Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Jonathan Symons
Contact via jonathan.symons@mq.edu.au
Hearing Hub, Level 2, South, W 66
Wednesday 1-2pm/ by appointment
Govand Azeez
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MIntRel or PGDipIntRel or MIntCommMIntRel or MIntBusMIntRel or MIntRelMIntTrdeComLaw or MTransInterMIntRel or MAppAnth or MDevCult or MIntPubDip or MGlobalHlthDevStud or GradDipIntRel or GradCertIntRel or MDevStud or MPPPMDevStud or MPASRDevStud or MPPPMIntRel
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
It is impossible to comprehend or participate in contemporary international relations without an understanding of the politics of human rights. This unit explores the evolving system of international law, rules and principles that seek to promote human rights. Students will examine contemporary theories of 'human rights', the historical development of international human rights practice and its impacts within contemporary global politics. We will also examine the ways in which international human rights practice influences contemporary political controversies over issues such as refugees, sexual rights, torture and economic development.
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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:
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.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Presentation & Participation | 20% | No | Various |
Online Quiz | 15% | No | Week 7 |
Research Essay | 40% | No | Week 8, Friday 5pm |
Take Home Exam | 25% | No | Week 13 - 5pm Sat 8 June |
Due: Various
Weighting: 20%
Internal Students: This task is designed to develop and assess your oral communication skills and ability to work with others. At the beginning of semester we will assign tutorial topics to presenters who will work in pairs. Together, you will run the first 15-30 minutes of the tutorial. Any teaching and learning activity is acceptable, except you must not read a written paper. You could conduct a debate, organise a negotiation activity, prepare a scenario, conduct a quiz etc. Your goal should be to help others gain greater understanding by analysing the week’s topic and linking it to current human rights issues. For example a presentation on the topic of ‘International Enforcement’ may consider the doctrine of “Responsibility to Protect” and perhaps link this to a contemporary case study (e.g. Rakhine State, Yemen).
Each group-member must submit a 500- 700 word paper to ilearn by 5pm on Monday prior to your presentation. This paper should explain how you have sought to engage the group, what you have sought to achieve in the class (what do you hope other students will learn/ reflect on) and outline the resources you have drawn on. You are also encouraged to discuss your presentation plans with your seminar leader ahead of time, either in class or via email. You will be assessed on five criteria:
· Engagement - how was the activity designed in order to engage and other students and assist their learning?
· Understanding - does the presentation demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the week's topic?
· Research - how thoroughly researched is the topic and the activity format.
· Creativity - how innovative is your method of engaging the class
· Organization of presentation - how well organised is the class that you run.
While each student must make an individual submission to ilearn you are welcome to group members are welcome to submit substantially the same paper. However, each group member should add a brief note explaining the contribution that they have made . Further information about this task/ discussion threads will be available on ilearn.
External students:
You will complete the same task as internal students, with a few minor modifications. Working with at least one other student (using online discussion tools to plan your presentation) you will lead online discussion for a week, using materials or activities to engage other students. Remember, don't post an essay online and keep presentations short. The point of the exercise is to lead discussion: which means you need to prompt and encourage participation rather than dominate it. Any form of presentation is acceptable but you should try to keep the reading/ media-viewing required for other students manageable. Think carefully about how best to draw others into the topic You could conduct a debate, work through a guided series of discussion questions, run a scenario or role play etc. Your presentation should help others to gain greater understanding by analysing the week’s topic and linking it to current human rights issues.
Each group-member must submit a 500- 700 word paper to ilearn by 5pm on Monday prior to the lecture in which your topic is covered. You are also encouraged to email jonathan.symons@mq.edu.au earlier to discuss your plans. This paper should explain how you have sought to engage the group, what you have sought to achieve in the class (what do you hope other students will learn/ reflect on) and outline the resources you have drawn on. It may contain some of the posts/materials that you intend to use to prompt class discussion.
All external students are expected to engage in each other's presentations. While you will receive a preliminary presentation grade based on your own presentation, your final class participation grade will reflect both your own presentation and also your participation across the semester. You are expected to engage meaningfully in at least 70% of presentations.
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 15%
An online test comprising of 15 multiple choice questions (worth 1 mark each = 15% of the total assessment) will be conducted at the end of week 7 (covering material presented in the unit up to and including week 7). The test will be administered on-line. You will have access to the test from 5pm Thursday until 5pm Friday in week 7. Once you open and start the test you will have only 30 mins in which to finish it.
This is a timed assessment and no late submissions will be accepted.
Due: Week 8, Friday 5pm
Weighting: 40%
Students are required to submit a research essay of no more than 2500 words in length.
Due: Week 13 - 5pm Sat 8 June
Weighting: 25%
An end-of-semester take home exam will cover content drawn from the entire unit. The maximum word length will be 2000 words. The paper will be released at 9am on Wednesday of week 13 and must be submitted by 5pm Saturday.
This is a timed assessment and no late submissions will be accepted.
Delivery
For lecture times and classrooms please consult the MQ Timetable website: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au. This website will display up-to-date information on your classes and classroom locations.
Internal students are expected to attend the following classes each week:
Lecture: Wednesday 10-10.55am 4 Western Road - 232 Tutorial Room
Tutorial: Wednesday 11am (and 2pm, subject to enrolments).
NOTE: Tutorials will begin in Week 1.
Texts
Textbook: Goodhart, Michael, ed. Human rights: politics and practice. Oxford University Press, 2016 (One copy of this book is also available in the library. The library also has several copies of previous (2nd edition) of the text book. Since the chapters we read in this unit all appear in the 2nd edition (in a slightly edited form) access to the 2nd edition will likely be adequate).
All readings will either be drawn form the textbook or will be available electronically (via the library or via links from the unit's ilearn page).
Week 1 - Wednesday 27 Feb 2019
Introduction: Overview of International Human Rights Practice
Week 2 - Wednesday 6 March 2019
Twentieth Century History of International Human Rights
Week 3 - Wednesday 13 March 2019
Contemporary Theories of Human Rights
Week 4 - Wednesday 20 March 2019
Implementation: Socialisation, Persuasion & Civil Society
Week 5 - Wednesday 27 March 2019
International Enforcement
Week 6 - Wednesday 6 April 2019
Civil and Political Rights: Torture
Week 7 - Wednesday 10 April 2019
Social and Economic Rights: Development
Online quiz will be accessible on ilearn from: 11 April 5pm until 12 April 5pm.
MID SEMESTER BREAK: 15 April to 28 April
Week 8 - Wednesday 1 May 2019
Individual to Group Rights: Self-Determination
Research Essay due Friday 3 May 2019.
Week 9 - Wednesday 8 May 2019
Human Rights and Great Power Competition.
Week 10 - Wednesday 15 May 2019
Refugees & Asylum Rights
Week 11 - Wednesday 22 May 2019
Genocide and Crimes against Humanity
Week 12 - Wednesday 29 May 2019
Gender and Sexual Rights
Week 13
Online recorded lecture: Conclusions & the Future of Human Rights
Final Examination Released on ilearn at 9 am Wednesday 5 June - due for submission 5 pm Saturday 8 June.
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:
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).
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 published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.
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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:
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A new topic on "Human Rights and great power competition" has been added; the final lecture will be recorded ahead of time (no lecture in week 13) and will be released by Monday of Week 13.
Date | Description |
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08/02/2019 | No changes. Have simply merged the internal and external versions of the unit guide. |