Unit Outline

All aspects of human life are geographical. Our lives take place in space. Spatial practices and ideas are central to individuals and societies: they help determine who and what belongs where, who controls and owns which resources, and who has what advantages or disadvantages. In this unit you develop skills of geographical inquiry that investigate and intervene in these human geographies. You explore the practical benefit of this inquiry through studying crucial challenges relating to economic value, political power and cultural identity. You analyse case studies from around the world on topics including precarious employment, sustainable and just development, decolonization, nationalism and migration. You apply field research techniques to investigate human lives in the context of ideas of place, territory, mobility, landscape and environment at diverse scales. The critical skills of reasoning, researching and communicating developed in this unit are valued by employers in social and environmental policy, planning, development, research and management. This unit prepares you for advanced level units including KGA308, KGA318 and KGA319.

See Unit Overview and Assessment folders in MyLO Content for all details.

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.	Use critical, reflexive and evidence-based reasoning to investigate economic, political and cultural geographies;
2.	Apply geographical research skills to generate insights into economic, political and cultural phenomena that are relevant to real problems;
3.	Communicate human geographical inquiry and insight through clear, effective and ethical writing, speaking and collaboration.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	KGA171 OR KGA172 OR 25 credit points at Introductory level or higher

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Feedback from the 2023 student cohort has guided refinements to tutorial reflection assessment.

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Lecture (On Campus)	Recorded lecture (video)	0.50	Weekly
	Seminar	Interactive seminar exploring week's theme with in-class discussion	1	Weekly
	Tutorial	Tutorials with reading discussion and research project preparation. Commences week 2 of semester, then weekly.	1.50	StudyPeriod 12 times
	Independent Learning	Reading two required readings before the weekly tutorial.	3	Weekly
	Project	Self directed research and writing on assessments	3	Weekly
Online	Lecture (Online)	Recorded lecture (video)	0.50	Weekly
	Seminar	Interactive seminar exploring week's theme with in-class discussion. Join live via zoom as an online student.	1	Weekly
	Tutorial (Online)	Tutorials with reading discussion and research project preparation. Online students join in via zoom. Commences week 2 of semester, then weekly.	1.50	StudyPeriod 12 times
	Individual Study	Reading two required readings before the weekly tutorial.	3	Weekly
	Project	Self directed research and writing on assessments	3	Weekly

Attendance / engagement expectations

If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.

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:	AT2: Short Essay Questions	Refer to Assessment Description	20 %	LO1, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	AT1: Tutorial Activities	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	AT3: Research Project	Refer to Assessment Description	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: AT2: Short Essay Questions

Task Description:

In weeks 7 and 13, you will have an open-book short essay assessment of two 200-word essays. Essay questions will be chosen from a small selection provided. Answers will demonstrate critical, evidence-based and reflexive reasoning and a good grasp of the material covered in lectures and readings.

AT2a Due Week 7 Sunday (11.59pm)
AT2b Due Week 13 Sunday (11.59pm)

Task Length:

You will have 72 hours in which to write two 200-word (+/- 10%) short essays.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description (21/Apr/2024)

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply critical, evidence-based and reflexive reasoning to investigate economic, political & cultural geographies	LO1
2	Explain economic, political and cultural geographic problems	LO1
3	Document investigation of a given human geography topic	LO3

Assessment Task 2: AT1: Tutorial Activities

Task Description:

During tutorials you will undertake three tasks:
a Tutorial reflections: For four of the tutorials (not weeks in which you are presenting or facilitating) make a short written active listening reflection on your learning from the tutorial of that week. b) Tutorial Presentation. Deliver an oral critical review and discussion of one required reading (4-5 minutes). c) Working in pairs facilitate a group discussion (approx. 20-30 minutes, assessed as a pair) involving the entire class in a reflective discussion on the week's required readings.

AT1a: Tutorial Reflections - 4 weeks from Weeks 2-11 (due Sun 11.59pm x 4)
AT1b: Tutorial Presentation - 1 week from Weeks 3-11 (in tute)
At1c: Tutorial Facilitation - 1 week from Weeks 3-11 (in tute)

Task Length:

Presentation of 4-5 minutes. Paired facilitation of class discussion of approx 20 minutes. Four [4] short written discussion posts.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description (10/Mar/2024)

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply critical, evidence-based & reflexive geographical reasoning to interpret readings & related material	LO1
2	Articulate insight and understanding from engagement with readings and related material	LO3
3	Engage with peers to promote learning	LO3
4	Apply critical reflection to reading, speaking and listening practices	LO3

Assessment Task 3: AT3: Research Project

Task Description:

Conduct a research project on a topic and research question of your choosing to investigate an aspect of economic, political or cultural geography. Use one of the 4 methods
specified.

Assessment is in 3 parts:
a) Report Front (Introduction/Background/Methods) 700 words (15%) - week 5
b) In-tutorial presentation on project progress of 4-6 minutes (10%) Assigned time between weeks 12 and 13
c) Report Findings (completed final report) 1200 words (25%) - week 14

AT3a Report Front Due Friday 11.59pm Week 5
AT3b Research Presentation In tutorials Weeks 12/13
AT3c Research Findings Due Fri 11.59pm Week 14

Task Length:

A 500-word (+/- 10%) draft project outline of research aim, question, background and rationale, a c. 4-minute presentation and a 1500-word (+/- 10%) final report.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description (07/Jun/2024)

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Applies geographical reasoning to investigate a well-chosen topic or question relating to economic/political/cultural geographies	LO1
2	Apply a coherent methodological approach to design & conduct human geographical data collection and analysis	LO2
3	Develops original insights based on integrating existing human geographical knowledge and original research findings	LO2
4	Propose, present and report on original research	LO3

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.

See Unit Overview in MyLO for details.

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.