Assessment 1- Media Report/Log Book; Due in Turnitin: Week 5

Purpose: The goal of this assignment is to provide a reflect (250-300 words) on how a chosen media text representation of crime, harm and/or justice connects to one of the required weekly readings.

Instructions: For each of the first four weeks (Weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4), select one media text that engages with crime, harm or justice. This can be a media article; content from a podcast; TikTok videos; a documentary. Write a reflection (250-300 words) on how you think the selected media text relates to one of the required readings for that week.  

Marking Criteria 

• Identify and selects relevant media texts  (ULO1).
• Analysis & Reflection (ULO 1 & ULO2).                                                                                                                
• Expression, Grammar and Referencing (ULO1).

Assessment 2- Group Vlog Video; Due in Blog: Week 8

Purpose: The aim of this task is to collaborate and create a 5-8 min vlog video that evaluates critically the representation of crime, harm or justice in a chosen piece of popular culture. The purpose here is to evaluate the ways your selected media defines social perceptions and understandings of crime, harm and/or justice by integrating unit readings and theories to the analysis of a media text.

Instructions:

1. Form groups of three students by week 4. If you are not in a group the Convenor will allocate you.
2. Choose a piece of popular culture (e.g. a movie, TV show, song, social media content, podcasts, video games etc...) that represents crime, harm and/or justice.
3. Incorporate unit readings & unit theories and other resources to develop your critical evaluation and argument on how crime, harm and /or justice are defined in this representation.
4. Create a vlog video (5-8 minutes) that presents your group's critical analysis and discussion of the representation of crime in the chosen piece of popular culture. Ensure the video is engaging, informative, and well-structured.
5. Be ready to present your vlog video in the online forum for further discussion and feedback.

Marking Criteria

• Clarity, engagement, and presentation: The vlog is clear, engaging, creatively presented, and visually appealing (ULO4). 
• Content relevance and understanding: Articulate a nuanced understanding of the role of media literacy in shaping critical perspectives on crime and justice.(ULO 3).
• Use of evidence and examples: Synthesise and compare theoretical perspectives on the relationship between media, crime, and policy development (ULO 4).
• Group Collaborations: The vlog demonstrates effective collaboration among group members (ULO3).

Assessment 3- Case Study: 2,000 words Essay; Due in Turnitin: Week 13   

Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to  produce a critical analysis of media texts that demonstrates the social implications of media representations of crime, harm and/or justice. You are required to undertake a media analysis based on the selection of one of the assigned topics and by choosing two media texts.   

Marking Criteria: 

• Relevance: The analysis accurately addresses the chosen topic and engages with the selected media texts identifying and assessing the impact of media representations (UL01; UL05).
• Critical Thinking: Demonstrates a deep, critical analysis of media representations using theoretical approaches and unit readings (UL02).
• Application of Course Content: Effectively applies criminological theories and unit readings to the analysis of media texts, articulating a nuanced understanding of the role of media literacy in shaping critical perspectives on crime and justice (UL03).
• Theoretical Synthesis and Comparison: Synthesizes and compares theoretical perspectives on the relationship between media, crime, and policy development (UL04).
• Referencing and Academic Writing: Adheres to referencing style, with clear and professional academic writing.    

This unit is worth 10 credit points which equates to 150 hours of work; therefore, you should expect to commit an average of 12 hours of your time per week to this unit including all scheduled and unscheduled activities as well as preparing and executing the assessment tasks.

Online students (External and OUA students) are expected to listen to lectures recorded in ECHO and make significant contributions to online activities.  In most cases students are required to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit. 

REQUIRED READINGS 

The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site.  Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means. 

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED 

Computer and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement.  This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/ Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.  Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at  http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS 

All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically.  This will only happen through the unit iLearn site.   Assessment tasks must be submitted as a MS word document or as a Video in line with the assessment details, by the due date.  Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process.  The granting of extensions is subject to the university’s Special Consideration Policy. Extensions will not be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Special Consideration: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS 

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

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS 

Stated word limits include footnotes and footnoted references, but not bibliography, or title page.  Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure.  If the number of words deviates from the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words deviation from the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%).  The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener. 

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER 

Macquarie University operates a Final Grade Appeal procedure as part of the Assessment policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=277 In accordance with the Grade Appeal procedure, individual works are not subject to regrading.  STAFF AVAILABILITY 

Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not usually be answered over the weekend or public holiday period. 

Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff.