Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Chris Vasantkumar
W6A, Room 600
Wednesday 1-3 and by appointment
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
ANTH 818
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit offers an overview of anthropology of human rights. Human rights, broadly understood, is a field that employs anthropology, especially as many difficult issues for the human rights movement today revolve specifically around cultural diversity, whether multiculturalism is successful, and how to bring about culture change to increase respect for human rights. Many long-term research projects in anthropology have to touch on key issues in human rights, including the rights of minority groups and indigenous populations. This unit examines the issues that arise when trying to apply human rights and humanitarian principles across cultures. Although we consider critical perspectives on human rights, we also focus on how anthropology might contribute to human rights practice around the globe.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
How to Submit Your Work All assessments must be submitted via turnitin no later than 11:59pm on the due date.
Extensions and Late Submissions Late submissions on any assignment will incur a penalty, unless the unit convenor has granted an extension due to “unavoidable disruption” certified as such via the formal Disruption of Studies request process (see Undergraduate Student Handbook). Requests for extensions are more likely to be approved if they are submitted well in advance of the deadline. The late penalty is a 5% deduction in your mark per 24-hour period. The unit convenor at his discretion may waive this deduction for assignments turned in within 1 hour of the deadline.
Word Limits You will be deducted 1 percentage point for each 25 words by which you exceed the word limit. Please take the word limit very seriously and try to make your argument concisely and clearly. It is unfair to fellow students if one person has much more space to argue their case while another student sticks firmly to the length guidelines. The word limit is designed to level the essay-writing field, so to speak. You must provide a word count beneath the title when you submit your work. If you fail to provide a word count, you will be deducted 1 percentage point and the assessor will estimate length and mark accordingly. The word limit excludes end-of-text references but it includes footnotes and in-text citations.
Failure to reach the minimum word count for an assessment will result in a penalty determined by calculating the percentage of the required word total you were able to complete. For example, if you wrote an essay 734 words in length for an assessment with a minimum word count of 1000 words, your mark would be penalized by 26.6% because you only completed 73.4% of the assessment. Example: your work would have received a 77D had it been 1000 words long, you wrote 734 words, your final mark would be 77 * 0.734 = 56 P.
Plagiarism The fundamental principle of the University’s Academic Honesty Policy is that all staff and students act with integrity in the creation, development, application and use of ideas and information. This means that:
The University defines plagiarism in its rules: "Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one's own." Plagiarism is a serious breach of the University's rules and carries significant penalties. You must read the University's definition of plagiarism and its academic honesty policy. These can be found in the Handbook of Undergraduate studies or on the web here.The policies and procedures explain what plagiarism is, how to avoid it, the procedures that will be taken in cases of suspected plagiarism, and the penalties if you are found guilty. In this class I use turnitin to detect plagiarism and I take it very, very seriously. Plagiarism may result in a mark of zero for that assignment and, depending on the severity of the plagiarism, may also result in failing the unit and/or referral to the University Discipline Committee.
No consideration for lost work or technology issues It is the student’s responsibility to keep a copy (electronic or otherwise) of all written work submitted for each unit. No consideration will be given to claims of ‘lost work’ or technology issues no matter what the circumstances. It is your responsibility to ensure that your computer is fully compatible with iLearn during exam periods.
Returning assignments Student work will usually be marked and returned within two to three weeks of receipt. Students who hand their work in before the due date will not have it returned early. Do not ask when marking will be finished. If you turned in you assignment late, it will likely be marked later.
Disruptions to Study: Please view the Disruption to Studies Policy here. All Disruption to Studies notifications are to be made online via the University’s Ask MQ system.
Remember, the University has determined that some circumstances routinely encountered by students are not acceptable grounds for claiming Disruption of Studies. These grounds include, but are not limited, to:
Conditions existing prior to commencing a unit of study are not grounds for Special Consideration. The student is responsible for managing their workload in light of any known or anticipated problems. The student is responsible for contacting Student Support Services if they have a chronic condition.
Remember that you can miss one tutorial and two lectures without having to complete the Disruption to Studies process. This allowance is to reduce the documentation burden for you and your convenor.
Re-mark of Work During the Semester A re-mark will be considered only on the following grounds:
1. Administrative error 2. The feedback provided on the assessment does not justify the grade awarded
Student Procedure:
1. The student must contact the original marker of the assessment (usually your tutor) to discuss the mark or resolve the administrative error. 2. If the marking issue cannot be resolved by the original marker, the student will email the unit convenor. This email must clearly detail the marking issue at hand.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Class Preparation: DPG | 15% | No | Continuing |
Participation in seminar | 20% | No | Continuing |
Leading Seminar Discussion | 15% | No | Twice/semester |
Short Essay | 20% | No | 31 March via turnitin |
Research Essay | 30% | No | 9 June via turnitin |
Due: Continuing
Weighting: 15%
Each week, you must fill out a Discussion Preparation Guide and bring it to class.
Due: Continuing
Weighting: 20%
Each student is expected to participate actively and constructively in the seminar discussion.
Due: Twice/semester
Weighting: 15%
Each student is responsible for leading the seminar discussion twice during the semester. (Dates for each person’s turns leading discussion will be worked out during first class meeting.)
Due: 31 March via turnitin
Weighting: 20%
Write a short paper (1250-1750 words, double-spaced) on an assigned topic (see iLearn for topics)
Due: 9 June via turnitin
Weighting: 30%
A research paper (3000-3500 words, double-spaced) analyzing a relevant aspect of contemporary Human Rights discourse and/practice in light of the material we have covered in the unit. You have wide latitude in terms of the focus that you select as long as you bring it into productive conversation with the unit’s themes, concerns and materials. Using Harvard reference style recommended.
Readings will be available on electronic reserve. See iLearn for full details. Topics to be covered include the following:
Week |
Topic |
1 |
Introduction to Culture and Human Rights: What Do Human Rights Do? |
2 |
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights |
3 |
Anthropology and Human Rights: What is Culture Anyway? |
4 |
The Limits of the "Human:" Concepts and Case Studies |
5 |
"Rights" and Their Critics: The View from "Asia" |
6 |
Universal Rights, Local Practices |
7 |
Human Rights, Some Influential Critiques |
Mid-semester Recess |
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8 |
Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Foreign Fighters: Human Rights and Security since 9/11 |
9 |
Blood, Sweat and Tears: Are Human Rights and Global Capitalism Compatible? |
10 |
Indigeneity, Nature and the Right to Difference |
11 |
Human Rights and the Non-Human |
12 |
After Human Rights? |
13 |
No Class
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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.
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.
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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