Students should submit applications for Special Consideration electronically via ask.mq.edu.au, along with the supporting documentation. Before submitting their applications, students should refer to the Special Consideration policy.

Markers will strictly apply the prescribed word limits and will not mark work exceeding the word limit or impose a penalty. Markers will use plagiarism detection software.

The iLearn website includes detailed marking rubrics. Markers undertake a process of 'blind marking' to apply a common marking standard. Markers will double mark all Fail assessments. The Unit Convenor will moderate marks for the purposes of consistency and quality standards.

For the assessment of class participation, please refer to the detailed guidelines posted on iLearn. 

Late penalty policy 

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 (including 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. 

The delivery of this Unit combines two hours of lecture every week (one hour face-to-face and one hour pre-recorded), a weekly one hour tutorial (face-to-face or online) during weeks 2-13, and online learning content on iLearn. 

The required textbook for this Unit is: Carolyn Sappideen, Prue Vines and John Eldridge, Torts: Commentary and Materials (Thomson Reuters, 13th ed, 2021). 

Students can buy this textbook online from the following sources: 

1. Directly from Thomson Reuters: https://legal.thomsonreuters.com.au/student/ (students can receive 15% discount and free shipping if they sign up for the student Promo Code; Book and eBook bundles can be purchased at a 25% discount)

2. From online resellers such as Booktopia , Amazon and Zookal.  

All other supplementary resources will be made available through iLearn. 

Students require access to a computer, internet with decent speed and a secure/reliable server. The iLearn page contains all Unit requirements and a weekly schedule for teaching, readings and tutorials. Information about all assessment tasks is also available on iLearn. Students MUST submit all assessments through iLearn.

The iLearn Unit page contains a detailed schedule of topics covered, required readings, supplementary learning materials and tutorial questions. Below is a brief outline of the topics covered in this Unit: 

Week               Lecture topics (tutorials are during weeks 2-13)

Week 1            Introduction to Torts and Intentional Torts

Week 2            Trespass to Person and Interference with Chattels

Week 3            Trespass to Land and Nuisance

Week 4            Defences to Intentional Torts

Week 5            Negligence: Unpacking Duty of Care

Week 6            Duty of Care Categories: Physical Harm and Psychiatric Harm

Week 7            Duty of Care Categories: Wrongful Death and Pure Economic Loss

Week 8            Duty of Care regarding Special Parties

Week 9            Standard of Care and Breach of Duty

Week 10          Causation  

Week 11          Damage and Remoteness

Week 12          Concurrent Liability and Defences to Negligence

Week 13          Revision