Students

GEOP7001 – Approaches in Geography and Planning

2022 – Session 2, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor
Emily O'Gorman
emily.ogorman@mq.edu.au
Contact via Contact via email
Room B452, Level 4, 25B Wally's Walk
Email for appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The way researchers approach a topic is significantly influenced by the methods and methodologies they select. This unit is designed to provide an introduction to key methods and methodologies that have shaped geography and planning and their broader historiographies, with a focus on how these relate to contemporary research in these fields. Students will engage with a range of methods and methodologies in geography, planning, and related fields such as development studies and environmental humanities. The unit is flexible and responsive to the interests and strengths of students enrolled in any given semester. It is designed to give students a grounding in key methods that inform research. It will introduce students to a number of current open methodological questions across the range of these broad fields.

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 knowledge of key research methodologies in geography and planning.
  • ULO2: Evaluate the links between theoretical approaches and research methods in geography and planning.
  • ULO3: Identify appropriate and ethical methods for your own individual research.
  • ULO4: Use literacy and digital skills to communicate effectively using appropriate methods of communication.

General Assessment Information

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All written assessments are to be submitted via Turnitin, the university online submission and marking system - found as a link in iLearn. Turnitin includes Grademark, a paperless grading system where your written assessments are marked by staff online. Submissions are also checked for plagiarism by Turnitin. Turnitin automatically compares your work to the work of your classmates, previous students and material available on the internet. Hard copies of assignments are no longer accepted and will not be marked.

For more information on Turnitin and Grademark: http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/assignments.htm

DEADLINES, EXTENSIONS AND PENALTIES

Deadlines set for assessment submissions will not be altered except in exceptional circumstances. In all cases, extensions must be supported with appropriate documentation (medical certificate, counsellor's certificate, statutory declaration). All extensions must be applied for and granted through the special consideration process. See the Special Consideration Policy https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

Extensions will not be granted in cases of poor time management. Only the Unit Convenor can authorise extensions.

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.    

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Students who fail to complete and submit ALL assessments for the unit may not receive enough marks to pass the unit. Penalties will also be incurred for plagiarism, that is, the use of another persons’ work and presentation as your own (see University Policies and http://www.mq.edu.au/ policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html).

GRADING

Each assessment will be marked, commented upon and returned to you via Turnitin and Grademark. Grading is conducted in line with the universities grading policy (http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html)

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Reflective brief 25% No 26/08/22
Essay proposal 15% No 09/09/22
Essay 60% No 04/11/22

Reflective brief

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 26/08/22
Weighting: 25%

Students write a 1,000-word reflective brief. In the brief they describe some of the critical experiences that have shaped their view of the world and have informed their philosophical or theoretical approaches towards research.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of key research methodologies in geography and planning.
  • Evaluate the links between theoretical approaches and research methods in geography and planning.
  • Identify appropriate and ethical methods for your own individual research.
  • Use literacy and digital skills to communicate effectively using appropriate methods of communication.

Essay proposal

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 09/09/22
Weighting: 15%

Students write a 1,000-word essay proposal in which they describe the topic of their proposed essay and the key issues that the essay intends to explore. The proposal forms the foundation of the major essay task in this unit.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of key research methodologies in geography and planning.
  • Evaluate the links between theoretical approaches and research methods in geography and planning.
  • Identify appropriate and ethical methods for your own individual research.
  • Use literacy and digital skills to communicate effectively using appropriate methods of communication.

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 80 hours
Due: 04/11/22
Weighting: 60%

Students write a 3,000-word essay that examines a chosen theoretical or philosophical approach to geography and planning and related research methods.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of key research methodologies in geography and planning.
  • Evaluate the links between theoretical approaches and research methods in geography and planning.
  • Identify appropriate and ethical methods for your own individual research.
  • Use literacy and digital skills to communicate effectively using appropriate methods of communication.

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

Technology

This unit has a website which is accessible via www.mq.edu.au/iLearn. Here you can get access to unit materials including recording of lectures, copies of lecture slides, notices and a general discussion place to pose questions to staff.

Students are not required to acquire any specific technology for this unit but are expected to access the iLearn site and to use computers to produce their assignments.

Seminars

This unit will run as five discussion-based seminars across the session. Students are expected to participate in all seminars to fully engage with the unit. Seminars will be run in a hybrid mode, with online students attending via synchronous Zoom and face-to-face students attending on campus.

Unit Schedule

Subject to change

Week

Topic

Milestones

  

Week 1(26/07/22)           

Introduction: Positionality, Methods, and Methodology

 

  

Week 4 (16/08/22)

Interviews and Focus Groups + Cross-cultural Research

 

Reflective Brief due 11:55pm, Friday 26 Aug 2022

  

Week 7 (06/09/22)

Photo-response + Subjectivity

 

Essay Plan due 11:55pm, Friday 9 September 2022

  

Recess

(12/09/22 -  25/09/22)

 

No classes

 

  

Week 9 (04/10/22)

 

Digital Research + Feminist Approaches

 

 

  

Week 12 (25/10/22)

More-than-human methods and methodology + Indigenous approaches

 

Essay due 11:55pm, Friday 4 November 2022

  

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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 2022.03 of the Handbook