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Unit outline_

MECO4117: Critical Practice in Media

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study is designed to draw together elements of theoretical and practical knowledge that students have acquired in their studies of media and communications. Students will produce a significant piece of work which demonstrates an awareness of how critical thinking and media production are capable of mutually informing each other in practice.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Media and Communications
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
MECO4116
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Cheryl O'Byrne, cheryl.obyrne@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Diana Chester, diana.chester@sydney.edu.au
Cheryl O'Byrne, cheryl.obyrne@sydney.edu.au
Gina Flaxman, gina.flaxman@sydney.edu.au
Julia Booth, julia.booth@sydney.edu.au
Fleur Anson, fleur.anson@sydney.edu.au
Lea Redfern, lea.redfern@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Work-in-progress presentation
In class presentation of project progress
20% Multiple weeks 10 mins
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Participation Participation
Participate in weekly seminars
10% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Assignment Media project
Media project in genre that matches student's cluster
70% Week 13
Due date: 03 Nov 2023 at 23:59
5000 words or equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2

Assessment summary

Further details are provided on Canvas.

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

Rubric descriptions are provided for each assessment on Canvas. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Rubric descriptions are provided for each assessment on Canvas. 

Credit

65 - 74

Rubric descriptions are provided for each assessment on Canvas. 

Pass

50 - 64

Rubric descriptions are provided for each assessment on Canvas. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’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.

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 apply per university policy.

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 Cluster-based seminar (see Canvas for weekly seminar topics, specific to each cluster) Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Cluster-based seminar Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Cluster-based seminar Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 Cluster-based seminar Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 Cluster-based seminar Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 Cluster-based seminar Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 Cluster-based seminar Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 Cluster-based seminar Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 09 Cluster-based seminar Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 10 Cluster-based seminar Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 11 Cluster-based seminar Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 12 Cluster-based seminar Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 13 Cluster-based seminar Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% 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.

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

Required readings are cluster specific. See Canvas for details. 

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. research and produce an independent project that demonstrates awareness of how critical thinking and media practice are mutually informing
  • LO2. research and produce an independent media project that is original, relevant and impactful
  • LO3. productively engage in processes of drafting, presenting work-in-progress, providing and receiving feedback, and editing

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.

Assignment word counts have been adjusted to accord with University standards, and the outside-of-seminar consultation requirement has been removed.

Students must attempt all assignments to pass the unit. 

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.