Students

SOC 315 – Love, Sex and Friendship

2019 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Harry Blatterer
Tricia Daly
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
39cp at 100 level or above including (3cp from SOC or SSC or SSCI or GEN units at 200 level)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
In this unit we look at intimacy in its various forms, and its importance as a basis of interaction for personal relationships, family and friendship. When we think about intimacy we tend to imagine it primarily in terms of feelings: understanding and feeling understood; loving and feeling loved; supporting and feeling supported; feeling able to be yourself, to let go, to enjoy someone's company, closeness, comfort. This unit, then, is also an invitation to think outside these psychological categories and to exercise your sociological imagination. We focus on the contested nature of sociology's contemporary interest in the intimate sphere. We turn to history to enable considered reflection upon present-day experiences. For contemporary love relationships, friendships and the ways in which family members interact, are subject to material and ideological changes that have their source in the beginnings of modernity.

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:

  • An understanding of key concepts, issues and contemporary debates in the sociology of intimate relationships.
  • The ability to sociologically discuss love, sex, and friendship with peers.
  • The ability to sociologically analyse historical and contemporary practices of intimacy, with particular attention to concepts of love, romance, sex, sexuality, and friendship.
  • An awareness of how gender and sexuality can intersect and influence different practices and possibilities of intimate relations.
  • Demonstration of advanced research skills through an ability to source and analyse key arguments and debates in the sociology of intimate relationships
  • The ability to conduct independent research that demonstrates original thought.

General Assessment Information

Late Submission 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
Essay 1 20% No Friday Week 4
Essay 2 20% No Friday Week 9
Essay 3 30% No Friday Week 13
Participation 30% No Ongoing

Essay 1

Due: Friday Week 4
Weighting: 20%

This research essay aims to give students the opportunity to show their comprehension of the material covered in the unit by way of a standard essay (Introduction, body, conclusion)

The questions and additional information will be posted on iLearn in advance.

Word count (including in-text and listed references): 600

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • An understanding of key concepts, issues and contemporary debates in the sociology of intimate relationships.
  • The ability to sociologically discuss love, sex, and friendship with peers.
  • The ability to sociologically analyse historical and contemporary practices of intimacy, with particular attention to concepts of love, romance, sex, sexuality, and friendship.
  • An awareness of how gender and sexuality can intersect and influence different practices and possibilities of intimate relations.
  • Demonstration of advanced research skills through an ability to source and analyse key arguments and debates in the sociology of intimate relationships
  • The ability to conduct independent research that demonstrates original thought.

Essay 2

Due: Friday Week 9
Weighting: 20%

This research essay aims to give students the opportunity to show their comprehension of the material covered in the unit by way of a standard essay (Introduction, body, conclusion)

The questions and additional information will be posted on iLearn in advance.

Word count (including in-text and listed references): 1000


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • An understanding of key concepts, issues and contemporary debates in the sociology of intimate relationships.
  • The ability to sociologically discuss love, sex, and friendship with peers.
  • The ability to sociologically analyse historical and contemporary practices of intimacy, with particular attention to concepts of love, romance, sex, sexuality, and friendship.
  • An awareness of how gender and sexuality can intersect and influence different practices and possibilities of intimate relations.
  • Demonstration of advanced research skills through an ability to source and analyse key arguments and debates in the sociology of intimate relationships
  • The ability to conduct independent research that demonstrates original thought.

Essay 3

Due: Friday Week 13
Weighting: 30%

This research essay aims to give students the opportunity to show their comprehension of the material covered in the unit by way of a standard essay (Introduction, body, conclusion)

The questions and additional information will be posted on iLearn in advance.

Word count (including in-text and listed references): 1400


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • An understanding of key concepts, issues and contemporary debates in the sociology of intimate relationships.
  • The ability to sociologically discuss love, sex, and friendship with peers.
  • The ability to sociologically analyse historical and contemporary practices of intimacy, with particular attention to concepts of love, romance, sex, sexuality, and friendship.
  • An awareness of how gender and sexuality can intersect and influence different practices and possibilities of intimate relations.
  • Demonstration of advanced research skills through an ability to source and analyse key arguments and debates in the sociology of intimate relationships
  • The ability to conduct independent research that demonstrates original thought.

