Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Lise Waldek lise.waldek@mq.edu.au
Prerequisites	Prerequisites
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status PICT837
Unit description	Unit description This unit examines the complex webs of networks and relationships involved in the development and evolution of violent extremism. These dynamics will be examined through a socio-cultural theoretical framework that draws upon contemporary terrorist scholarship including social media analysis and facilitates a critical examination of violent extremism. The unit will expose students to the complex web of socio-cultural, psychological, ideological, political and economic dynamics that produce, sustain, evolve and dissolve terrorism and violent extremism. Real world case-studies drawing on violent extremist activities, counter policies and initiatives will assist students in the formulation of sustained and persuasive arguments and techniques relating to current and future trends and patterns in the field of terrorist studies. The unit will establish a strong grounding in the theoretical constructs and techniques for a future career in the broader security discipline All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au

Important Academic Dates

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/

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Identify, examine and analyse texts, concepts and theories relating to the social construction of terrorism and violent extremism
Identify, investigate and evaluate the dynamics that impact on the development, evolution and dissolution of terrorism and violent extremism
Critique contemporary literature relating to concepts of terrorism and violent extremism
Formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments demonstrating the ability to select appropriate sources, integrate knowledge, evaluate its relevance and present findings rationally and lucidly
Demonstrate higher-level skills in critical analysis

General Assessment Information

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.

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Hurdle	Due
Active Participation	10%	No	Ongoing/Weekly
Engagement Quiz	10%	No	Week 12
Policy Memo	30%	No	Week 5
Research Essay	50%	No	Week 10

Active Participation

Due: Ongoing/Weekly
Weighting: 10%

Active Participation (10%) refers to the demonstration of sustained, informed, and critical contributions to seminars and online forums, the demonstration of reflective intellectual practice, the completion of online or in-class tasks, and the demonstration that you have engaged with the set materials for the course.

Please note! This assessment task is Pass or Fail – no partial credits will be awarded. 10 weeks of completed participation must be recorded.

Engagement refers to the demonstration of critical thinking and sustained, informed and critical contributions to seminars and online forums. It involves the ability to take an active role in learning, communicating effectively with peers, and to address substantively the given topic area making use of all available course materials. Effective engagement enhances the learning environment, fosters critical insights, and promotes cooperative, constructive and informed dialogue.

All students, in-class or external, are required to participate in a minimum of ten weeks between weeks 2 to 13.

: Students will be expected to attend ALL seminars and actively participate in the discussions and in-class activities. Each weekly seminar will examine a critical issue relating to the specific topic. Students are expected to take a leading role in the associated group discussions and activities, including presenting findings to their peers. Detailed instructions and the marking rubric will be available to all enrolled students on the unit i-Learn site.

External/OUA: Students will be expected to actively participate in ALL of the seminar activities. Each week students will have to actively contribute and engage in the forum discussion and/or the weekly activity. Detailed instructions and the marking rubric will be available to all enrolled students on the unit i-Learn site.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Identify, examine and analyse texts, concepts and theories relating to the social construction of terrorism and violent extremism
Identify, investigate and evaluate the dynamics that impact on the development, evolution and dissolution of terrorism and violent extremism
Formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments demonstrating the ability to select appropriate sources, integrate knowledge, evaluate its relevance and present findings rationally and lucidly

Engagement Quiz

Due: Week 12
Weighting: 10%

There will be one quiz set during this unit in Week 12. This quiz is worth 10% of the final grade. The quiz will have 20 questions drawn from the lectures and reading material.

Additional details about the quiz is available to enrolled students on the unit iLearn site.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Identify, examine and analyse texts, concepts and theories relating to the social construction of terrorism and violent extremism
Identify, investigate and evaluate the dynamics that impact on the development, evolution and dissolution of terrorism and violent extremism

Policy Memo

Due: Week 5
Weighting: 30%

The policy memo is a concise 1,500 word (+/- 10%) written brief addressed to a high-level policy maker who is considering the options available to the Australian government in relation to the funding of 2020 federal level countering violent extremist (CVE) programs. The memo will identify and analyse the political factors that inform the policy-makers decision, and recommend a particular course of action. The policy memo will identify government and non-government partners whose consultation is needed and why this is the case

Footnotes are included in your final word count; bibliography and title page are not counted in the final word count.

The PDF Policy Brief instructions and PDF Policy Brief Marking Rubric provide detailed instructions on the structure and assessment of this task. These can be accessed by enrolled students on the unit iLearn site.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Identify, examine and analyse texts, concepts and theories relating to the social construction of terrorism and violent extremism
Identify, investigate and evaluate the dynamics that impact on the development, evolution and dissolution of terrorism and violent extremism
Critique contemporary literature relating to concepts of terrorism and violent extremism
Formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments demonstrating the ability to select appropriate sources, integrate knowledge, evaluate its relevance and present findings rationally and lucidly
Demonstrate higher-level skills in critical analysis

Research Essay

Due: Week 10
Weighting: 50%

The completion of a 2,500 word Research Essay allows students to develop core disciplinary knowledge, enhance research and critical thinking skills, demonstrate effective written communication skills, and demonstrate originality.

Students should select ONE of the five essay questions listed in the PDF document. This document is provided on the unit iLearn site.

