Course Title: Sociology
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2013
Course Code: HUSO5134
Course Title: Sociology
School: 365T Global Studies, Soc Sci & Plng
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6077 - Advanced Diploma of Justice
Course Contact : Anthony Trevan
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99254512
Course Contact Email:anthony.trevan@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Nominal Hours: 68
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
There are no pre-requisites
Course Description
This course explores the nature and development of Australian society, the major forces and historical events that have shaped Australian society, the nature and experience of inequality, the power structures and processes that influence and maintain inequality and some of the major theories that explain why our society operates in this way
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBQM392 Sociology |
Element: |
01. Outline the cultural development of Australian society |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1Define the terms ‘society,’ ‘culture’ and ‘ethnocentricity’ |
Element: |
02. Outline the historical development of sociology |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1Define the term ‘sociology’ |
Element: |
03. Outline the development of social theory |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1Explain how philosophical beliefs led to the development of social theories |
Element: |
04. Describe the bases of power in society |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1List the factors which influence power in a society |
Element: |
05. Identify major institutions in society and explain how they impact on power and inequality |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1Explain the concept of an institution as an agent of socialisation |
Element: |
06. Explain how value systems, social roles and gender contribute the perpetuation of inequalities |
Performance Criteria: |
6.1Explain how value systems are formed |
Element: |
07. Describe how inequality affects particular groups in society and how this affects behaviours and experience |
Performance Criteria: |
7.1Identify ways in which inequality impacts on the individual’s access to services and resources |
Learning Outcomes
See Elements
Details of Learning Activities
Details of Learning Activities
•Students will participate in a variety of learning activities including: lectures, tutorials, class discussion, seminar presentations, group/individual work on projects, audio-visual presentations, field excursions where applicable, on site visits, and interaction with individuals and groups within the criminal justice area.
•Learning activities are designed to develop competencies in the following areas:
- applying sociological thinking to determine and implement work undertaken, and/or service provision, that addresses specific needs of marginalised clients in justice environments
- monitoring, and review for continuous improvement, of work undertaken and/or services provided
- knowledge of major sociological theories and perspectives that explain causes and effects of social inequalities affecting clients in justice environments
- knowledge of social thinking in developing approaches and strategies to address inequality and marginalisation experienced by special needs groups and others within justice environments and the broader society.
Teaching Schedule
Session One: Introduction and Overview of subject and explanation of assessment tasks
Session Two: The History of Sociology and the Development of Social Theory
Session Three: Contemporary sociological theories & theorists
Session Four: Late modernity and knowledge test 1
Session Five: Social research
Session Six: Social identities
Session Seven: Youth transition and culture
Semester Break- No classes
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Session Eight: Families and intimate relationships
Session Nine: Sporting life and knowledge test 2
Session Ten: Deviance and normalised behaviour
Session Eleven: Deviance and normalised behaviour-Group activity
Session Twelve: Youth transition and youth culture
Session Thirteen: Working 24/7
Session Fourteen: Urbanisation, community & rurality and knowledge test 3
Session Fifteen: Group presentation week 1
Session Sixteen: Group presentation week 2.
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Germov, J. and Poole, M. (2011) Public Sociology : an introduction to Australian society, 2nd ed. Allen & Unwin. |
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
Assessment will consist of: participation in classroom and Learning Hub activities, a group work project, two presentations and a research report (TBC)
Assessment Tasks
There are 3 assessable tasks in this subject, as follows:
1. Progressive knowledge tests
Note: all progressive knowledge tests and skills presentations are to be satisfactorily completed to achieve a graded result for the subject.
2.Sociological investigation and essay
3. Group Presentation on ‘normality and deviance’
NOTE:
All of the above assessment tasks must be completed satisfactorily to attain a graded result
Assessment Matrix
The assessment has been designed to cover all Learning Outcomes and will be graded in accordance with RMIT’s Mark Table 7 which is as follows:
HD 80-100
DI 70-79
CR 60-69
PA 50-59
NN 0-49
All written work must adhere to the following criteria:
Written reports, research projects or essays are to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and familiarity with the prescribed or negotiated topics
It is expected that all submitted work will be well written, with clear and consistent grammar, expression and punctuation. It must be well structured and cogently address the issues raised in the chosen topic in a logical, ordered and organised manner
The concepts must be well defined and demonstrate a critical analysis of the chosen topic
Written submissions must demonstrate appropriate preparation, reading and research
In-text references must follow the APA style of referencing. In addition, you must provide a bibliography with correct and comprehensive details in relation to texts, articles, research reports and other sources that you have used
Double or 1.5 spacing and a font size of 10-12 must be used in font style Aerial or Times New Roman.
