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Unit outline_

OLET1666: Writing with LaTeX

Intensive June - July, 2024 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

LaTeX is a professional typesetting system that can be used to create documents ranging from simple letters and reports to publication ready theses and books. By doing this unit you will learn the skills for typesetting documents using LaTeX, including basic formatting, cross-referencing, references, and figures tables. After completing this unit you will be able to produce quality LaTeX documents, for use in assignments, papers and reports.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Mathematics and Statistics Academic Operations
Credit points 2
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

There is no assumed knowledge apart from basic computer skills. Familiarity with referencing conventions and basic programming would be advantageous but is not required

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Andrew Mathas, andrew.mathas@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Andrew Mathas, andrew.mathas@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 28 June 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Creative assessment / demonstration Module 1
LaTeX fundamentals. Must be completed early in Week 2. Worth 12.5%
12.5% Week 02
Due date: 26 Jun 2024 at 23:59
2-5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Written assignment
Written LaTeX assignment. This is a compulsory task.
35% Week 05
Due date: 21 Jul 2024 at 23:59
10 pages, any subject
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Creative assessment / demonstration Modules 2-5
Module 2 @ 12.5% Best 2 of Modules 3-5 @ 25% No extensions granted
37.5% Week 06
Due date: 28 Jul 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 25 Feb 2024
2-5 hours each
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Peer Review by others
Anonymous peer review mark on assignment from two students (5% each)
10% Week 06
Due date: 28 Jul 2024 at 23:59
Variable
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Peer review
Mark for quality of peer review on other students’ assignments
5% Week 06
Due date: 28 Jul 2024 at 23:59
Variable
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

  • Online learning modules – 50%:
    Students need to complete four of the online LaTeX learning modules in Ed, which are guided tutorials that require the students to complete LaTeX typesetting and programming tasks. 

    Students must complete:
    25% The two Fundamental Modules,
             which are Modules 1 and 2
    25%  At least two of the Advanced Modules,
             which are Modules 3-5.
    Each module is worth 12.5%. The mark for the advanced modules is calculated using the best two marks from Modules 3-5.

    Module 1 is due at the start of Week 2. Students will be notified if they are not meeting the required standards for Module 1 by the due date.
     
  • Written assignment – 35%: 
    Stduents are required to submit an assignment that showcases their use of LaTeX and what they have learned in the unit. The assignment is worth 35%.

    The assignment is a compulsory assessment task, which means that students need to cimplete the assignment to pass the unit.
     
  • Marks from peer reviews – 10%:
    Students need to give feedback and mark the assignments of two other students in the unit. Each peer mark contributes a further 5% towards the assignment mark for the student.
     
  • Mark for peer reviewing – 5%:
    Students are assessed on the quality of their peer reviews for other students. This contrbutes 5% to the final assessment.

Assessment criteria

Progress through the learning modules is automatically graded against normative criteria. Rubrics for the assignment and for peer review are given in canvas.

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:

Standard university penalities apply to assignments that are submitted after the due date. Students should work through the modules regularly throughout the intensive session, with the marks updated in canvas each week. Final marks for the modules will be recorded on the due date. As the intention is that students should work on the modules throughout the semester, any work on the modules that is completed after the due date will not be considered. Simple extensions are not permitted for Modules 1-5.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks Learning modules: Students need to complete four of the online LaTeX learning modules. These modules require the students to complete LaTeX programming tasks, which are assessed against normative criteria. Students are required to complete the two compulsory learning modules on "LaTeX fundamentals" and "Writing LaTeX documents" and at least two additional modules, depending on their interests and expertise. The best four modules contribute 50% to the final assessment for the unit (12.5% each). Independent study (20 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Ongoing Assignment: Students are required to write and submit an assignment that showcases the LaTeX skills that they have learned in the unit. The assignment should display a wide range of LaTeX typesetting skills and expertise. Independent study (20 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Progressive Peer review: students need to mark and give feedback on two assignments written by their peers. By analysing the work of their peers students will be exposed to new approaches to using LaTeX and will learn new skills. Students will also benefit from feedback from their peers. Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

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 2 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 40-50 hours of student effort in total.

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. Understand the structure of a LaTeX document.
  • LO2. Write, construct and compile a LaTeX document.
  • LO3. Format a LaTeX document, including titles, sections, lists, table of contents and cross-referencing.
  • LO4. Construct and design complex document elements.
  • LO5. Create a visually attractive document that includes and utilises an array of LaTeX features.

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.

Thank you for your feedback, which I found incredibly helpful. I will incorporate your recommendations and suggestions into future versions of 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.