Unit Outline

Bachelor of Architecture and Built Environments Architecture Theory units focus on establishing and enhancing students’ capacity to think with clarity and rigour to ensure solid bases for research inquiry and design practice. At Intermediate level, these units provide foundational understandings of the history and lived spaces of architecture and built environments. Architecture Theory: The Canon focuses on the development of core knowledge and critical understanding of the canon of Architecture. Through lectures, self-directed research and interactive seminars and workshops you will explore, discuss and critique the relationships between the objects of architectural production and their historical, cultural and discursive position. You will develop knowledge of key precedents, their historical position within the canon of Architecture, and the basis for their canonical significance (including associated debates). The relationship of these debates to contemporary positions will be critically explored. By undertaking focused research on a specified topic in architectural history, you will develop skills in critical inquiry and techniques of academic communication employing appropriate conventions in written, verbal and visual formats.

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 precedents and their location within the chronology of the canon of Architecture
2	Interrelate the objects of architectural production and their historical, cultural and discursive position
3	Articulate a critical position informed by focused inquiry into a specified topic in architecture and design history and theory
4	Situate architectural ideas by applying academic conventions within written, verbal and visual communications

Alterations as a result of student feedback

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:	Seminar presentation	Week 7	30 %	LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Research documentation	Week 10	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Visual Essay	Week 13	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Seminar presentation

Task Description:

Presentation of argument relating architects and their architecture to the field.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Level of engagement with the material, insightfulness of ideas, creativity and rigour of discursive approach to the subject.	LO2
2	Articulation of a critical position in seminar presentation; overall structure of argument, clarity of introduction and conclusion.	LO3
3	Level of professionalism, readability and completeness of oral/visual/written communication, including use of references.	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Research documentation

Task Description:

A curated presentation of process work.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Ability of responses to demonstrate understanding of critical aspects of subjects.	LO1
2	Level of engagement, insightfulness of ideas and strength of argument demonstrated in written and drawn responses.	LO2
3	Clarity of communication and presentation of results, with regards to legibility of text, clarity of orthogonal projections, along with appropriate referencing.	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Visual Essay

Task Description:

Presentation of argument using writing and drawing.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Ability of the visual essay to represent the essential/critical aspects of the subject and its relation to broader architectural chronologies.	LO1
2	Level of engagement, insightfulness of ideas, creativity of approach to the subject in relation to its historical, cultural and discursive condition.	LO2
3	Ability to form a critically informed position on the subject in relation to histories and theories of architecture.	LO3
4	Quality of communication and presentation of visual essay, with regards to the structure of the text, style of writing, selection and use of images and ethical referencing standards	LO4

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.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

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.