Students

RSN 280 – Russia: Myths and Facts

2018 – S2 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Marika Kalyuga
Contact via email
Friday, 1pm-2pm
Tutor
Tatiana Oitzinger
Tutor
Natalia Crofts
Tutor
Irene Ryan
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
12cp at 100 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This is a general education unit that is taught in English. The unit surveys the history of Russia through the different events that caused the most controversial discussions among scholars. Students explore a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time. The events discussed are set against the rich background of the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth to the twentieth century. 

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:

  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.
  • Plan and write an essay using appropriate academic style and referencing.

General Assessment Information

Indicative examples of assessment tasks will be available on iLearn.

Late Assessment Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Quiz 1 20% No Wed,week 7
Quiz 2 25% No Wed,week10
Essay 1 25% No Wed,week12
Essay 2 30% No Fri,week13

Quiz 1

Due: Wed,week 7
Weighting: 20%

Quiz 1 is based on the unit content up to and including the week of the quiz (i.e. seminars, essential readings and any other relevant materials). This quiz may include the following question types: multiple choice, true/false, short response and medium response. 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.

Quiz 2

Due: Wed,week10
Weighting: 25%

Quiz 2 is based on the unit content up to and including the week of the quiz (i.e. seminars, essential readings and any other relevant materials). This quiz may include the following question types: multiple choice, true/false, short response and medium response.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.

Essay 1

Due: Wed,week12
Weighting: 25%

A research essay in English (1,000 words). Must include references,bibliography (not included in word count) and be written in an academic style.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.
  • Plan and write an essay using appropriate academic style and referencing.

Essay 2

Due: Fri,week13
Weighting: 30%

A research essay in English (1,500 words). Must include references,bibliography (not included in word count) and be written in an academic style.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.
  • Plan and write an essay using appropriate academic style and referencing.

Delivery and Resources

There are no texts to buy for this unit but students are required to read all the texts assigned by the lecturer prior to each class. Most of these will be available on iLearn. It is the student’s responsibility to check iLearn regularly for texts for forthcoming lectures.

iLearn is an essential tool for RSN280. It is used to communicate with students, post resources and useful links. All students must log on to iLearn at the beginning of semester and check for updates regularly.

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

Online Unit

Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Is my unit in iLearn?: http://help.ilearn.mq.edu.au/unitsonline/ to check when your online unit will become available.

Technology

Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

For students attending classes on campus we strongly encourage that you bring along your own laptop computer, ready to work with activities in your online unit. The preferred operating system is Windows 10.

Students are required to access the online unit in iLearn by the end of Week 1 and follow any relevant instructions and links for downloads that may be required. If applicable, students are required to download the relevant language package prior to Week 2.

Please contact your course convenor before the end of Week 1 if you do not have a suitable laptop (or tablet) for in-class use.

Unit Schedule

TBA

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/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

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

  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.
  • Plan and write an essay using appropriate academic style and referencing.

Assessment tasks

  • Quiz 1
  • Quiz 2
  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2

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

  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.
  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.
  • Plan and write an essay using appropriate academic style and referencing.

Assessment tasks

  • Quiz 1
  • Quiz 2
  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2

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

  • Analyse a range of views and interpretations of historical affairs and learn about the mysteries that surrounded the reign of various tsars, as well as problems of the Soviet time.
  • Collect and record appropriate information for the purpose of research.
  • Implement research skills including library and information retrieval skills.
  • Communicate information accurately and clearly using oral and written forms.
  • Plan and write an essay using appropriate academic style and referencing.

Assessment tasks

  • Quiz 1
  • Quiz 2
  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2

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 outcome

  • Describe the major developments in the political and cultural history of Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day.

Assessment tasks

  • Quiz 1
  • Quiz 2
  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2

Changes since First Published

Date Description
11/07/2018 clarification of the assessment dates