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Unit outline_

SLSS2606: Socio-Legal Theory

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This core unit explores theoretical approaches to studying socio-legal dynamics in a globalised society. It examines key theoretical debates drawing on classical theorists (Weber, Durkheim, Marx), more recent social theorists (Habermas, Foucault, Bourdieu) and critical notes from gender, queer, race, postcolonial, and science studies.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Sociology and Criminology
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 1000 level in Socio-Legal Studies
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
SCLG2615
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Sonja Van Wichelen, sonja.vanwichelen@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Short release assignment hurdle task Research Essay
Essay
30% Formal exam period
Due date: 13 Nov 2024 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Online task hurdle task Discussion Board
Discussion Board, 5 x 200 word submissions
20% Multiple weeks 1000 word
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4
Presentation hurdle task Presentation
Oral presentation
10% Multiple weeks Equivalent to 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3
Participation hurdle task Participation
Participation
10% Ongoing N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4
Assignment hurdle task Case Study
Case study
30% Week 08
Due date: 11 Sep 2024 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

  • Participation: A mark out of 10 is awarded for your semester-long contribution to the class discussion and activities, including your ability to demonstrate that your participation is informed by required readings and other preparation. This mark recognises your contribution in small group work as well as large group discussions. The mark recognises different learning and communication styles. Sharing your thoughts, insights (and confusion) and working through ideas with others is what is most valuable for learning, and therefore most valued when it comes to marks.
  • Presentation: You will make a presentation on a chosen week intended to more closely resemble tutorial facilitation rather than a presentation, with the aim to stimulate thinking about the week’s topic.
  • Case Study:  You will be required to link one of the theorists covered in the unit (Durkheim, Selznick, Marx, Weber, Habermas) and to link it to a contemporary case of your choice. The case study should use at least three scholarly readings (one from the required list and the other from the recommended list or from the library). You are also free to use relevant external media resources (newspaper, film, art).
  • Research essay: The research essay should use at least seven scholarly readings (three from the required list and two from either the recommended list or from the library). You are also free to use relevant external media resources (newspaper, film, art). Your essay must utilise one of the accepted systems for citation (footnotes, or author/date). 

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 sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

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.

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
Week 01 Introduction – why socio-legal theory? Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 02 Ideology and rationalisation Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 03 The Moral Community Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 04 The Legal Field Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 05 Power and Identity Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 06 Feminist, Queer & Legal Theory Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 07 Race and Postcolonial Theories of Law Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 08 Globalisation Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 09 Science in Action Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 10 Reading week (public holiday/no class) Independent study (3 hr)  
Week 11 Biotechnology Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 12 Nature and Eco-Legality Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 13 Concluding Lecture Seminar (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: With a shift to online learning, check with the unit coordinator if the lectures, delivered by Zoom, will be recorded. You should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your Zoom/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.
  • Assignments: All assingments must be attempted/submitted in this unit. An overall grade of Absent Fail (AF) will be awarded if a piece of assessment is not attempted/submitted.

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

Readings will be available on Canvas

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 an advanced understanding of sociological theories in the study of law and society
  • LO2. demonstrate the critical capacity to relate socio-legal theory to appropriate methods and techniques
  • LO3. assimilate, organise and criticise a corpus of academic materials
  • LO4. organise, critically analyse and relate to substantive and theoretical concerns within a body of empirical material and data
  • LO5. display strong personal and intellectual autonomy, and interpersonal and communicative skills.

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.

Changes have been made in weekly topics and assignments since the last time that this unit was taught.

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.