You are here: UNE Home / Course and Unit Catalogue / 2010 / A-Z / PAIS370

Year:

PAIS370 Contemporary Issues in Australian Politics

Updated: 20 January 2010
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 1 Off Campus C - Internet access required
Armidale Semester 1 On Campus C - Internet access required
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites 12cp in Asian Societies or International Relations or Political and International Studies or Political Science or any 24cp or candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions PAIS470 or PAIS570 or POLS270 or POLS370
Notes

offered in even numbered years

Combined Units PAIS570 - Contemporary Issues in Australian Politics
Coordinator(s) Anthony Lynch (alynch@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

This unit will critically examine a number of political issues facing Australia including health policy, environmentalism, indigenous issues and federalism, to name a few. It will enable students to explore topics more deeply, enabling them to specialise according to their interests. Students wishing to undertake further study will find this unit helps prepare them for higher level research and writing.

Materials No text required
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1 60% 4000
Assessment Notes
Essay
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1,2,4,5,6
Final Examination 2 hrs 40%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA:1,2,4,5,6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. present written and oral arguments based upon evidence;
  2. recognise different perspectives in contemporary political debates;
  3. identify the political agenda;
  4. analyse public policy, its background, formulation and effects;
  5. research political issues in Australia;
  6. appreciate the relevance and importance of political science.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Knowledge of the political and international studies discipline will be taught through lectures and tutorials. It will be assessed through one written essay and an examination.
True True
2 Communication Skills
Students will be taught communication skills through written and oral feedback on the written, online and participation component of the unit. Students studying on-campus will learn valuable communication skills through participation in tutorials (this will include debates and small group work). Students will be assessed on the style of writing, clarity of writing, expression and development of ideas, and referencing. Students will practice their communication skills through completing the assessment tasks (written through the essay).
True True True
3 Global Perspectives
Students will demonstrate an awareness of the global context of the subject area and they will develop an awareness of the need for tolerance and inter-cultural understanding.
True True
4 Information Literacy
Students will be taught, and directed, to relevant literature and how to assess its validity. Students will be assessed (through the essay and examination) on their ability to identify relevant literature, and on their ability to critically analyse the literature.
True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Through completing the assessments, students will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to research, write and discuss social issues. These skills can be transferred to any discipline, and will be useful in any research positions. These attributes will be assessed in all of the assessments (written skills; analytical skills). In addition, students who attend tutorials will be provided with the skills to debate contentious topics and develop their understanding of a topic through group activitie
True True
6 Problem Solving
Students will be assessed on their ability to deconstruct the essay question and to integrate theory and literature into their answer. Students will need to work out how to address the question and where the most appropriate material is to answer the question.
True
7 Social Responsibility
Students will recognize social issues relevant to their subject area; students will be expected to use professional language and show sensitivity towards political standpoints, cultures or other groups in their written assessments.
True True
8 Team Work
Students will practice their teamwork skills through participating in tutorials, or online discussion postings. They will be required to discuss the weekly topics with their fellow students in a thoughtful and respectful manner (practice).
True
   

Email to a friend