Assessment Deadlines
Any due date for any assignment is to be considered a deadline. You can submit work at any time prior to the submission date, but it must be into the Administration office by close of business of the day the submission is due.
Other Information
Extensions will not be granted by teachers or Administrative staff.
In accordance with RMIT policy, you may apply for an extension where there have been unexpected or extenuating circumstances, e.g.
•Hospital admission, serious injury, severe asthma, severe anxiety or depression. This does not include minor illness such as a cold, period pain or hay fever.
•Loss or bereavement – e.g. death of a close family member, family/relationship breakdown.
•Hardship/trauma – e.g. victim of crime, sudden loss of income or employment, severe disruption to domestic arrangements.
You must keep a copy of their assessment until the graded submission has been returned or marks have been posted.
All email communications will be sent to your RMIT student email address.
Applying for an Extension
Extension of time for assessment tasks may be granted where circumstances beyond your control prevent submission by the published due date. An application for extension of time must be lodged with your tutor or the course coordinator as early as possible, and no later than one working day before the due date for submission.
You can apply for extension using the University’s Extension Application Form – http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf – or by emailing your course coordinator or tutor directly.
An extension of up to seven calendar days may be granted if good reason can be demonstrated. Include supporting evidence (such as medical certificates) with your application.
Extensions beyond seven calendar days cannot be granted by course coordinators, tutors or the School. To apply for an extension of time greater than seven calendar days you must lodge an application for Special Consideration.
Applying for Special Consideration
If you are seeking an extension of more than seven calendar days (from the original due date) you must lodge an Application for Special Consideration form, preferably prior to, but no later than two working days after the official due date. Late applications will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances. For information about Special Consideration and how to apply, see: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration
Penalties for Late Submission
If you have not been granted an extension or special consideration, late submission will be penalised as follows:
Assessment tasks submitted after the due date of submission shall receive a penalty of five per cent of the grades available for that assessment per day for each working day late.
No assessment task shall be accepted more than three weeks after the due date.
Assessment Appeals
If you believe your assessment result or final result is wrong please contact the course coordinator and provide the reason why you think your result is incorrect. Valid reasons for seeking a review of results include:
•You believe an error has occurred in the calculation of the grade; or,
•You believe the assessment did not comply with criteria published in the Course Guide; or,
•You believe the assessment did not comply with University Policies on Assessment (i.e. an error in process has occurred).
•Full details of the procedure (including appeals procedure) can be located at this RMIT site: http://www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academic#assessment
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship through respecting the work of others whilst having the freedom to build new insights, new knowledge and ideas. RMIT University upholds the values of academic integrity as fundamental to the scholarship undertaken by all members of its community. Whenever you refer to another person’s research or ideas (either by directly quoting or paraphrasing them) you must acknowledge your source.
If you are even in doubt about how to properly cite a reference, consult your lecturer or the academic integrity website: http://www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity
The RMIT library provides tools to assist with your referencing http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/info-trek/referencing
Plagiarism and Collusion
Plagiarism and collusion constitute extremely serious academic misconduct, and are forms of cheating. You are reminded that cheating, whether by fabrication, falsification of data, or plagiarism, is an offence subject to University disciplinary procedures. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data, and oral presentations. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. Plagiarism is not acceptable.
Examples of plagiarism include:
•Copying sentences or paragraphs word-for-word from one or more sources, whether published or unpublished, which could include but is not limited to books, journals, reports, theses, websites, conference papers, course notes, etc. without proper citation;
•Closely paraphrasing sentences, paragraphs, ideas or themes without proper citation;
•Piecing together text from one or more sources and adding only linking sentences;
•Copying or submitting whole or parts of computer files without acknowledging their source;
•Copying designs or works of art and submitting them as your original work;
•Copying a whole or any part of another student’s work; and
•Submitting work as your own that someone else has done for you.
•Enabling Plagiarism: the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work is also an offence.
For further information, please see the RMIT Plagiarism Policy – http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=sg4yfqzod48g1 – and the RMIT Student Discipline Statute and Regulations - http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=11jgnnjgg70y
Plagiarism Software
Students may enter their work into Turnitin, in order to support the originality of their writing and references. The software Turnitin may be used in this course, and can be discussed with your educator, Program Manager and/or downloaded from http://www.turnitin.com
Course Overview: Access Course Overview