GCST3634: Semester 1, 2021

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Units GCST3634 Semester 1 2021 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

GCST3634: The Social Life of Policy

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

This unit explores the idea of public policy as a major cultural force which shapes the way we live, how we are socially categorised, how we act, who and what we can become. Students also learn how they might influence public policy and of alternatives to policy for enacting social change.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Gender and Cultural Studies
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 2000 level in Gender and Cultural Studies or 12 credit points at 2000 level in Diversity Studies
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	GCST2632
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Sertan Saral, sertan.saral@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Final project Research essay representing critical engagement with policy domain/practice	40%	Mid-semester exam period	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Close reading of a policy, pertaining to final project Close reading of a policy, building towards final project.	25%	Week 04	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Final project outline Outline for what student plans to submit as final project.	10%	Week 08	500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Weekly Questions Students will need to submit a150-word question related to readings.	25%	Weekly	Week 2 to Week 11
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Submission of assessment tasks will be required by the due date. Written assessments must be submitted online through the LMS. Other assessments, for example visual or oral assessments, must be submitted according to the assessment instructions.

Work not submitted on or before the due date are subject to a penalty of 2% per day late. Refer to http://sydney.edu.au/arts/current_students/late_work.shtml for the Policy on Late Work.

Assessment criteria

Result code and name	Mark range	Description
HD – High Distinction	85-100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard.
DI – Distinction	75-84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard.
CR – Credit	65-74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard.
PA – Pass	50-64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard.
FA – Fail	0-49	When your assessment doesn’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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Policy Matters	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Policy as Culture	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Policy as Artifact	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Who Counts?	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Policy in the Flesh	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Policy Recap and Critical Application	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Policy Activism and Alternative Engagement	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Case Study 1A	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Case Study 1B	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Case Study 2	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Case Study 3	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Recuperating Policy	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	One-on-one consultations for final project	One-to-one tuition (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 80% 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.

For more information on attendance, see http://sydney.edu.au/arts/current_students/policies.shtml.

This unit contains an online component, and online participation is a mandatory component of your participation mark. Please read the requirements for online participation in the assessments schedule carefully.

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

Essential readings can be accessed via the e-reserve link on the Canvas site.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. Demonstrate a detailed familiarity with and critical understanding of core cultural studies theories, objects and approaches, by situating policy as historically distinct socio-cultural phenomena. A B C D F
LO2. Use Cultural Studies techniques to decode the sources, validity and currency of social policy declaratives as these differentially apply along raced, classed, gendered and species-centric categories. A B C D E
LO3. Apply critical analysis, collaborative peer inquiry and transdisciplinary research skills, using material drawn from a variety of sources, including media, film, literature, and official government policy. B D E F
LO4. Build on skills required for policy analysis within applied settings; enhanced their ability to articulate social policy objectives; and exhibit greater knowledge and understanding of the possibilities and limits of government action in liberal democratic systems. A B C F

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

This unit has been revised with up to date prescribed readings for 2021. The unit readings have been changed to reflect student and tutor feedback. Revision of topics and readings will occur every year.

Additional information

A detailed schedule of topics and readings is available to anyone enrolled in the unit on Canvas. For any enrolled student having difficulty accessing this material, please email sertan.saral@sydney.edu.au.

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

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