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Unit outline_

AMST1001: Global America

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Why does America have so much influence globally? What is the nature of this influence? And what are the consequences of this influence? What are the nature and consequences of the influence of the rest of the world on America? Why given America's global influence, and globalisation in general, does America remain such an insular society? This unit takes an interdisciplinary approach to these questions with a focus primarily on the United States in the 21st century.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit United States Studies Centre
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Brendon O'Connor, brendon.oconnor@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Tutorial participation
n/a
15% -
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Critical review 1
n/a
30% - 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Critical review 2
n/a
30% - 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Take home assignment
take home assignment
25% STUVAC
Due date: 27 Nov 2020 at 12:00
Released 24/11/2020 at 12:00
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

  • Critical reviews: Students will write two short essays providing an argument-based response to roughly four weeks of class materials. The critical review must form an argument in response to a set question. You will be expected to draw on roughly four weeks’ worth of material to support that argument.
  • Final examination: Students will answer two essay questions from three options, to be selected from five topics circulated in advance.
  • Tutorial attendance and project: Attendance will be taken every week. In addition, over the course of the semester you will be involved in a tutorial project driven by your responses to five weeks’ worth of the lectures and set readings. On five given weeks you will be expected to come to tutorials with between-a-half-and-full-page written response to either an element of that week’s lecture or assigned reading. 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction: Americanization, Globalization and Nationalism Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Introduction: Americanization, Globalization and Nationalism Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 02 How does the American political system work? American elections/Global President Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
How does the American political system work? American elections/Global President Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Liberal International Order in a Realist World? Cooperation, Conflict and Resources Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Liberal International Order in a Realist World? Cooperation, Conflict and Resources Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 04 How much influence does America have globally? Hard power, Soft power and decline Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
How much influence does America have globally? Hard power, Soft power and decline Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 US-China Relations: A New Cold War or Just Cheap Clothes You Shouldn’t Buy? Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
US-China Relations: A New Cold War or Just Cheap Clothes You Shouldn’t Buy? Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 The Power of Hollywood Spectacle (Guest lecturer Blythe Worthy) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
The Power of Hollywood Spectacle Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Global problems/American causes and solutions: The GFC and the Environment Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Global problems/American causes and solutions: The GFC and the Environment Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 The Vietnam War, Refugees and Freedom Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
The Vietnam War, Refugees and Freedom Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 The Internet, Conspiracy Theories, and Right-Wing Politics Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
The Internet, Conspiracy Theories, and Right-Wing Politics Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Populism, Trump and the Ugly American Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Populism, Trump and the Ugly American Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 American Feminism Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
American Feminism Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Why is the whole world watching American television? (Guest lecturer - Claudia Sirdah) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Why is the whole world watching American television? Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Global Black Lives Matter Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Global Black Lives Matter Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate a basic fluency in the topics and terminology of American studies
  • LO2. identify important trends in contemporary American politics and culture
  • LO3. develop an understanding of an interdisciplinary method of study
  • LO4. evaluate the role of the United States in the twenty-first-century global environment
  • LO5. communicate effectively in written and spoken English.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9
LO1         
LO2         
LO3         
LO4         
LO5         

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

We have used past student feedback to tweak our text choices, rethink assessment structures and feedback, and improve lecture delivery.

More information can be found on Canvas.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.