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Unit outline_

AMST1202: Hashtag America: Media, Technology, Industry

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit examines the scope and impact of American media. Google, Twitter, Netflix, Reddit, Instagram: the American nation is constructed and consumed through its media technologies, beamed around the world as "content. " This unit will consider the relationship between US media industries and the stories we consume. It surveys multiple forms and formats, including cinema, television, radio, podcasts, literature, and social media. Students will be encouraged to examine their own media habits and practices, as well as understand how the US projects an image of itself through its media industries.

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 Aaron Nyerges, aaron.nyerges@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Aaron Nyerges, aaron.nyerges@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Research Essay
Essay
45% Formal exam period 2000 wd
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5
Presentation 1 x 1000 Word Equivalent Presentation
Oral presentation
25% Please select a valid week from the list below 1000 word
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO2
Assignment Media Practice Analysis
Report
15% Week 04 750 word
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO3
Assignment Research Proposal
Research Proposal
15% Week 08 750 wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3

Assessment summary

  • Media Analysis: students are required to track and report on their media usage over a 24 period, following a report template provided by instructors.

 

  • Research Proposal: students are required to plan a research project on a topic of their choice, relating to US media indsutries and/or technologies. They will be supported by a skills-based research workshop in Fisher Library in Week 7.

 

  • Presentation: each student is required to introduce an example of American media associated with their research essay, and explain how it represents the complexity or diversity of the US.

 

  • Research Essay: students are required to complete a research essay on a topic of their choice, relating to US media industies and/or technologies. 

Assessment criteria

Result code

Result name

Mark range

Description

HD

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

DI

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

CR

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

PS

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

FA

Fail

0 - 49

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

AF

Absent fail

0 - 49

When you haven’t completed all assessment tasks or met the attendance requirements.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Standard late penalities apply

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 Lecture: Introduction -- No Tutorial Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 Lecture: A history of network technologies --Tutorial: Online fame and the selfie Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 03 Lecture: Personality and the platform -- Tutorial: Social media, filters, GIFs Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 04 Lecture: What's on your phone -- Tutorial: Surveillance capitalism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 05 Lecture: Mass media and tabloid culture -- Tutorial: Tabloids, gossip, Twitter Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 06 Lecture: Political campaigns, old and new -- Tutorial: Digital technologies and campaigning Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 07 Research workshop Workshop (1 hr)  
Week 08 Lecture: Conspiracy and anonymity online -- Tutorial: Political activism, hashtags, anonymity Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 09 Lecture: Participatory cultures and the internet -- Tutorial: Digital subcultures and scandal Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 10 Lecture: American TV: broadcast vs stream -- Tutorial: American network TV, Netflix Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 11 Lecture: American cinema: big screen to small -- Tutorial: Hollywood, YouTube Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 12 Lecture: Classifieds: sex and dating online -- Tutorial: Online dating, technology and the sex industry Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 13 Conclusions Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

COVID-19 Announcement:

This unit will now be taught online. Zoom lectures and discussion boards will replace regularly scheduled class time and / or consultations. Recordings will be made available to students and accessibility needs will be considered

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.

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. recognise how America is constructed through multiple forms of media, technology, and industry;
  • LO2. describe their media habits and practices, in order to interpret the influence of American media on individuals and societies;
  • LO3. develop an American Studies research project that explains the influence of US media industries;
  • LO4. demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of the United States as represented by the historical formation of its media;
  • LO5. demonstrate proficiency in oral and written communication.

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

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

Readings are now offered through a Canvas Reading List so free access to magazine articles is assured.

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.