Late Penalty

Late submission of an assignment will attract a penalty of 5% of the maximum mark for every day that the assignment is late (including weekend days). For example, if the assignment is worth 40 marks and your assignment is submitted 2 days late, a penalty of 2x5%x40 = 4 marks will be applied and subtracted from the awarded mark for the assignment. Work submitted more than 14 days after the submission deadline will not be marked and will receive a mark of 0. Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to notify the University of a disruption to their studies and that requests for extensions for assignments must be made via the University’s Ask MQ System (as outlined in the Disruption to Studies Policy). 

Technology Used and Required

For this unit you will need to have access to a computer that can reliably connect to the Internet and install RStudio. This will be essential for completing the data analysis from the lab sessions and in accessing the unit's web-page, which can be found at:  https://ilearn.mq.edu.au

Required Readings

The course readings will be available through the unit's iLearn page.

What does it take to do well in COGS702?

This unit is taught through lectures and lab-based sessions with support from web-based resources such as iLearn. While lectures are useful principally for introducing new concepts and knowledge, the lab-based sessions allow for a more hands-on and applied experience with the subject matter of the couse. The iLearn discussion board also allows students to discuss topics in greater depth, and may also feature contributions by staff members when there appears to be confusion among the student body. The lecture schedule is a guide only, and is intended to be flexible. On occasion, more time will be spent on certain topics if additional explanation is required. As such, material from one lecture may overlap into the next, where necessary.

Students are expected to pay close attention to all lectures and to take notes to aid their retention of the material covered. Reading before lecture and then re-reading shortly after lecture is the best way to consolidate knowledge and enhance understanding. Attendance of, and active participation in the lab sessions is also mandatory. It should be noted that according to Senate guidelines, workloads should involve 3 hours per credit point per week. This results in 9 hours per week (including lectures and practicals) for a 3 credit point unit such as COGS702.

What material is examinable?

The essay exams will cover topics covered during lectures and labs. Where additional information on these topics is supplied in the assigned reading, this should also be considered examinable. 

Note: Assessment will be based on the successful understanding of material from lectures, labs and from the assigned reading. Please note that rote learning alone will not be a successful strategy, as the assessments will test for deeper appreciation of the course material in a variety of formats. Simply remembering the “facts” will not suffice. Students need to demonstrate their understanding of the principles, and demonstrate the ability to apply such understanding in new contexts.

iLearn

Students should check the iLearn web site at regular intervals for announcements, lecture notes, terminology lists, and other supplementary learning materials. It will also feature a discussion board on which students may converse about course material, or any other legitimate business related to COGS702. 

Academic Courtesy

It is the right of each student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please make an effort to arrive to class on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please enter the lecture theatre as quietly as possible to minimise disruption, using the back entrance if possible. Although some lecturers may allow questions during lectures, talking between students is often disruptive and is strongly discouraged. Phones, pagers, and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class, and remain off for the duration of lectures and tutorials.

Social Inclusion and Diversity

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others on the basis of their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual preference, age, political conviction or religious belief. All lecturers, tutors and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone. The Unit Convenor is a member of the Ally Network and is happy to provide support to members of the LGBTIQ community.