Students

SOC 302 – The Global Politics of Food and Eating

2017 – S1 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Alison Leitch
Contact via alison.leitch@mq.edu.au
W6B 832
TBA
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
39cp at 100 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
In the twenty first century there is a newly emerging intensity to discussions around food and eating. From the rise of consumer and farmer movements organising around critiques of the industrialised systems of food production on the future ecological sustainability to the growing focus on food and cuisine in the media and other culture industries, the question of how and what we eat has become a key topic for public debate around new understandings of the self, the nation, the environment and the planet. In this course we will examine the sociological and political dimensions of food from both consumption and production perspectives. Topics will include: the benefits and perils of the modern food system and culinary modernism; food security and food scarcity; food in moral economies; the fast food industry and its critics; ethical eating practices; food and cultural heritage; food and migration; and food in the media and popular culture.

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:

  • Understand how the everyday activities of cooking and eating are interwtwined with broader cultural, political and economic issues
  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food
  • Apply and adapt sociological knowlege to real world issus
  • Enhance their communication and interpersonal skills through oral discussion and written work that focuses on articulating knowledge and transformation in a clear and concise fashion
  • Develop problem-solving skills through this unit's focus on applying and adapting sociological knowledge to real world problems
  • Reinforce critical analysis and crestive thinking skills through research assignments, class projects and papers

General Assessment Information

Turnitin: All assignments must be submitted through Turnitin by the due date. Failure to put your assignment through Turnitin will result in NO mark being awarded for that piece of work.

It is a requirement also that all students keep a copy of their own work .

Late Penalties: marks will be reduced by 5% for the first two days late over the due date. Then 1% for each additional day.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Attendance and Participation 20% No Ongoing
Short Paper 10% No 21/03/2017
Research Paper 40% No 11/05/2017
Take Home Final Exam 30% No 06/06/2017

Attendance and Participation

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%

All internal students are expected to attend both lectures and tutorials and to come prepared for discussion in tutorials by reading the required readings before hand.  All students are expected to come along prepared for discussion and and lively debate in class.

External students must contribute to the discussion boards and questions, and required readings in the external discussion boards set up on ilearn. These discussion boards will be available for one week from Monday to Monday in each of the teaching weeks.  Contributions on these discussion boards will be graded on both regularity, but more importantly quality. You are expected to have read the required readings and to respond to them. Questions based on the readings will be posted up onto the discussion boards each week.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand how the everyday activities of cooking and eating are interwtwined with broader cultural, political and economic issues
  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food
  • Apply and adapt sociological knowlege to real world issus
  • Enhance their communication and interpersonal skills through oral discussion and written work that focuses on articulating knowledge and transformation in a clear and concise fashion
  • Develop problem-solving skills through this unit's focus on applying and adapting sociological knowledge to real world problems
  • Reinforce critical analysis and crestive thinking skills through research assignments, class projects and papers

Short Paper

Due: 21/03/2017
Weighting: 10%

Short paper


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand how the everyday activities of cooking and eating are interwtwined with broader cultural, political and economic issues
  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food
  • Apply and adapt sociological knowlege to real world issus
  • Enhance their communication and interpersonal skills through oral discussion and written work that focuses on articulating knowledge and transformation in a clear and concise fashion
  • Develop problem-solving skills through this unit's focus on applying and adapting sociological knowledge to real world problems
  • Reinforce critical analysis and crestive thinking skills through research assignments, class projects and papers

Research Paper

Due: 11/05/2017
Weighting: 40%

Research Essay


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand how the everyday activities of cooking and eating are interwtwined with broader cultural, political and economic issues
  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food
  • Apply and adapt sociological knowlege to real world issus
  • Enhance their communication and interpersonal skills through oral discussion and written work that focuses on articulating knowledge and transformation in a clear and concise fashion
  • Develop problem-solving skills through this unit's focus on applying and adapting sociological knowledge to real world problems
  • Reinforce critical analysis and crestive thinking skills through research assignments, class projects and papers

Take Home Final Exam

Due: 06/06/2017
Weighting: 30%

Take Home Exam: Handed out in week 12 in class. Questions will be based on both the semester readings and lecture material


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand how the everyday activities of cooking and eating are interwtwined with broader cultural, political and economic issues
  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food
  • Apply and adapt sociological knowlege to real world issus
  • Enhance their communication and interpersonal skills through oral discussion and written work that focuses on articulating knowledge and transformation in a clear and concise fashion
  • Develop problem-solving skills through this unit's focus on applying and adapting sociological knowledge to real world problems
  • Reinforce critical analysis and crestive thinking skills through research assignments, class projects and papers

Delivery and Resources

Lectures Held  Monday W6B 336 1-3

Tutorials Held Monday 4-5; 5-6 and Tuesday 11-12 . All in W6B 205

 

Internal Students: This course entails both lectures and tutorials. It is expected that you attend both. I  will keep a record of attendance in both lectures and tutorials.  The course has been set up and especially designed to allow you to  have plenty of opportunities to ask questions in class and to have a really good dialogue with the lecturers and other class participants. It's a fun class!

Teaching staff do, of course,  understand that under extenuating circumstances students may not be able to attend a lecture. In such cases special consideration may be pursued and staff will also undertake to accommodate a student’s circumstances.

