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SOCI2070 – Living Diversity: Understanding Racism & Co-existence today

2021 – Session 2, Special circumstances

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Amanda Wise
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40 credit points at 1000 level
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

We live in an age of super-diversity. How do we build a thriving multicultural nation where people from diverse racial, cultural and religious backgrounds are able to co-exist peacefully in a just society free from racism and discrimination? The first part of this unit explores current debates on superdiversity, urban multicultures, and new patterns of global migration. We consider the challenges of migrant and refugee settlement, barriers to social mobility and patterns of inequality among racial and ethnic minorities. We will compare different models of multiculturalism and integration before shifting attention to everyday multiculturalism and the daily lived experience of religious and cultural difference. The second part of the unit examines the sociology of race, discrimination and racism – from the structural to the everyday. Students will be introduced to concepts such as intersectionality and post-colonial sociology and we will investigate issues facing Aboriginal people in Australia today. We explore what sociology has to say about the surge in national populisms and the rise of the far right and why it is that race, immigration, and religion so commonly animate such movements. We also consider the role of social media in this resurgence. Finally, the unit explores anti-racism and the tools available to challenge discrimination and seek racial justice.

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: Be familiar with sociological concepts of race, ethnicity, racism, multiculturalism, nationalism, populism.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate knowledge of scholarly and public debates concerning the sociology of nation, ethnicity, multiculturalism, race and racism and migrant settlement.
  • ULO3: Be able to engage in the nuances of these debates as demonstrated in classroom discussion and assignments.
  • ULO4: Be able to source and engage with and critically assess news coverage and opinion pieces on these topics.
  • ULO5: Be able to critically reflect on social media 'storms' around the topics of religion, race, Islam, racism, populism, nationalism, migration.

General Assessment Information

LATE SUBMISSION PENALTY

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.

WORD LIMITS For all assessments, the word limit is + / - 10%, NOT including bibliography.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Quizzes 30% No Quiz 1 20/08/2021 Quiz 2: 01/10/2021 Quiz 3: 29/10/2021
Learning reflections 30% No 8 entries from Weeks 2 to 11
Research project 40% No Week 13 Sunday 11:59 07/11/2021

Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Quiz 1 20/08/2021 Quiz 2: 01/10/2021 Quiz 3: 29/10/2021
Weighting: 30%

 

Three quizzes over the course of the semester

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Be familiar with sociological concepts of race, ethnicity, racism, multiculturalism, nationalism, populism.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of scholarly and public debates concerning the sociology of nation, ethnicity, multiculturalism, race and racism and migrant settlement.
  • Be able to engage in the nuances of these debates as demonstrated in classroom discussion and assignments.
  • Be able to source and engage with and critically assess news coverage and opinion pieces on these topics.
  • Be able to critically reflect on social media 'storms' around the topics of religion, race, Islam, racism, populism, nationalism, migration.

Learning reflections

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 8 entries from Weeks 2 to 11
Weighting: 30%

 

Students are asked to maintain a weekly diary style blog of reflections on readings, concepts, new ideas, set resources, and current affairs relevant to the unit, and notes from seminar discussions.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Be familiar with sociological concepts of race, ethnicity, racism, multiculturalism, nationalism, populism.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of scholarly and public debates concerning the sociology of nation, ethnicity, multiculturalism, race and racism and migrant settlement.
  • Be able to engage in the nuances of these debates as demonstrated in classroom discussion and assignments.

Research project

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 13 Sunday 11:59 07/11/2021
Weighting: 40%

 

Students select a research project from set topics.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Be familiar with sociological concepts of race, ethnicity, racism, multiculturalism, nationalism, populism.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of scholarly and public debates concerning the sociology of nation, ethnicity, multiculturalism, race and racism and migrant settlement.
  • Be able to engage in the nuances of these debates as demonstrated in classroom discussion and assignments.
  • Be able to source and engage with and critically assess news coverage and opinion pieces on these topics.
  • Be able to critically reflect on social media 'storms' around the topics of religion, race, Islam, racism, populism, nationalism, migration.

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

Delivery and resources:   Recorded lectures; face to face and Zoom seminars; audio-visual, news, and case study resources in iLearn, unit readings and compulsory documentaries in Leganto.

WEEKDAY ATTENDANCE: Online blended synchronous: online students participating in learning activity online in real time (Zoom tutorials are timetabled at a specific time as they are for the physical class). Students enrol internal Weekday attendance mode for unit and then register for the online versions of tutorial at a set time

FULLY ONLINE / External: Online asynchronous: online students are fully online/virtual and have no timetabled classes. All virtual materials are pre-recorded for access at any time. Students enrol Fully Online/Virtual or equivalent external mode.   Students studying in fully online mode will have access to recorded lectures and participate via a student blog.

Audio-Visual and extra reading resources will be available in iLearn and the library via Leganto.

Unit Schedule

We live in an age of super-diversity. How do we build a thriving multicultural nation where people from diverse racial, cultural and religious backgrounds are able to co-exist peacefully in a just society free from racism and discrimination? The first part of this unit explores current debates on superdiversity, urban multicultures, and new patterns of global migration. We consider the challenges of migrant and refugee settlement, barriers to social mobility and patterns of inequality among racial and ethnic minorities. We will compare different models of multiculturalism and integration before shifting attention to everyday multiculturalism and the daily lived experience of religious and cultural difference. The second part of the unit examines the sociology of race, discrimination and racism – from the structural to the everyday. Students will be introduced to concepts such as intersectionality and post-colonial sociology and we will investigate issues facing Aboriginal people in Australia today. We explore what sociology has to say about the surge in national populisms and the rise of the far right and why it is that race,  immigration, and religion so commonly animate such movements. We also consider the role of social media in this resurgence. Finally, the unit explores anti-racism and the tools available to challenge discrimination and seek racial justice.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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.


Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook