Written work must be submitted via the Turnitin link that can be found in iLearn. You do not need to attach a cover sheet to your essays.

Examples of relevant and related assessment tasks will be discussed in tutorials.

Late Penalties

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 (including weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submission will be accepted for timed assessments -- e.g. quizzes, online tests etc.

Grade Range Status Description

Work submitted for this unit will be graded according to the following standards.

HD 85-100 Pass -- Provides consistent evidence of deep and critical understanding in relation to the learning outcomes. There is substantial originality, insight or creativity in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critical evaluation of problems, their solutions and their implications; creativity in application as appropriate to the program.

D 75-84 Pass -- Provides evidence of integration and evaluation of critical ideas, principles and theories, distinctive insight and ability in applying relevant skills and concepts in relation to learning outcomes. There is demonstration of frequent originality or creativity in defining and analysing issues or problems and providing solutions; and the use of means of communication appropriate to the program and the audience.

CR 65-74 Pass -- Provides evidence of learning that goes beyond replication of content knowledge or skills relevant to the learning outcomes.There is demonstration of substantial understanding of fundamental concepts in the field of study and the ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; convincing argumentation with appropriate coherent justification; communication of ideas fluently and clearly in terms of the conventions of the program.

P 50-64 Pass -- Provides sufficient evidence of the achievement of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of understanding and application of fundamental concepts of the program; routine argumentation with acceptable justification; communication of information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the program. The learning attainment is considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in relation to the specified outcomes.

F 0-49 Fail -- Does not provide evidence of attainment of learning outcomes.There is missing or partial or superficial or faulty understanding and application of the fundamental concepts in the field of study; missing, undeveloped, inappropriate or confusing argumentation; incomplete, confusing or lacking communication of ideas in ways that give little attention to the conventions of the program.

The MAS215 unit readings will be available via Leganto. 

Lectures will be held at 3pm on Monday afternoons (10 Hadenfeld Avenue - T1 Theatre) and will be available through ECHO360. Tutorials will be held at various times from Monday to Wednesday.

Tutorials begin in Week 2.

Essays must be submitted via the Turnitin link in ilearn. Students must ensure that they upload the correct file as Turnitin will only accept a single submission.

Introduction

1 -- Doing Theory: How do we do theory? What does theory do to us?

Part One: Theoretical foundations

2 -- Scientists of the text: Structuralism

3  -- Media & Society: Marxism

4 -- Reading the Repressed: Psychoanalysis

5 -- Media and the Other: Feminism

Part Two: Developments & branches

6  -- Distracting Distractions: Mass Culture Theory

7 -- The Empire Writes Back: Postcolonialism

Part Three: Contemporary Concerns

8 --  Tales from the Natural World: Ecocriticism

9  -- No classes due to public holiday

10 -- Writing the City/the City as Writing: Psychogeography

11 -- Ethical Reading: the ethical turn

Conclusion

12 -- Theory After theory? Theory in the post-theoretical moment

13 -- No lecture

Please Note: full details of all the weekly readings are available in iLearn.

There are minimum research requirements for both essay assignments:

• Essay One Minimum Research Requirement: At least two unit readings from the relevant week plus at least two other relevant and appropriate academic publications.
• Essay Two Minimum Research Requirement: At least three unit readings from the relevant week plus at least three other relevant and appropriate academic publications.

Any essays that does not meet the minimum research requirement will receive a grade of no more than 60%.

When looking for relevant publications outside the unit reader don't place your trust in online sources of doubtful provenance. To help you in your research you'll find in iLearn a brief list of 'suggested reading', including some reliable online material: please use this list as a starting point for your independent research. The quality of your research will be reflected in the quality of your analysis.

Referencing

For this unit the Harvard referencing style should be used. For a comprehensive referencing style guide please go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/tutorials/citing/harvard.html. Please note that footnote-style referencing is not acceptable for this unit.

Turnitin

All written assignments must be processed through the Turnitin anti-plagiarism software. Essays are to be uploaded via the Turnitin link in ilearn.