Participation is composed of two tasks - in class and online participation.

Class participation will be assessed in weekly tutorials for internal students and during the On Campus Session (OCS) for external students. Students should ensure they have completed the required reading before tutorials or the OCS. The dates from the OCS can be found on the timetable.

Students must be prepared to discuss this material during the OCS.

Readings and tutorial questions will be supplied in a separate document posted on the iLearn webpage.

Participation will involve: exploring, analysing and applying the principal issues covered in the unit, answering questions put directly to you, engaging in formal and informal debates, group work, and constructing and presenting legal arguments. Class participation will be assessed on:     * Demonstration of knowledge of the readings.     * Level of critical analysis displayed     * Relevant original contributions     *  Ability to engage constructively with other students and the Tutor     * Your ability to make an educated and legally feasible arguments in class.

Note that no marks are awarded just for attending class, and that assessment is based on the quality, not quantity, of your work in class.

Students should also note that the onus to participate in class is on you, not on the Convenor. In other words, it is not the job of the Convenor to engage you in discussion so that you may avail yourself of the class participation assessment.

Online participation 

Starting in Week 3 a forum will be open each week for a period of two weeks.

Each forum will be based upon a media article selected and posted by the Convenor that focuses upon an issue relevant to environmental planning law.

Students are to post a reflective response to topics/issues raised in the article. Your reflections should draw on your past knowledge and experience, your new knowledge (from the textbook, readings and lectures) and your conclusions about any changes in your attitudes or future practice that will be based on this experience. Further guidance on how to draft a reflective response will be provided through the iLearn page for the unit.

You need to complete a forum posting and reply to a posting by another student that meets the relevant rubric (made available on iLearn) in at least 2 of the 4 forums over the session in order to be eligible to submit and receive a grade for your Assessment Task. 

Students may post on as many forums as they like through the session and nominate the 2 postings of their preference for the purposes of assessment.

Once you have posted your reflections, you will be able to see the questions and answers of your fellow seminar colleagues. You may respond and engage in discussion with as many of the postings each week as you wish.

All students are required to answer a set conceptually based essay question based primarily (but NOT exclusively) on the unit readings for weeks 1 to 7 and additional references as set out on the Course Schedule and Reading List. Further research should therefore also be undertaken.

The question(s) will be released in week 3 of the course.

Your answer should:    *  Critically assess the statement, and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement * Consider the relative strengths and weaknesses of the statement     * Consider principles/instruments that underpin planning and environmental law  *  Answers must consider legislation and case law where appropriate and relevant     * Consider the question in the context of relevant proposals for law reform.

Students should utilise the course readings and additional references but some further research should also be undertaken.  

Word length - 2,500 words (excluding references).

The task is to be submitted through turnitin via iLearn.

Students are to draft a submission in relation to a major project that is under assessment by the NSW government.

The submission is to be based upon a scenario provided by the Convenor.

The scenario will require the student to research the discrete and relevant areas of Planning Law and where relevant Environmental Law. The relevant areas of law will be drawn from the modules covered through the entire unit.

The primary emphasis should be on a critical evaluation of Planning Law and an analytical approach to the issues being considered.

Students will be assessed on the basis of their understanding and identification of the relevant legal principles, analysis and evaluation of the issues, quality and depth of research, critical and interdisciplinary approach, organisation, structure and proper referencing style. Clarity of expression, presentation of argument, responsiveness to question will also be taken into account.

Students must consult the prescribed reading materials. However, this is a research based assessment and students are expected to extend research beyond course materials and references prescribed in the Unit Guide.

Word Length - 3,000 (excluding references).

The task is to be submitted through turnitin via iLearn.