Skip to main content
Unit outline_

GOVT1641: Introduction to Politics

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

What is politics? What is political science? How can we compare political systems? This unit introduces key political institutions, organisations, processes, activities and ideologies and how these differ between countries. It explains different approaches to political science, using examples from a range of countries, including Australia.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Government and International Relations
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Sascha Nanlohy, sascha.nanlohy@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Take home assessment
Summative unit assessment
35% Formal exam period
Due date: 18 Nov 2022 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Participation Participation
In class or alternative by request for international students
10% Ongoing Throughout semester
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Short Research Essay
Short 1000 word essay.
15% Week 05
Due date: 02 Sep 2022 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment Research Essay
Summative research essay
40% Week 11
Due date: 21 Oct 2022 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7

Assessment summary

Please see the GOVT1641 Canvas site for all information relating to assessments.

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

Demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard.

Distinction

75 - 84

Demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard.

Credit

65 - 74

Demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard.

Pass

50 - 64

Demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard.

Fail

0 - 49


Fail to 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.

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:

Late penalties will be applied in line with University and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences policies.

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 The study of politics Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 Liberalism and its critics Lecture (2 hr)  
Liberalism and its critics Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 03 Justice, equality and rights Lecture (2 hr)  
Justice, equality and rights Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 04 Authoritarianism and democracy Lecture (2 hr)  
Authoritarianism and democracy Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 05 Legislatures Lecture (2 hr)  
Legislatures Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 06 Executive government Lecture (2 hr)  
Executive government Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 07 Constitutions and the judiciary Lecture (2 hr)  
Constitutions and the judiciary Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 08 Interest groups and social movements Lecture (2 hr)  
Interest groups and social movements Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 09 Elections and electioneering Lecture (2 hr)  
Elections and Electioneering Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 10 Political parties and party systems Lecture (2 hr)  
Political parties and party systems Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 11 The media and politics Lecture (2 hr)  
The media and politics Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 12 Public policy making Lecture (2 hr)  
Public policy making Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 13 Conclusion Lecture (2 hr)  
Conclusion Tutorial (1 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences requires 90% attendance at 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.  If you have reasons for extended or repeated class absences, you should talk to your tutor so they can get supporting evidence from you and assist you with supplementary material.

  • Lecture recording: Lectures will be recorded and made available to students on Canvas.  Unless you cannot attend lectures in person, you should not rely on lecture recordings as a substitute for 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

Undertaking the prescribed readings each week is an essential part of the learning process for this unit of study, particularly in preparation for the tutorials and the assessment tasks.

All readings will be available through the Library Leganto system, available on Canvas.  Due to limited access to the main text via Library Leganto, it is highly recommended that students purchase a physical or electronic copy of the main text to be used: Rod Hague, Martin Harrop and John McCormick, Comparative Government and Politics, 11th edition, London: Palgrave, 2019.  You can compare the availability and price of the text via booko.com.au.  Make sure you buy the 11th edition, as earlier editions cannot be used.

Further details of the weekly readings can be found 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. identify different approaches to defining the nature and scope of politics
  • LO2. recognise foundational concepts, theories and methods used by political scientists to understand politics
  • LO3. identify similarities and differences between the political systems of countries
  • LO4. apply foundational political concepts and theories to specific examples of political phenomena
  • LO5. apply critical reading skills to sources in political theory and comparative politics
  • LO6. discuss fundamental issues in politics with others in a constructive and analytical way
  • LO7. find and draw information from a range of sources, including digital sources, to develop political analysis.

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.

The unit has had changes made to the delivery of teaching and to the assessment tasks since it was last taught in semester 2, 2021, in response to the ongoing impact of COVID19.

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.