For the details of all assessment items including grading criteria and rubric, see Ilearn. 

Academic Integrity &Plagiarism

See the University's Academic Honesty Policy (link below) for an in-depth explanation of what constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism is taken very seriously by the Convenor and the Department generally and will result in a range of penalties, including a zero grade for an assessment task. Serious instances of plagiarism will be reported to the Faculty Discipline Committee.

Late Assessment Policy and Special Consideration 

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. Special consideration requests are made through ask.mq.edu.au. 

Turnitin

All written work in this unit is required to be uploaded using the Turnitin link provided on the ilearn website for this unit. Turnitin is a type of anti-plagiarism software used by the university. Work that is not uploaded using the Turnitin link on ilearn will not be graded and will receive a mark of zero.

Research Essay (50%) 

Format: A 2500-word research essay (the word length excludes the bibliography and footnotes)

For extensions you need to apply special considerations. https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration

A minimum of TWELVE academic sources (academic books and journals articles, excluding websites) must be referenced in your essay.

You cannot use blog writings, wikipedia, and opinion pieces written by academics in your essays.

Essays should be written using 1.5 or double space and Times New Roman 12 

Essay Questions (you need to write your essay on one of the following questions) 

1.     Why is security a contested concept?

2.     What does ‘security as emancipation’ mean? Can it be a useful policy tool or is it simply a wishful thinking?

3.     What are the benefits of securitising or desecuritising an issue? Discuss your answer in reference to one of the following issues: climate change or refugees.

4.      Does the 'Responsibility to Protect' violate the principles of state sovereignty and non-interference?

5.     Do you think the traditional UN collective security system is fully equipped to address contemporary security issues in global politics? 

6.     What are the consequences of privatization of security and military?

7.       Do you think Private Military and Security Contractors (PMSC) pose a threat to states’ monopoly over use of force? Do you think we need a new definition of state?

8.      What can be done to ensure the safety of women in post-conflict situations?

9.     What are the key feminist critiques of security?

10.      What does the study of the experiences of children add to our understanding of conflicts?

Policy Brief (40%)

Format: 2000-word brief ( excluding the referencing list and/or footnotes) 

This assignment tasks you with developing a 2000-word policy brief which identifies a specific global security problem and recommends a course of action of how the UN can help implement this course of actions.

This assessment item involves 2000-word policy brief on one of the following issues by the following UN bodies:

1.  The development of fully automated weapons – a policy brief by The UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA)
2. Global health insecurity and growing inequality among nations in accessing public health sources – a policy brief by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affair
3. The impact of environmental insecurity in ongoing violent conflicts – a policy brief by the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
4.  Human Security – policy brief by the UN Trust Fund for Human Security

Your policy brief should emulate language used by international organisations, specifically the UN. 

Who are you?

You are a policy analyst working on the relevant body. For example, if you choose to write your policy brief on human security, you are a policy analyst working in a research team at the UN Trust Fund for Human Security.

Who is the audience?

Public, national, and regional policymakers, international organisations, regional organisations, and other bodies and organs of the UN, and civil society organisations.

In your policy brief:

1.     First, define the problem and the causes of the problem.

2.     Second, identify the challenges ( what are the limitations of the current and/or previous programs addressing that particular problems?)

3.     Third, outline your policy recommendations (What are your policy recommendations? How can the UN help to address this particular issue?  What sources do you need to mobilise?

 Sources & Referencing

• Your policy-briefs should be fully referenced. You need to either use footnote system ( with the full details of the sources) or in-text referencing.
• You must use at least TWELVE academic sources and published official reports. Websites and news articles are not included in twelve sources.
• Do not use Wikipedia, opinion pieces, blog pieces, random webpages and random academic sources.

This unit has an online presence in ilearn.

There is no text book for this unit. All required and recommended readings are on Leganto.

Lectures and tutorials are on campus. Lectures will be recorded and can be found on ECHO.