Participation

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 30%

For internal students participation requires engaging in on-campus tutorial activities. This means you will have read the weekly readings and prepared notes about them to bring to the seminar.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • An understanding of key concepts, issues and contemporary debates in the sociology of intimate relationships.
  • The ability to sociologically discuss love, sex, and friendship with peers.
  • The ability to sociologically analyse historical and contemporary practices of intimacy, with particular attention to concepts of love, romance, sex, sexuality, and friendship.
  • An awareness of how gender and sexuality can intersect and influence different practices and possibilities of intimate relations.

Delivery and Resources

The unit will be delivered as 1x2 hour weekly lectures and 1 hour weekly tutorials.

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 published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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:

Assessment task

  • Participation

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:

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3
  • Participation

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

  • An understanding of key concepts, issues and contemporary debates in the sociology of intimate relationships.
  • The ability to sociologically discuss love, sex, and friendship with peers.
  • The ability to sociologically analyse historical and contemporary practices of intimacy, with particular attention to concepts of love, romance, sex, sexuality, and friendship.
  • An awareness of how gender and sexuality can intersect and influence different practices and possibilities of intimate relations.
  • Demonstration of advanced research skills through an ability to source and analyse key arguments and debates in the sociology of intimate relationships
  • The ability to conduct independent research that demonstrates original thought.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3
  • Participation

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

  • An understanding of key concepts, issues and contemporary debates in the sociology of intimate relationships.
  • The ability to sociologically discuss love, sex, and friendship with peers.
  • The ability to sociologically analyse historical and contemporary practices of intimacy, with particular attention to concepts of love, romance, sex, sexuality, and friendship.
  • An awareness of how gender and sexuality can intersect and influence different practices and possibilities of intimate relations.
  • Demonstration of advanced research skills through an ability to source and analyse key arguments and debates in the sociology of intimate relationships
  • The ability to conduct independent research that demonstrates original thought.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3
  • Participation

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

  • An understanding of key concepts, issues and contemporary debates in the sociology of intimate relationships.
  • The ability to sociologically discuss love, sex, and friendship with peers.
  • The ability to sociologically analyse historical and contemporary practices of intimacy, with particular attention to concepts of love, romance, sex, sexuality, and friendship.
  • An awareness of how gender and sexuality can intersect and influence different practices and possibilities of intimate relations.
  • Demonstration of advanced research skills through an ability to source and analyse key arguments and debates in the sociology of intimate relationships
  • The ability to conduct independent research that demonstrates original thought.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3
  • Participation

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

  • An understanding of key concepts, issues and contemporary debates in the sociology of intimate relationships.
  • The ability to sociologically discuss love, sex, and friendship with peers.
  • The ability to sociologically analyse historical and contemporary practices of intimacy, with particular attention to concepts of love, romance, sex, sexuality, and friendship.
  • An awareness of how gender and sexuality can intersect and influence different practices and possibilities of intimate relations.
  • Demonstration of advanced research skills through an ability to source and analyse key arguments and debates in the sociology of intimate relationships
  • The ability to conduct independent research that demonstrates original thought.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3
  • Participation

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

  • An understanding of key concepts, issues and contemporary debates in the sociology of intimate relationships.
  • The ability to sociologically discuss love, sex, and friendship with peers.
  • The ability to sociologically analyse historical and contemporary practices of intimacy, with particular attention to concepts of love, romance, sex, sexuality, and friendship.
  • An awareness of how gender and sexuality can intersect and influence different practices and possibilities of intimate relations.
  • Demonstration of advanced research skills through an ability to source and analyse key arguments and debates in the sociology of intimate relationships
  • The ability to conduct independent research that demonstrates original thought.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3