Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Associate Professor
Geoffrey Hawker
Contact via by email or 9850 8885
W6A Rm 428
Wednesday 5-6 pm
Lecturer
Lavina Lee
Contact via by email or (02) 9850 8872
W6A 431
Thursday 10-11 am
|
---|---|
Credit points |
Credit points
4
|
Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
POIR901 and IRPG841 and (admission to MIntRel or MIntCommMIntRel or MIntBusMIntRel or MTransInterMIntRel)
|
Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
Unit description |
Unit description
This unit draws on knowledge from across the International Relations program, requiring candidates to apply their earlier learning to an urgent and/or controversial theme in international relations – i.e. an international political problem. The participatory exercises are simulations that involve role playing. They require students to acquire (i) some specialist and general theoretical knowledge; (ii) to develop and apply negotiation, communication and practical problem solving abilities; iii) enhance research and writing skills.
|
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:
Name | Weighting | Due |
---|---|---|
Participation in Scenario 1 | 25% | Week 4 - August 25th, 2016 |
Participation in Scenario 2 | 25% | Week 7 - September 15th, 2016 |
Essay Outline & Plan | 5% | 30 September 2016 |
Research Essay | 45% | 11 November 2016 |
Due: Week 4 - August 25th, 2016
Weighting: 25%
Students will be given a role play scenario based on an actual or hypothetical event in international politics and allocated a role - an actor - to play in a live exchange conducted in a seminar setting.
Through research in the preceding weeks, students have informed themselves on the actor they are to represent and the positions it is likely to have and propose regarding this scenario. Skills in negotiation, argumentation, and communication, as well as background knowledge, are then tested in the role playing forum.
Written notes can be brought to the live exchange.
Details of the role play scenario and grade criteria will be given on the ilearn site for this course. This may include both a written and oral component of assessment.
Due: Week 7 - September 15th, 2016
Weighting: 25%
Students will be given a role play scenario based on an actual or hypothetical event in international politics and allocated a role - an actor - to play in a live exchange conducted in a seminar setting.
Through research in the preceding weeks, students have informed themselves on the actor they are to represent and the position/s it is likely to have and propose regarding this scenario. Skills in negotiation, argumentation and communication, as well as background knowledge, are then tested in the role playing forum
Written notes can be brought to the live exchange.
Details of the role play scenario and grade criteria will be given on the ilearn site for this course. This may include both a written and oral component of assessment.
Due: 30 September 2016
Weighting: 5%
A 750 word essay outline and plan (including title). The proposal should include:
Your chosen topic must be drawn from the themes raised by one or other of the two role play scenarios. Remember that your research essay must be new and original and cannot reproduce work done before. Significant penalties up to and including failure in the unit will result from the resubmission of previous work.
The essay plan/outline should be submitted online using the Turnitin link on the ilearn website for this subject.
Due: 11 November 2016
Weighting: 45%
Essay (3500 words, excluding footnotes and bibliography) on a question drawn from one or other of these scenarios.
Part of the task is the development of a research question by the student themselves. The essay could be a more theoretical or more empirical exploration, it could investigate a negotiation perspective, it could be a policy proposal. In any case, it should be academic, properly researched and referenced.
All essays must be submitted online using the Turnitin link on the ilearn website for this subject.
Essays should be written in 12 point font, with margins of at least 2.5cm.
Role Plays will be conducted in a seminar setting.
Students are advised to contact the convenors prior to submission of the research outline/plan if they have any questions about how to complete this task.
Three main on campus sessions:
Week 2: Suggested date Tuesday 9 August 2016
Introduction to the course and explanation of assessment tasks.
Week 4: Suggested date Thursday 25 August 2016
Role Play Scenario 1: in a 2 hour seminar setting
Week 7: Suggested date Thursday 15 September 2016
Role Play Scenario 2: in a 2 hour seminar setting
Dates and times will be confirmed in consultation with the student cohort in week 1.
Research Essay Plan and Outline Due: 30 September 2016
Final Research Essay Due (3500 words): 11 November 2016
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.
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.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism has become an increasing problem in universities. The convenor of this course finds plagiarism in all its forms offensive and will pursue any plagiarism committed by students in this course and will apply appropriate penalties. Plagiarism is essentially a form of cheating, which provides those students with an unfair advantage to the rest of the student body, and devalues the MIR degree. The Department and the Faculty take plagiarism very seriously, with penalties escalating from mark deductions, zero grades for particular assignments, zero grades for the course as a whole, and in serious cases, expulsion from the degree and the university.
Both the research outline/plan and final research essay will be automatically screened through Turnitin (anti-plagiarism software).
Extensions
Any student seeking an extension of time to submit their dissertation or research proposal must, except in extraordinary circumstances, submit to the Convenor (or have submitted on their behalf) a request in writing and supportive documentary evidence prior to the due date. Extensions will not be given other than in exceptional cases of illness. In such cases, a certificate signed by a medical practitioner must be submitted as supportive documentary evidence.
In extraordinary circumstances where a written request for an extension cannot be submitted, an application for an extension can be sought verbally. However, in such cases, any extension granted will be subject to the student subsequently submitting such documentary evidence as is deemed appropriate by the Convenor. If an extension is sought due to the death of a family member, proof must be provided in the form of a death certificate.
Extensions beyond one week are subject to special consideration. The policy for this is detailed under Policy and Procedures under 'Disruption to Studies Policy'.
Whilst we do understand that many or most students support themselves through paid employment, extensions cannot be granted on this basis alone. Students must manage their time and workloads accordingly. Essay topics will be given to students by the second week of semester leaving ample time for essay preparation. Meeting deadlines for assignments is an important skill, and is expected in most jobs. Accordingly, the penalties for late submission are high.
Penalties for Late Submission
Any research paper that is submitted after the due date and without having obtained an extension will be penalised at a rate of 3% per day. For example:
Any paper that is submitted 10 days after the due date will not be marked and the student submitting such a paper will be deemed not to have completed and submitted the paper.
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.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
The addition of a research plan/outline as an additional assessable task. This assessment task has been added to assist students to formulate a clear research question and an effective plan to complete the research essay on time.