Assessment Criteria

Assessment at Macquarie University is standards-based, as outlined in the Assessment Policy. This means that your work will be assessed against clear criteria, and these criteria will be made available when the assessment tasks are released to you on iLearn. 

Submission of Assessments

All assessments must be submitted online through Turnitin unless otherwise indicated. Links for the submission of each assessment will be available on iLearn.​ 

Marking of Assessments

Assessments will be marked through Turnitin with marks and feedback provided through GradeMark. Please do not submit your assessments via email or in hard copy.

We aim to mark your assessments within two to three weeks of the submission due date, and before your next assignment is due. We appreciate your patience and will advise you through iLearn when your marks and feedback are available for viewing.

General Faculty Policy on Assessment Submission Deadlines and Late Submissions 

Online quizzes, in-class activities, or scheduled tests and exam must be undertaken at the time indicated in the unit guide. Should these activities be missed due to illness or misadventure, students may apply for Special Consideration.

All other assessments must be submitted by 5:00 pm on their due date. Should these assessments be missed due to illness or misadventure, students should apply for Special Consideration.

Assessments not submitted by the due date will receive a mark of zero unless late submissions are specifically allowed as indicated in the unit guide or on iLearn.

If late submissions are permitted as indicated in the unit guide or on iLearn a consistent penalty will be applied for late submissions as follows: 

A 12-hour grace period will be given after which the following deductions will be applied to the awarded assessment mark: 12 to 24 hours late = 10% deduction; for each day thereafter, an additional 10% per day or part thereof will be applied until five days beyond the due date. After this time, a mark of zero (0) will be given. For example, an assessment worth 20% is due 5 pm on 1 January. Student A submits the assessment at 1 pm, 3 January. The assessment received a mark of 15/20. A 20% deduction is then applied to the mark of 15, resulting in the loss of three (3) marks. Student A is then awarded a final mark of 12/20.

Assessments where Late Submissions will be Accepted

In this unit, late submissions will accepted as follows:

• Literature Review - YES
• Field Trip Report - YES
• Abstract - YES
• Presentation - NO, unless Special Consideration is granted

Special Consideration

To obtain an extension for an assessment task, you will need to follow the formal process as outlined in the Special Consideration Policy, and you must provide appropriate supporting documentation (e.g. medical certificate - see advice for Special Consideration requests). The final decision regarding the granting of an extension lies with the unit convenor. However, if you let us know of problems in advance or as soon as possible (not after the event), we are much more likely to be sympathetic and flexible.

IMPORTANT: COVID Information and on-campus classes

On-campus teaching continues to be scheduled for Session 1, 2022. Masks are compulsory for all classes in indoor spaces and social distancing will be implemented wherever possible. Students will also be required to sanitise surfaces before and after use.

Students are requested to minimise the risk of spreading COVID to themselves and others in accordance with the university and NSW Health guidelines: https://www.mq.edu.au/about/coronavirus-faqs and https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe.

Any further requirements or changes to units in relation to COVID will be communicated to students via iLearn.

IMPORTANT: Off-shore students

Off-shore students must email the convenor as soon as possible to discuss study options. This unit includes practical learning in the field and lab, however, we can provide online alternatives for those students who are stuck off-shore as an exception.

Class schedule

The class timetable can be found through the Timetable portal. This year prac classes have been scheduled for 6-9 pm on Wednesday evenings in the new building 01CC, room 101 ALS. There is also a weekend field trip on 19-20 March, which is compulsory. A detailed schedule with the weekly topics, assessment due dates, etc. will be provided on iLearn.

Learning activities

The unit is comprised of 12 weeks of prac classes, including a field trip to the Blue Mountains. The format of the prac classes varies and includes lectures, writing skills workshops, lab skills workshops, group work and student presentations. As a result, it is essential that you attend all classes and the field trip. 

In addition to the scheduled classes, you are also required to spend time doing your own independent reading and research, with most of this time going towards completing the assessments. As a guide, you should aim to spend approximately 100 hours of your own time on the unit over the semester, in addition to the scheduled classes and field trip.

Field trip

The unit includes a weekend field trip to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, which is home to the famous Three Sisters and Blue Mountains World Heritage area. Katoomba is the largest centre in the Blue Mountains, with a population of ~8000 people. Each year, the region receives over 4 million visitors with most of these stopping at Katoomba. As a result, the area is an ideal place to learn about the natural environment and environmental management. You will visit different sites to observe environmental management issues, record data and collect samples for subsequent analysis in the lab.

Note: The cost of the field trip is not covered by the unit fees. You will need to pay for transport to/from and around Katoomba either by driving or by catching the train. Students have the option of staying in Katoomba on the Friday and/or Saturday night or travelling up/back each day. There are several options for accommodation in Katoomba - the cheapest and best option is to stay at the Katoomba YHA: https://www.yha.com.au/hostels/nsw/blue-mountains/katoomba/#detail  Field trip logistics will be discussed during the first week of class.

Requirements to Complete this Unit Satisfactorily

• You must submit all assignments and gain a final mark of at least 50% to complete this unit satisfactorily.
• You are required to attend all of the scheduled classes, including the field trip. Permission to be excused will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Technologies Used and Required

You will need to bring a computer to class each week. We will use basic programs such as Word and Excel. You will also need to have access to a computer to use the university systems (e.g. iLearn, library) and complete the assessment tasks. Submissions of the assessment tasks will be arranged through iLearn using Turnitin.

Field and Lab Work, Health and Safety

To minimise the risk of WHS accidents, you must wear appropriate clothing and footwear, and bring adequate water and food for each day on the field trip. You must also wear closed shoes when working in the lab. 

Background Reading

There is no single text for this course. Background reading can be found in the following:

• O'Riordan, T (1999) Environmental Science for Environmental Management, Taylor and Francis Ltd
• Aplin, G (2002), Australians and their Environment: An Introduction to Environmental Studies, Oxford University Press
• Arms K (1994). Environmental Science, Saunders College Publishing, Fort Worth, 2nd edition.
• Beckmann R (1994). Environmental Science, Australian Academy of Science, Canberra.
• Enger ED and Smith BF (2006). Environmental Science: a study of interrelationships, McGraw Hill Publish.
• Huxham M and Sumner D (2000). Science and Environmental Decision Making, Pearson Education.
• Jacobson M.C. (2000). Earth System Science: From Biogeochemical Cycles to Global Change. Academic Press, London. QH344.E17/2000 
• Munasinghe M and Swart R (2005). Primer on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Cambridge University Press.