Students
GENX3020 – Modern Families
2020 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Kumiko Kawashima
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
The family is full of paradoxes. While it is an intimate space of love, safety and nurturance, people frequently experience conflicts and even violence. The family and home are often considered private sites, but they are also popular topics of intense public debate and major targets of government intervention. In this unit, we examine the increasingly diverse ways in which family life is imagined and practised in contemporary societies. The focus is on how families are bound up with gender, sexuality, race/ethnicity, class and nation-states. By exploring topics such as work-life balance, marriage and friends-as-family, students interpret the changing landscapes of families, and analyse the interlinkage between their personal lives and wider social and cultural changes. The knowledge and skills you gain in this unit will help you understand important current issues concerning families and generate ideas to build a just world. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Explain key concepts, issues and debates (local and global) introduced in the unit.
- ULO2: Analyse issues of everyday significance conceptually and theoretically.
- ULO3: Communicate insights, present complex ideas and debate constructively and effectively with peers.
- ULO4: Write coherently, logically and succinctly, while following appropriate academic and stylistic conventions.
- ULO5: Conduct independent research, from topic selection and literature research to text analysis and development of worthwhile questions.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class participation | 20% | No | Weekly |
| Weekly Quizzes | 20% | No | Weeks 2-12 |
| Individual Research Project Part 1: Annotated bibliography and a Draft Research Question | 20% | No | Week 7 |
| Individual Research Project Part 2: A Research Proposal | 40% | No | Week 13 |
Class participation
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 65 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 20%
Participate in class discussions to explain key concepts, analyse relevant issues and communicate insights.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Explain key concepts, issues and debates (local and global) introduced in the unit.
- Analyse issues of everyday significance conceptually and theoretically.
- Communicate insights, present complex ideas and debate constructively and effectively with peers.
Weekly Quizzes
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 6 hours
Due: Weeks 2-12
Weighting: 20%
Take weekly quizzes based on the unit content. The quizzes remain open for one week.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Explain key concepts, issues and debates (local and global) introduced in the unit.
Individual Research Project Part 1: Annotated bibliography and a Draft Research Question
Assessment Type 1: Annotated bibliography
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%
Develop a draft research question and an annotated bibliography to prepare for the Part 2 of the two-part assignment (a research proposal).
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse issues of everyday significance conceptually and theoretically.
- Write coherently, logically and succinctly, while following appropriate academic and stylistic conventions.
- Conduct independent research, from topic selection and literature research to text analysis and development of worthwhile questions.
Individual Research Project Part 2: A Research Proposal
Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 54 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 40%
Develop a research proposal to explain your proposed project’s aims and objectives, why the project is important, and how it plans to obtain information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse issues of everyday significance conceptually and theoretically.
- Write coherently, logically and succinctly, while following appropriate academic and stylistic conventions.
- Conduct independent research, from topic selection and literature research to text analysis and development of worthwhile questions.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
OUA students will need a computer and the Internet to access unit resources such as the recorded lecture, texts, the quiz assignment and all the essential communication with the unit convenor and other students. The unit iLearn page contains all the necessary information for students to successfully complete this unit.
Policies and Procedures
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.)
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 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
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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
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
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.
Changes from Previous Offering
Based on student feedback via the informal, mid-semester 2-minute paper as well as the formal TEDS survey, the main assignment has been re-developed to allow for two options. A new form of class participation for OUA students has also been implemented, following the positive student evaluation of this method in another unit of the convenor's.