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Unit outline_

PUBH5418: Tobacco Control in the 21st Century

Semester 2, 2023 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The unit consists of learning topics, each of which is supported by extensive Web based resources, and 4 moderated online discussion forums, each focusing on a problem related to tobacco use and control. Lecture topics include: history of tobacco use and control; the burden of illness from tobacco use; secondhand smoke: the research evidence; measuring tobacco use, uptake and cessation in communities; international trends in tobacco consumption; the tobacco industry; the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and new forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Problem focused discussion forums include: Harm reduction and tobacco control, regulation of tobacco, improving and implementing pack warnings; promoting smoking cessation, prevention of uptake (youth programs); denormalisation of the tobacco industry; controlling advertising; and controlling exposure to tobacco smoke, making news on tobacco and influencing political policy on tobacco.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Public Health
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Becky Freeman, becky.freeman@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Online Discussion Week 1
3 posts + reading others posts
10% Week 04
Due date: 27 Aug 2023 at 23:59
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3
Online task Online Discussion Week 2
3 posts + reading others posts
10% Week 05
Due date: 03 Sep 2023 at 23:59
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3
Assignment Lecture Summary
View/attend all course lectures and provide a summary of a key learning
15% Week 05
Due date: 31 Aug 2023 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Online task Online Discussion Week 3
3 posts + reading others posts
10% Week 06
Due date: 10 Sep 2023 at 23:59
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3
Online task Online Discussion Week 4
3 posts + reading others posts
10% Week 07
Due date: 17 Sep 2023 at 23:59
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3
Online task Online quiz
Online quiz
10% Week 08
Due date: 21 Sep 2023 at 23:59
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO2
Assignment Essay
Written assessment
35% Week 13
Due date: 30 Oct 2023 at 23:59
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO6 LO5 LO4

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found 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

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

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.

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 02 1. Introduction and history of tobacco use and control; 2. Burden of illness from active smoking; 3. Smoking cessation: a population perspective; 4. Secondhand smoke and its control; 5. Tobacco the product; 6. Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship Workshop (8 hr)  
1. Harm reduction through product modification; 2. The tobacco industry and tobacco control in Indonesia; 3. Case study: plain packaging of tobacco control; 4. Tobacco retailing; 5. Denormalisation in tobacco control; 6. Vector control: the international tobacco industry: past, present and future Workshop (8 hr)  
Week 03 1. Mass media campaigns; 2. The framework convention on tobacco control: strengths and weaknesses; 3. Tobacco industry today; 4. Evaluating population-level tobacco control policies; 5. Bronwyn King TedX Clip; 6. The future of tobacco control: discussion Workshop (8 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

All students should priortise attending and engaging in the three day workshop - either face-to-face or live on Zoom. There will be lively discussion and participation activities.

While the workshop content will be recorded, attending as much as possible live is highly preferred. Attendance will be noted and anyone who is unable to attend either face-to-face or via Zoom must watch all the workshop recordings - this will be tracked through the Canvas site.

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 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. explain the history, epidemiology of tobacco use and disease and the burden of illness from tobacco use
  • LO2. describe social, cultural, legal and economic aspects of tobacco use and tobacco control
  • LO3. argue for and defend a population perspective on the goals, objectives and strategies of tobacco control
  • LO4. identify and analyse the main current policy debates in tobacco control
  • LO5. identify, analyse and plan strategies and effective interventions for tobacco control in whole populations
  • LO6. critically assess issues in future directions for tobacco control.

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

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.