Unit Outline

Sociology inspires you to think differently about the world. We discover how a ‘sociological imagination’ enables us to better understand our lives, the groups we belong to and how societies are changing. From growing up with social media to changing gender roles, sociology is about explaining how the ‘big picture’ shapes our individual lives and experiences. Grounded in real-world examples and case-studies, the unit introduces you to the concepts, theories and research approaches used by sociologists to analyse and explain contemporary societies. You will learn to apply sociological frameworks to key issues in society, including how transformations in social identities such as class, gender, ethnicity are creating new opportunities but also new forms of inequality. The unit also closely examines how social institutions such as family, media and religion are significant in shaping the world we live in and our experiences and relationships. This unit gives you the skills, knowledge and tools to understand human behaviour from a sociological perspective, promote social change and is useful for diverse careers in a range of industries such as government, research, community sector, media, advertising and communications

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	Describe the sociological perspective, key sociological theories, and research methods within the context of contemporary social life.
2	Analyse major social identities, inequalities and institutions in relation to their impact on individuals and society.
3	Apply sociological concepts, theories, and empirical data to explain elements of contemporary Australian society
4	Communicate sociological ideas clearly in written and/or verbal form within an academic context.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	HGE101 AND HGA100 AND HGA139 AND HGA135

Alterations as a result of student feedback

This sociology unit has undergone substantial revisions based on student feedback. These changes include the introduction of new topics, clearer and more focused learning outcomes, and a suite of more diverse and engaging assessment types designed to deepen sociological knowledge and develop reflective skills. The unit's structure has also been improved for a more logical flow and to progressively embed foundational sociological knowledge and skills. Finally, to foster peer learning and collaboration, the unit now incorporates a group-based assessment, providing students with increased opportunities to connect and learn from one another.

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:	Digital journal	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Participation	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Digital sociology group project	Refer to Assessment Description	40 %	LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Digital journal

Task Description:

You are required to submit two (2) 400-word reflective journal entries. The first entry (due in Week 5) is to capture your insights and thoughts on the topics covered in Weeks 1 to 4 of the unit. The second (due at the end of semester) will be your personal reflection on your learning journey in this unit. Both entries should demonstrate your understanding of key sociological concepts and theories, as well as your ability to use your sociological imagination and apply a sociological perspective to real-world issues.

Assessment Task 1: Digital Journal (Part 1: 400 words): Due Friday 28 March 11.59pm
Assessment Task 1: Digital Journal (Part 2: 400 words): Due Friday 30 May 11.59pm

Task Length:

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain key sociological theories and concepts with examples	LO1
2	Reflect on your personal journey, explicitly connecting insights to specific sociological theories and concepts	LO3
3	Apply the sociological imagination to personal and societal contexts	LO3
4	Present sociological ideas supported by evidence	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Participation

Task Description:

1. Respond to weekly pop culture prompts and online activities and share your response (need to contribute to a minimum of 7 topics)
2. Undertake weekly ‘sociology in action’ challenge (need to contribute to a minimum of 7 topics)

Task Length:

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Connect the chosen pop culture element and discussion questions with sociological perspectives discussed in the unit	LO1
2	Apply sociological concepts and theories to the issues being discussed	LO3
3	Communicate ideas within an academic context	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Digital sociology group project

Task Description:

For this assessment, you will work in groups of (approx.) 5 people. Working together as a group, you will conduct an in-depth sociological analysis of a contemporary social issue selected from one of the topics covered in Weeks 4-12 of the unit. You will apply relevant sociological theories and concepts to critically examine the issue, drawing on multiple sources of evidence, including empirical studies, news reports, or other relevant data. There are 4 milestones for this task.

1. Week 4: You will be assigned to groups – guidance will be provided to establish group functioning, designated roles etc.
2. Week 9: Each group shares their project plan for peer review. The plan will consist of your guiding research question, project description, key research sources, narrative outline etc. (500 words). Using Feedback Fruits, groups will give peer feedback on one other group’s project plan.
3. Week 13: Submit group project
4. Week 13: You will provide feedback to the other people in your group. Feedback contributes 20% of the overall grade for this assessment task.

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analyse the social issue critically using multiple sources of evidence	LO2
2	Apply sociological theories and concepts to the chosen social issue	LO3
3	Communicate ideas in a chosen digital format	LO4
4	Contribute to group work in the development of your project	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.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

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.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

You will need the following text:

Germov, J., & Poole, M. (2023) Public Sociology: An introduction to Australian society (5th Ed). Sydney: Allen & Unwin.