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Unit outline_

GOVT1641: Introduction to Politics

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

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 Peter Chen, peter.chen@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Peter Chen, peter.chen@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Jake Davies, jake.davies@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Research Project
Written essay
60% Formal exam period
Due date: 08 Jun 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 22 Jun 2023
2,500 words (+/-10%) inc.references
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Online task Cumulative quiz for weeks 1-4
Online quiz consisting of 15 multiple choice questions
10% Week -04
Due date: 17 Mar 2023 at 17:00
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Online task Cumulative quiz for weeks 5-7
Online quiz consisting of 15 multiple choice questions
10% Week 07
Due date: 07 Apr 2023 at 17:00
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Online task Cumulative quiz for weeks 8-10
Online quiz consisting of 15 multiple choice questions
10% Week 10
Due date: 05 May 2023 at 17:00
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Online task Cumulative quiz for weeks 11-13
Online quiz consisting of 15 multiple choice questions
10% Week 13
Due date: 26 May 2023 at 17:00
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

This unit of study uses a mix of assessments.  Because of its foundational focus, it assesses the whole course content using a series of four "cumulative quizes" completed online.  To provide for sythesis and analysis, a final research essay using the comparative method is employed.

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:

Cumulative quizes need to be submitted during the assessment window to be marked. For the research essay, for every calendar day up to and including ten calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to late work.

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 The state Lecture (2 hr)  
The study of politics and the state Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 03 Authoritarianism Lecture (2 hr)  
Authoritarianism Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 04 Liberal Democracy Lecture (2 hr)  
Liberal Democracy Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 05 Ideologies Lecture (2 hr)  
Ideologies Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 06 Representation 1 Lecture (2 hr)  
Representation 1 Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 07 Representation 2 Lecture (2 hr)  
Representation 2 Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 08 Legislatures and the Executive Lecture (2 hr)  
Legislatures and the Executive Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 09 Political Behaviour and Culture Lecture (2 hr)  
Political Behaviour and Culture Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 10 Media and Political Communication Lecture (2 hr)  
Media and Political Communication Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 11 Contempoary Challenges Lecture (2 hr)  
Contempoary Challenges Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 12 Mystery week Lecture (2 hr)  
Mystery week 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

Please refer to the reading list for required texts.

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.