USSC1201: Semester 1, 2023

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Units USSC1201 Semester 1 2023 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

USSC1201: America and Australia: the issues compared

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

In this unit we explore major American social issues by comparing them with similar issues in Australia. What makes America different? How do personal rights, from gun rights to LGBTI rights, work differently in the two countries? What differences and similarities exist on issues like race and mass incarceration? How much do we either exaggerate or downplay political differences between the United States and ourselves?

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	United States Studies Centre
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	David Smith, david.smith@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Comparison essay n/a	25%	Week 05 Due date: 25 Mar 2023 at 23:59	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Comparison essay n/a	25%	Week 09 Due date: 29 Apr 2023 at 23:59	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Tutorial reflection exercise n/a	10%	Week 12 Due date: 20 May 2023 at 23:59	500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research essay n/a	40%	Week 13 Due date: 27 May 2023 at 23:59	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction: how and why to compare two similar (but very different) countries	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Comparing government	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Comparing government	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Political ideas and culture	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Political ideas and culture	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Religion	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Religion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Individual rights—freedom of speech and guns	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Individual rights—freedom of speech and guns	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Capitalism and inequality	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Capitalism and inequality	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Health, welfare and education	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Health, welfare and education	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	The environment and environmental politics	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	The environment and environmental politics	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Race and racism	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Race and racism	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Crime, punishment and violence	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Crime, punishment and violence	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Gender and sexuality	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Gender and sexuality	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Sports, suburbs and substances	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Sports, suburbs and substances	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Conclusion	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Conclusion	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: students 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 which will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
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

A key text for this unit is How America Compares. Before semester begins, please download it in PDF form from the library at https://sydney.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/61USYD_INST/n58ko5/alma991031650416605106

Another work we’ll refer to is the United States Studies Centre report PUBLIC OPINION IN THE AGE OF TRUMP: THE UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIA COMPARED: https://www.ussc.edu.au/analysis/public-opinion-in-the-united-states-and-australia-compared. Please download it before the beginning of semester.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. identify key social differences and similarities between the United States and Australia
LO2. use comparison as a method of understanding social issues across different countries
LO3. explain the historical and cultural factors that lead to differences in social and political outcomes between the countries
LO4. critically analyse and evaluate claims that Americans and Australians make about your own uniqueness or difference from each other
LO5. reflect on how our understanding of American social issues affects our understanding of Australian social issues, and vice versa.

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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