Outline

Overview

This unit of study aims to provide students with a critical understanding of contemporary philosophical debates about justice. The unit focuses on liberal conceptions of justice and critiques thereof. It examines various moral values in terms of which the law might be assessed. The moral values that it considers include liberty, community, utility, fairness, and equality. Among the themes that it explores are the limits of and connections between these ideals, the prospects for their realisation in contemporary societies as well as the politics with which each is associated.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Law
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	LAWS5168
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Kevin Walton, kevin.walton@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Participation	Class participation Participation	20%	Ongoing	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Short essay Essay	20%	Week 06 Due date: 31 Mar 2023 at 12:00 Closing date: 26 May 2023	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research essay Essay	60%	Week 13 Due date: 26 May 2023 at 12:00 Closing date: 28 Jul 2023	4000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Class participation (20%): Students receive a mark out of ten for leading class discussion in a specific seminar. In the particular seminar to which they are assigned, students are on call, which means that they should be ready to raise their own and answer others’ (including the teacher’s) questions about the required reading.

Students also receive a mark out of ten for the questions and comments about the required reading that they submit on Canvas throughout the semester either before or just after the class in which the reading is examined.

Short essay (20%): Students must write a short essay in which they reflect on (that is, make an argument about) an aspect of the required reading for one of the first ten seminars. The readings will be available at least two weeks before the commencement of classes. Students must not write about the reading for a seminar in which they led the class discussion. The short essay (1500 words) is due at noon on Friday 31 March 2023. Following submission, a random selection of students will be required to meet individually with the teacher to discuss the approach that they took in writing their essay.

Research essay (60%): Each student must submit a research essay. This essay (4000 words) should demonstrate critical engagement with a relevant topic based on independent research. Students must either answer one of the questions provided by the teacher or write on a subject of their own choice (to which the teacher has agreed). Students are permitted to write a research essay on a similar topic to their short essay or the seminar in which they led the class discussion (subject to the policy on academic dishonesty). Topics will be available on Monday 3 April 2023. The research essay is due at noon on Friday 26 May 2023. Following submission, a random selection of students will be required to meet individually with the teacher to discuss the approach that they took in writing their essay.

Students must retain pre-submitted drafts of their assessments on file.

Word-limits: The total word-count for written work excludes the title-page, citations in footnotes and any bibliography, but includes everything else, such as headings, sub-headings, quotations (including epigraphs) and, even if it does not seem substantive, anything other than citations in footnotes. Failure to comply with the word-limit is penalised at a rate of 5% of the total mark for the assignment for every 100 words in excess of the limit. A research essay of 4099 words, for example, is not penalised, but a paper of 4100 words loses three marks. Penalties for excessive length are strictly applied.

Referencing Requirements: When citing material in written work, students should rely consistently on an accepted method, such as that specified in The Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th ed).

The use of assistance in preparing and editing assessment tasks in this unit of study is strictly prohibited. Assistance includes human and automated writing tools (not including spell checking).

A student who does not make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks – class participation, short essay, and research essay – will receive an Absent Fail grade.

Assessment criteria

A High Distinction (85-100) indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction (75-84) a very high standard, a Credit (65-74) a good standard, and a Pass (50-64) an acceptable standard

The mark for class-participation is determined using the following grid:

	Exceptional	Very high	Good	Acceptable	Unacceptable
Comprehension
Analysis
Extent of input

The mark for the short essay is determined using the following grid:

	Exceptional	Very high	Good	Acceptable	Unacceptable
Comprehension
Analysis
Structure
Expression

The mark for the research essay is determined using the following grid:

	Exceptional	Very high	Good	Acceptable	Unacceptable
Comprehension
Analysis
Structure
Expression
Research

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:

A student who has not obtained an extension by applying successfully for Special Consideration will be penalised for late submission of written work at a rate of 5% of the total mark for the assignment per day or part-day (including weekends and public holidays). Subject to a ten-minute grace-period, penalties for late submission will be strictly applied. This means that three marks will be deducted from a research essay submitted at eleven minutes past noon on the due date.

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	1. Introduction	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 01	2. What is justice?	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 02	3. Utilitarianism	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 02	4. Utility and justice	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 03	5. From utility to liberty	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 03	6. Justice as fairness	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 04	7. Liberalism and legitimacy	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 04	8. The politics of liberalism	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 05	9. Liberalism and culture	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 05	10. Multiculturalism and feminism	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 06	11. Gender and power	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 06	12. Sex and race	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 07	13. Beyond contractarianism	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 07	14. Freedom and redistribution	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 10	15. Locke on private property	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 10	16. Marx on private property	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 11	17. Justice, idealism and personal responsibility	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 11	18. Equality and choices	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 12	19. Relational equality	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 12	20. Conclusion	Seminar (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students are required to attend at least 70% of classes. Students who fail to attend at least 70% of classes will receive an Absent Fail grade unless granted an exemption by the teacher.

Teaching and Learning Strategy: Seminars are discussion-based. Students must prepare for each seminar by reading and reflecting on designated texts. Participation in class discussions enables students to develop their understanding of and their ability to think critically about the issues with which the texts are concerned.

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

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 knowledge of contemporary theories of justice.
LO2. Analyse contemporary theories of justice.
LO3. Present orally and in writing contemporary theories of justice.
LO4. Research contemporary theories of justice.

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.

The teacher welcomes student feedback on this unit of study.

Additional information

Resources - Sydney Law Students

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

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

LAWS3468: Theories of Justice

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect