Unit Outline

This unit introduces students to the study of political ideas focusing on some of the major ideological frameworks that have and continue to guide political action in the modern era. In the unit, students will consider liberal, conservative, Marxist, fascist, feminist, environmentalist, Islamist and other ideological frameworks. The unit will examine how different theoretical approaches conceptualise the nature and role of the state, the firm, and civil society; and consider the relative priorities they assign to such values of democracy, fairness, freedom, order and equality when providing an account of feasible local, national and global communities.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Identify and evaluate contrasting arguments in the study of political ideologies.
2.	Apply theoretical knowledge and research to analyse contemporary issues and events that invoke political ideologies.
3.	Communicate your ideas coherently in written and/or oral formats, drawing upon evidence and using referencing and style conventions as appropriate.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	25 credit points at Introductory level or higher

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Re-ordered lecture sequence

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Minor essay	Week 6	15 %	LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Major essay	Week 12	35 %	LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Take-home exam	Exam Period	40 %
Assessment Task 4:	Tutorial participation	Refer to Assessment Description	10 %	LO1, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Minor essay

Task Description:

Minor essay

Task Length:

Essay

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate an understanding of theory and empirical knowledge relating to the question.
2	Identify and express a defensible position using evidence to justify your view.	LO2, LO3
3	Communicate in writing in the form of an essay.

Assessment Task 2: Major essay

Task Description:

Major essay

Task Length:

Essay

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate an understanding of theory and empirical knowledge relating to the question.
2	Identify and express a defensible position using evidence to justify your view.
3	Communicate in writing in the form of an essay.	LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Take-home exam

Task Description:

Take-home exam

Due during exam period

Task Length:

Final exam

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate and apply theoretical knowledge and research (on a particular topic[s]) to analyse the selected case.
2	Identify, critique and evaluate contrasting arguments using evidence to justify your view.

Assessment Task 4: Tutorial participation

Task Description:

On campus: Tutorial Attendance and Participation. Off campus: completion of online tutorial exercises.

Task Length:

Tutorial participation

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Attendance	LO1, LO3
2	Demonstrate reading and understanding of material related to the topic.
3	Completion of assigned exercises.

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.