Students

GEOP1030 – Sydney and the Great Australian Dream

2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance

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
Andrew Burridge
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Mapping is a critical method applied by geographers. While often presented as unbiased, critical geographers have demonstrated the means by which mapping can be employed as a tool of power. In response, methods of counter-mapping and other experimental practices provide alternative understandings of space, expose power and progress socio-spatial justice while new technologies allow participation by 'nonexperts'. In both a historical and contemporary context, this unit asks how can we define and understand Sydney through a critical geographical lens, and whether the archetypal 'Australian dream' still exists? The unit will focus upon methods of counter-mapping Sydney and other cities, and explores what a critical geographical mapping to develop a 'People's Guide to Sydney' might comprise.

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: Demonstrate an understanding of the contested representations of the 'Australian dream' and its relevance to Sydney.
  • ULO2: Critically examine the history of mapping, and its use by geographers to explore and visualise contemporary urban problems.
  • ULO3: Identify and discuss the diverse political motivations, methods and implications of mapping and counter-mapping.
  • ULO4: Analyse the potential of counter-mapping to reveal different lenses through which to understand and define cities.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Penalty

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
The lies and power of mapping 30% No Week 5 - 25th August, 5 pm
Countermapping essay 40% No Week 9 - 6th October, 5pm
A People's Guide to Sydney 30% No Week 13 - 3rd November

The lies and power of mapping

Assessment Type 1: Literature review
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20.00 hours
Due: Week 5 - 25th August, 5 pm
Weighting: 30%

 

A 1000 word review drawing on academic literature to explore the lies and power of mapping.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically examine the history of mapping, and its use by geographers to explore and visualise contemporary urban problems.
  • Identify and discuss the diverse political motivations, methods and implications of mapping and counter-mapping.

Countermapping essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 9 - 6th October, 5pm
Weighting: 40%

 

1500 word essay discussing and critiquing different approaches to mapping and countermapping and their wider implications

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and discuss the diverse political motivations, methods and implications of mapping and counter-mapping.
  • Analyse the potential of counter-mapping to reveal different lenses through which to understand and define cities.

A People's Guide to Sydney

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 13 - 3rd November
Weighting: 30%

 

A project based on mapping/counter-mapping to produce a People’s Guide to Sydney. Students will produce an annotated map of Sydney based on a specific lens of analysis as well as deliver a presentation on their lens and approach to (counter)mapping.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the contested representations of the 'Australian dream' and its relevance to Sydney.
  • Critically examine the history of mapping, and its use by geographers to explore and visualise contemporary urban problems.
  • Identify and discuss the diverse political motivations, methods and implications of mapping and counter-mapping.
  • Analyse the potential of counter-mapping to reveal different lenses through which to understand and define cities.

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

Lectures and Tutorials

Learning and teaching activities comprise a mix of recorded lectures, tutorials and discussion activities. Please see iLearn for further details

Recommended Texts and/or Materials

There is no set textbook for this unit; however, independent reading and tutorial discussions are integral to GEOP1030 and a full reading list will be made available on iLearn, with readings accessible via Leganto. Students are expected to complete the required weekly set readings before each tutorial.

Unit webpage and Technology used and required

All enrolled students have access to the unit website at https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/ . Access to the website is essential to complete GEOP1030.

Unit Schedule

Week

Topic

Part I: Introduction

Mapping, Geography and the Great Australian Dream

 

1

Defining the great Australian dream

2

Mapping and geography

3

Power, lies and critical mapping

Preparation for assessment #1

Part II: A People’s Guide to Sydney

 

4

Walking and exploration in the city

5

GIS and community/participatory mapping

6

Indigenous space, mapping and toponomy

7

Travel guides, atlases and people’s guides: alternative mappings of the city

Preparation for assessment #2 and #3

Recess

 

8

Geography the state and the military

9

Carceral geographies

10

Gentrification and housing

11

Geographies of protest

12

Sonic geographies and sound mapping

Part III: Conclusion

 

13

Mapping in the professions of geography and urban planning

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:

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

N/A - this is a new unit