirical nature, towards making an original contribution to the students' chosen field of study.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3
  • Active Engagement

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate specialized knowledge and cognitive skills in their chosen field of study by mastering important concepts, ideas and debates in the field of Security Studies, and aligning them with key scholars and dominant paradigms.
  • Demonstrate high levels of independent and advanced reading and research skills.
  • Produce sophisticated academic written research of both a theoretical and empirical nature, towards making an original contribution to the students' chosen field of study.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze critically, reflect on, and synthesize complex information relating to their field of study, and apply it to practical problems in a contemporary setting.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3
  • Active Engagement

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate specialized knowledge and cognitive skills in their chosen field of study by mastering important concepts, ideas and debates in the field of Security Studies, and aligning them with key scholars and dominant paradigms.
  • Demonstrate high levels of independent and advanced reading and research skills.
  • Produce sophisticated academic written research of both a theoretical and empirical nature, towards making an original contribution to the students' chosen field of study.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3
  • Active Engagement

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Produce sophisticated academic written research of both a theoretical and empirical nature, towards making an original contribution to the students' chosen field of study.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze critically, reflect on, and synthesize complex information relating to their field of study, and apply it to practical problems in a contemporary setting.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3
  • Active Engagement

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze critically, reflect on, and synthesize complex information relating to their field of study, and apply it to practical problems in a contemporary setting.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3
  • Active Engagement