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Unit outline_

SCLG1001: Introduction to Sociology 1

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

How does society shape the world we live in? What influences interactions between people in everyday life? Why is society structured the way it is, and is change possible? By delving into diverse topics such as discrimination and inequality to family life and friendship, this unit introduces the conceptual tools sociologists use to explain the world.

Unit details and rules

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

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Beatriz Carrillo Garcia, beatriz.carrillogarcia@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Small continuous assessment Discussion Board Posts
n/a
40% Ongoing 2000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO3
Assignment Short essay-type answer questions
n/a
20% Week 05 1000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO5
Assignment Take-home assessment
n/a
40% Week 13 2000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

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 01 Introduction Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 02 Identity 1: Personal identity Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 03 Identity 2: National identity, belonging and exclusion Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 04 Alienation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 05 Rationalisation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 06 Power 1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 07 Power 2: Knowledge Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 08 Culture 1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 09 Culture 2: Culture Industry Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 10 Globalisation 1: A sociological perspective Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 11 Globalisation 2: Migration and globalisation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 12 Globalisation 3: Forced migration Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  

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.
  • Lecture recording: Lectures will be recorded and/or be conducted ‘live’ over Zoom, and will be made available to students on the LMS.
  • 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

The assigned textbook for this unit of study is: 

Holmes, David; Hughes, Kate; and Julian, Roberta 2015, Australian Sociology: A Changing Society 4th Edition, Melbourne: Pearson Australia.

Reading is essential for success in this course. We have structured the weekly reading to allow you to understand basic sociological concepts, understand how these are applied to contemporary social problems today, but also to have an opportunity to read from "classic" sociologists.

The required readings for each week will thus draw from the textbook as well as from other academic sources, which will be listed in the Canvas site and will be available electronically through the Reading List (Leganto) link.

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. You will be able to understand a range of existing fields of sociological theory and research, and develop skills in develop new knowledge and understanding about social life. In particular, you will: become acquainted with the basic concepts and methods of sociological enquiry and how to apply these in developing your own understanding of the societies in which you live; be able to acquire and evaluate new knowledge through independent research; be able to identify, define, investigate, and solve problems; think independently, analytically and creatively; and exercise critical judgement and critical thinking to create new modes of understanding.
  • LO2. You will learn how to find and use information effectively in a variety of contexts. In particular, you will: i. recognize what types of information you require for particular purposes; ii. become acquainted with the basic concepts and methods sociological enquiry and how to apply these in developing your own understanding of the society in which you live; iii. be able to use academic and non-academic information resources, with a particular focus on how to access both open and proprietary web interfaces; and iv. use information effectively in critical and creative thinking.
  • LO3. You will learn how to work independently and sustainably, in a way that is informed by openness, curiosity and a desire to meet new challenges. You will: i. become an independent learner who takes responsibility for your own learning; ii.set appropriate goals for ongoing intellectual and professional development, and evaluate your own performance effectively; iii. be intellectually curious, open to new ideas, methods and ways of thinking, and able to sustain intellectual interest; iv. respond effectively to unfamiliar problems in unfamiliar contexts; and v. work effectively in teams and other collaborative contexts.
  • LO4. You will develop personal values and beliefs consistent with your role as responsible members of local, national, international and professional communities. You will: i. understand and practise the highest standards of ethical behaviour associated with the discipline; ii. be informed and open-minded about social, cultural and linguistic diversity in Australia and the world; iii. appreciate your ethical responsibilities towards colleagues, research subjects, the wider community, and the environment; and iv. be aware that knowledge is not value-free.
  • LO5. You will develop the capacity to recognise and value communication as a tool for negotiating and creating new understanding, interacting with others, and furthering your own learning. You will: i. develop your written, oral, and multimedia communication skills in a variety of learning tasks; ii. recognise the importance of continuing to develop your oral, visual, and written communication skills; and iii. be able to use appropriate communication technologies.

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 teaching team of this unit reviews the curriculum and content every year in order to provide students with a range of themes and learning resources that are engaging and that provide them with opportunities for critical reflection. This includes taking into consideration the changes to the learning experience due to increase reliance on online learning.

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.