Skip to main content
Unit outline_

SCLG2000: Global Social Problems

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit takes a multidisciplinary approach to the study of major global problems. Lectures, readings, and activities will examine these problems through the multiple lenses of comparative sociology, systems engineering, climate science, humans rights discourses, world history, and literature.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 1000 level in Sociology
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Salvatore Babones, salvatore.babones@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Final policy paper
Detailed examination of a global social problem in a particular country
40% Formal exam period
Due date: 20 Jun 2021 at 23:00

Closing date: 27 Jun 2021
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5 LO4
Assignment Comparative research report
Professional report on a global social problem across multiple countries
40% Week 06
Due date: 18 Apr 2021 at 23:00

Closing date: 02 May 2021
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO3 LO2
Presentation Panel presentation (1000 word equivalent)
Individual presentation research-based + participation in panel discussion
20% Week 08 5 min presentation + 15 min discussion
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO6 LO2

Assessment summary

  • 1x1500wd Comparative research report (40%)
  • 1x1000wd equivalent Team activity (20%)
  • 1x2hr Final exam (40%)

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: India's farmer protests Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO4
India's farmer protests / Evaluation of reliability of online sources Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 02 Coronavirus - causes and responses Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Coronavirus - causes and responses / How to access root data sources Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 03 Coronavirus - vaccines and anti-vaccine activism Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Coronavirus - vaccines and anti-vaccine activism / Limitations of academic peer review Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 04 Truth and post-truth - sociology of knowledge Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Truth and post-truth - sociology of knowledge / Assignment of comparative research report Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05 Truth and post-truth - civility of political discourse Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO6
Truth and post-truth - civility of political discourse / Use of embedded links for referencing Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Poverty and inequality - jobs Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Poverty and inequality - jobs / Dates for panel presentations / Final advice on papers Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 07 Poverty and inequality - income Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Poverty and inequality - income / Organization of panel presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 08 The environment - pollution Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
The environment - pollution / Panel presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 The environment - habitat destruction Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
The environment - habitat destruction / Panel presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Topic to be decided in consultation with students Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Topic to be decided in consultation with students / Panel presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Topic to be decided in consultation with students Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Topic to be decided in consultation with students / Panel presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Terrorism and insecurity - threats Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Terrorism and insecurity - threats / Assignment of final policy paper Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Terrorism and insecurity - state support and security cooperation Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Terrorism and insecurity - state support and security cooperation / Discussion of final policy paper Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6

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: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • 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

Students will be assigned to seek out and discover appropriate online readings throughout the semester as part of the tutorial program.  The first three tutorials (Weeks 1-3) will focus on helping students learn how to evaluate the reliability of online sources.  Starting with the Week 04 tutorials, students will be expected to bring their own (reliable!) readings to class in preparation for class discussion.

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. demonstrate non-academic professional report writing of the kind you might be expected to undertake in post-university careers
  • LO2. demonstrate a practical understanding of how multiple knowledge systems intersect in addressing social problems
  • LO3. demonstrate comparative-historical theoreical framework for understanding the structure of global problems
  • LO4. demonstrate deep knowledge of the social problems faced by one particular country
  • LO5. demonstrate a curiosity and concern about global social problems into concrete plans for policy action.
  • LO6. form independent, critical, well-informed views on the basis of biased information and reports

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 team presentation activity has been revised in line with student feedback, and topics covered have been updated for 2021.

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.