Late Submission Penalty

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 non-timed written assessments (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc) is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams/quizzes, 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.

General Information

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 understanding of theory and debates about the role of ideas in shaping policy.
• ULO2: Demonstrate understanding of the history, contours and impacts of some important policy ideas.
• ULO3: Develop a critical appreciation of alternative ways policy problems can be framed.
• ULO4: Apply theoretical and substantive knowledge to analyse policy documents.
• ULO5: Communicate research findings and views accurately and effectively using a variety of written and spoken techniques.

General Assessment Information

Late penalties 

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. 

Assessment Tasks

Policy idea analysis

Assessment Type ¹: Case study/analysis Indicative Time on Task ²: 30 hours Weighting: 30%

Apply theories in analysis of a policy idea and/or document On successful completion you will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of theory and debates about the role of ideas in shaping policy.
• Demonstrate understanding of the history, contours and impacts of some important policy ideas.
• Develop a critical appreciation of alternative ways policy problems can be framed.
• Apply theoretical and substantive knowledge to analyse policy documents.
• Communicate research findings and views accurately and effectively using a variety of written and spoken techniques.

Policy idea analysis

Assessment Type ¹: Case study/analysis Indicative Time on Task ²: 30 hours Weighting: 30%

Apply theories in analysis of a policy idea and/or document On successful completion you will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of theory and debates about the role of ideas in shaping policy.
• Demonstrate understanding of the history, contours and impacts of some important policy ideas.
• Develop a critical appreciation of alternative ways policy problems can be framed.
• Apply theoretical and substantive knowledge to analyse policy documents.
• Communicate research findings and views accurately and effectively using a variety of written and spoken techniques.

Policy theory reflection

Assessment Type ¹: Reflective Writing Indicative Time on Task ²: 30 hours Weighting: 30%

Critical reflection on theories of the role of policy ideas in policy development and change On successful completion you will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of theory and debates about the role of ideas in shaping policy.
• Communicate research findings and views accurately and effectively using a variety of written and spoken techniques.

Active participation

Assessment Type ¹: Participatory task Indicative Time on Task ²: 10 hours Due: Weekly Weighting: 10%

Do reading preparation for seminars, engage with online materials, contribute to online discussions, actively participate in on-campus class activities. On successful completion you will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of theory and debates about the role of ideas in shaping policy.
• Demonstrate understanding of the history, contours and impacts of some important policy ideas.
• Develop a critical appreciation of alternative ways policy problems can be framed.
• Communicate research findings and views accurately and effectively using a variety of written and spoken techniques.

Welcome to this Unit!

In 2024, the Unit runs in a "two-mode" format that provides access and information to all students in both SOCI 8075 and SOCX 8075. This means we will have classroom and Zoom access to the sessions as well as an online-flexible format for students where learning is focused on lone activities.  

I will cover this in more detail in Week 1, which will also be recorded. 

The goal is to address major themes in the policy literature -- how ideas matter to the shaping of policy -- and then how 'ideational' processes are reflected in actual policy areas.