Films screened in class are an important part of this course and their content may be assessed in the final take home exam

All lectures (not films) will be recorded onecho360 and made available on the ilearn site to assist with review of course material. This should not be considered a substitute for lecture attendance.

Lecture slides will also be available on the ilearn site for review.

External Students must respond each week to set questions in the external forum on the SOC 302 ilearn site. These responses will be graded on quality as well as regularity. The forums will be open for one week only . External students  therefore  must make their contributions to the discussion questions and the set readings each week.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, 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.

Student Support

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

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

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.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand how the everyday activities of cooking and eating are interwtwined with broader cultural, political and economic issues
  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food
  • Apply and adapt sociological knowlege to real world issus
  • Enhance their communication and interpersonal skills through oral discussion and written work that focuses on articulating knowledge and transformation in a clear and concise fashion
  • Reinforce critical analysis and crestive thinking skills through research assignments, class projects and papers

Assessment tasks

  • Short Paper
  • Research Paper
  • Take Home Final Exam

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand how the everyday activities of cooking and eating are interwtwined with broader cultural, political and economic issues
  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food
  • Apply and adapt sociological knowlege to real world issus
  • Enhance their communication and interpersonal skills through oral discussion and written work that focuses on articulating knowledge and transformation in a clear and concise fashion
  • Reinforce critical analysis and crestive thinking skills through research assignments, class projects and papers

Assessment tasks

  • Attendance and Participation
  • Short Paper
  • Research Paper

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food

Assessment tasks

  • Attendance and Participation
  • Short Paper
  • Research Paper

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand how the everyday activities of cooking and eating are interwtwined with broader cultural, political and economic issues
  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food
  • Apply and adapt sociological knowlege to real world issus
  • Enhance their communication and interpersonal skills through oral discussion and written work that focuses on articulating knowledge and transformation in a clear and concise fashion
  • Develop problem-solving skills through this unit's focus on applying and adapting sociological knowledge to real world problems
  • Reinforce critical analysis and crestive thinking skills through research assignments, class projects and papers

Assessment tasks

  • Attendance and Participation
  • Research Paper
  • Take Home Final Exam

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand how the everyday activities of cooking and eating are interwtwined with broader cultural, political and economic issues
  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food
  • Apply and adapt sociological knowlege to real world issus
  • Enhance their communication and interpersonal skills through oral discussion and written work that focuses on articulating knowledge and transformation in a clear and concise fashion
  • Develop problem-solving skills through this unit's focus on applying and adapting sociological knowledge to real world problems
  • Reinforce critical analysis and crestive thinking skills through research assignments, class projects and papers

Assessment tasks

  • Attendance and Participation
  • Short Paper
  • Research Paper
  • Take Home Final Exam

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand how the everyday activities of cooking and eating are interwtwined with broader cultural, political and economic issues
  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food
  • Apply and adapt sociological knowlege to real world issus
  • Enhance their communication and interpersonal skills through oral discussion and written work that focuses on articulating knowledge and transformation in a clear and concise fashion
  • Develop problem-solving skills through this unit's focus on applying and adapting sociological knowledge to real world problems
  • Reinforce critical analysis and crestive thinking skills through research assignments, class projects and papers

Assessment tasks

  • Research Paper
  • Take Home Final Exam

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand how the everyday activities of cooking and eating are interwtwined with broader cultural, political and economic issues
  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food
  • Apply and adapt sociological knowlege to real world issus
  • Enhance their communication and interpersonal skills through oral discussion and written work that focuses on articulating knowledge and transformation in a clear and concise fashion
  • Develop problem-solving skills through this unit's focus on applying and adapting sociological knowledge to real world problems
  • Reinforce critical analysis and crestive thinking skills through research assignments, class projects and papers

Assessment tasks

  • Attendance and Participation
  • Short Paper
  • Research Paper
  • Take Home Final Exam

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand how the everyday activities of cooking and eating are interwtwined with broader cultural, political and economic issues
  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food
  • Apply and adapt sociological knowlege to real world issus
  • Enhance their communication and interpersonal skills through oral discussion and written work that focuses on articulating knowledge and transformation in a clear and concise fashion
  • Develop problem-solving skills through this unit's focus on applying and adapting sociological knowledge to real world problems
  • Reinforce critical analysis and crestive thinking skills through research assignments, class projects and papers

Assessment tasks

  • Short Paper
  • Research Paper
  • Take Home Final Exam

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand how the everyday activities of cooking and eating are interwtwined with broader cultural, political and economic issues
  • Gain insight into the ways in which the analaysis of food and eating taps into more general sociological concerns incuding: self and the family; mulitcuoturalism and national idenitity; gender and class; contemporary social movements; moral economies and consumption practices of everyday life
  • Understand and critically analyse key debates around food security and ecological sustainability in the contemporary context from the perspective of both producers and consumers of food
  • Apply and adapt sociological knowlege to real world issus
  • Develop problem-solving skills through this unit's focus on applying and adapting sociological knowledge to real world problems
  • Reinforce critical analysis and crestive thinking skills through research assignments, class projects and papers

Assessment task

  • Research Paper