The PDF Research Essay instructions and PDF Research Essay Marking Rubric provide detailed instructions on the structure and assessment of this task. These can be accessed by enrolled students on the unit iLearn site.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Identify, investigate and evaluate the dynamics that impact on the development, evolution and dissolution of terrorism and violent extremism
Critique contemporary literature relating to concepts of terrorism and violent extremism
Formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments demonstrating the ability to select appropriate sources, integrate knowledge, evaluate its relevance and present findings rationally and lucidly
Demonstrate higher-level skills in critical analysis

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 listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in iLearn discussion forums and preparing assessments.
Internal students are expected to attend all seminar and 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

The citations for all of the 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 for this unit is available at https://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 subjected to a 'Turnitin' review as an automatic part of the submission process.
The granting of extensions is subject to the university's Disruption Policy. Extensions will not in normal circumstances be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Disruption to Study: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration/disruption-to-studies

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approve, a penalty for lateness will apply:
- Two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date
- No assignment will be accepted seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.
- No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

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%, 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%).

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER

Macquarie University operates a Grade Appeal Policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: http://student.mq.edu.au/support/complaints_appeals/appeals/grade_appeals/
Conforming to the Grade Appeal Policy, individual works are not subject to regrading

STAFF AVAILABILITY

Department staff will endeavor 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

DATE	TOPIC	Guest Speakers
Week 1 31^st July	Introduction: Who is a Terrorist?
Week 2 7^th August	Critical Debates in Terrorism Studies: Structure
Week 3 14^th August	Critical Debates in Terrorism Studies: Psychology	Stephanie Scott
Week 4 21^nd August	Critical Debates in Terrorism Studies: Networks
Week 5 28^th August	Radicalisation to Violence	Matt Quinn
Week 6 4^th September	Ideology and Religion
Week 7 11^th September	Social Media	Kosta Lucas
18^th September	RECESS
25^th September	RECESS
Week 8 2^rd October	Foreign Fighters
Week 9 9^th October	Gender
Week 10 16^th October	Crime Terror-Nexus	Rob Krauss (TBC)
Week 11 23^th October	Terrorist Financing	Mat Senevratne
Week 12 30^st October	Turning the lens on ourselves – manifestations of violent extremism by Western democracies
Week 13 6^th November	Conclusions

Please note that the availability of the noted specialist speakers may result in changes to the above timetable.

Policies and Procedures

Late Submission - applies unless otherwise stated elsewhere in the unit guide

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.

Extension Request

Special Consideration Policy and Procedure (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration)

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:

were serious, unexpected and unavoidable
were beyond your control
caused substantial disruption to your academic work
substantially interfered with your otherwise satisfactory fulfilment of the unit requirements
lasted at least three consecutive days or a total of 5 days within the teaching period and prevented completion of an assessment task scheduled for a specific date.

If you feel that your studies have been impacted submit an application as follows:

Visit Ask MQ and use your OneID to log in
Fill in your relevant details
Attach supporting documents by clicking 'Add a reply', click 'Browse' and navigating to the files you want to attach, then click 'Submit Form' to send your notification and supporting documents
Please keep copies of your original documents, as they may be requested in the future as part of the assessment process

Outcome

Once your submission is assessed, an appropriate outcome will be organised.

OUA Specific Policies and Procedures

Withdrawal from a unit after the census date

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 (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Appeals Policy
Academic Integrity Policy
Academic Progression Policy
Assessment Policy
Fitness to Practice Procedure
Grade Appeal Policy
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/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 outcomes

Identify, examine and analyse texts, concepts and theories relating to the social construction of terrorism and violent extremism
Identify, investigate and evaluate the dynamics that impact on the development, evolution and dissolution of terrorism and violent extremism
Critique contemporary literature relating to concepts of terrorism and violent extremism
Formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments demonstrating the ability to select appropriate sources, integrate knowledge, evaluate its relevance and present findings rationally and lucidly
Demonstrate higher-level skills in critical analysis

Assessment tasks

Active Participation
Engagement Quiz
Policy Memo
Research Essay

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

Identify, examine and analyse texts, concepts and theories relating to the social construction of terrorism and violent extremism
Identify, investigate and evaluate the dynamics that impact on the development, evolution and dissolution of terrorism and violent extremism
Critique contemporary literature relating to concepts of terrorism and violent extremism
Formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments demonstrating the ability to select appropriate sources, integrate knowledge, evaluate its relevance and present findings rationally and lucidly

Assessment tasks

Active Participation
Engagement Quiz
Policy Memo
Research Essay

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

Identify, examine and analyse texts, concepts and theories relating to the social construction of terrorism and violent extremism
Identify, investigate and evaluate the dynamics that impact on the development, evolution and dissolution of terrorism and violent extremism
Critique contemporary literature relating to concepts of terrorism and violent extremism
Formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments demonstrating the ability to select appropriate sources, integrate knowledge, evaluate its relevance and present findings rationally and lucidly
Demonstrate higher-level skills in critical analysis

Assessment tasks

Active Participation
Engagement Quiz
Policy Memo
Research Essay

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

Critique contemporary literature relating to concepts of terrorism and violent extremism
Formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments demonstrating the ability to select appropriate sources, integrate knowledge, evaluate its relevance and present findings rationally and lucidly
Demonstrate higher-level skills in critical analysis

Assessment tasks

Active Participation
Policy Memo
Research Essay

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

Critique contemporary literature relating to concepts of terrorism and violent extremism
Formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments demonstrating the ability to select appropriate sources, integrate knowledge, evaluate its relevance and present findings rationally and lucidly
Demonstrate higher-level skills in critical analysis

Assessment tasks

Active Participation
Policy Memo
Research Essay

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 outcomes

Identify, examine and analyse texts, concepts and theories relating to the social construction of terrorism and violent extremism
Identify, investigate and evaluate the dynamics that impact on the development, evolution and dissolution of terrorism and violent extremism
Formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments demonstrating the ability to select appropriate sources, integrate knowledge, evaluate its relevance and present findings rationally and lucidly
Demonstrate higher-level skills in critical analysis

Assessment tasks

Active Participation
Engagement Quiz
Policy Memo
Research Essay