Course Title: Investigate features of the Australian legal system
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2015
Course Code: HUSO5212
Course Title: Investigate features of the Australian legal system
School: 360T Education
Campus: City Campus
Program: C3310 - Certificate III in EAL (Further Study)
Course Contact: Baia Tsakouridis and Bloss Robertson
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99254488
Course Contact Email: baia.tsakouridou@rmit.edu.au, bloss.robertson@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Angela Borrelli 51.2.2 email: angela.borrelli@rmit.edu.au
Caroline McEnroe 51.2.2 email: caroline.mcenroe@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 50
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
None
Course Description
In this unit you will focus on the Australian legal system and become familiar with the knowledge and skills required to access various aspects of the Australian legal system.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VU21471 Investigate features of the Australian legal system |
Element: |
1 Describe the main features of the Australian legal system |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Identify the main differences between civil law and criminal law |
Element: |
2 Examine the process of accessing legal representation |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Identify key features of the system of legal representation |
Element: |
3 Take notes of features of the Australian legal system |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Identify purposes and commonly recognised methods for note-taking |
Element: |
4 Discuss issues raised |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Use a range of strategies to initiate and participate in an informal discussion |
Learning Outcomes
N/A
Details of Learning Activities
This unit is part of Certificate III in EAL (Further Study) which is an integrated program. This means that you will study this unit with several other units on the same day. Your program consists of Face to Face teaching and Directed Study. Your program will have a minimum of 8 hours Directed Study per week. You are not required to attend & complete Directed Study, however you are expected to complete all work given and will at times be required to show evidence that the work has been completed in this unit. This is a very important part of your program and we ask that you do 4-5 hours on your non attendance day and at least 1 hour each evening to cover all the units in the program. An outline of your Directed Study is published each week in the Weekly Program Delivery Plan.
The Weekly Program Delivery Plan is a detailed outline of what activities you will be undertaking in each session on a weekly basis. You can access this via Blackboard (Mystudies) on the first day of each teaching week.
Examples of how you will practice and study the units
LISTENING
You will:
• listen to a range of audio and film and documentary texts
• take part in conversations
• listen and take notes from guest speaker presentations
READING
You are encouraged to read a wide range of texts relevant to the study context. You will:
• read, analyse and review complex texts for research purposes
• read opinion texts
• study items related to the Australian legal system, crime, policing & related miscellaneous topics in the news every week..
WRITING
In a variety of writing activities, you will improve your sentence structure and learn how to take notes. You will:
• take notes from a range of complex texts based on Australian Law
• learn to locate and record references used
• learn to plan, draft and proofread your work.
• become familiar with academic discourse
SPEAKING
In a variety of situations you will:
participate in formal interactions in a study context
prepare & give an oral presentations
The revision of important grammatical structures will be incorporated into each activity.
Teaching Schedule
Program dates
13th July, 2015 – 20th November, 2015
Semester break
21st September – 2nd October, 2015
Public Holiday
Melbourne Cup Day 3rd November, 2015
This unit of competency is taught within an integrated program.This unit is clustered with VU21503 Listen and take notes for research (LANG5809) and VU21499 Give straightforward oral presentations for further study
Teaching Schedule: This course will be delivered weekly. The times will be outlined in the program delivery plans which are updated each week.
| Week | VU21471 Investigate features of the Australian legal system |
VU21471 Elements |
VU21499 Elements |
VU21503 Elements |
| 1 | Orientation/Admin Diagnostic Test
Discuss Australian Law Terminology Introduce legal system Listening and taking notes |
3 |
1 2 5 |
1 2 |
| 2 |
Students participate in formal group interactions, Listen to Australian Law Court system audio visual text and discuss their listening notes. Listening and taking notes |
1 3 |
1 2 5 |
1 2
|
| 3 |
Students read texts & listen to audio visual material about the difference between civil law and criminal. Then participate in informal group interactions &discuss listening notes & write a group summary Listen and take notes |
1 2 3 4 |
1 2 5 |
1 2 |
| 4 | Listen and take notes on reports of criminal law, crimes and civil law crimes on media and discuss |
1 2 |
1 2 3 5 |
1 2 |
| 5 | Listen & take notes on reports of criminal law crimes and civil law crimes on media and discuss |
1 2 3 4 |
1 2 3 |
1 2 |
| 6 | Listen and take notes, answer questions and prepare short oral presentation as practice |
1 2 3 4 |
3 4 5 |
1 2 |
| 7 |
Assessment Task 2 Australian Law Guest Speaker Listen and take notes, answer questions and prepare a short oral presentation on a Australian criminal law, civil law and court system
|
1 2 3 4
|
3
4 5 |
1 2 |
| 8 | Listen to audio texts on roles of police in Australian legal system, take notes, discuss and clarify roles. |
1 2 |
1 2 3 4 |
1
2 |
| 9 |
Discuss methods of punishment in Aust legal system. Interact in groups to discuss and compare punishments. Begin research on Magistrates court via virtual court cases with online questionnaire Listening task |
1 2 |
1 2 |
1
2 |
| 10 | MId Semester Interviews |
4 |
5 |
2
|
| 11 |
Take part in conversations on benefits of sport Australian Law Quiz. Power point skills Listening task
|
1 2 |
1 2 3 5 |
1 |
| 12 |
Assessment Task 8 Australian Law -The Magistrates Court Excursion -students listen to court cases, take notes and summarize one case Group work skills Listening exercise (Sport)
|
1
2 3 4 |
2 | 1
2 |
| 13 |
Working in groups. Strategies for group work.
Listening exercise - Sport |
1 2 3 4
|
2 | 1
2 |
| 14 |
Assessment task 3 Oral Presentation "Sport" Students prepare and give a short group oral presentation on benefits of sport and review performance Listen to audio text on role of police
|
1 2 4 |
1 2 3 4 5 |
1
2 |
| 15 |
In pairs students research, prepare and participate in a formal group interaction in a study context regarding individual rights and role of police Listening task and take notes. |
3 4 |
1 2 3 4 5 |
1
2 |
| 16 |
Assessment Task 7 The Rights and Responsibilities of police Guest Speaker - Vic Police Rep: Listen, take notes and summarize right & responsibilities of police and punishments in the legal system |
1 2 3 4 |
2
|
1
2 |
| 17 |
Analysis of presentations & feedback Exit process: Identify & evaluate course content, study skills developed & English language development achieved
|
4 |
1 2 5 |
1 |
**The teaching schedule maybe subject to change. Students will be advised via Blackboard and in class should changes occur.
Teaching Schedule: This course will be delivered weekly. The times will be outlined in the program weekly delivery plans which are updated each week
Your program is made up of:
• Orientation
• Learning activities
• Mid semester review
• Guest speakers
• Excursions
• Exit review
All students will be inducted. The induction includes:
• Program Guide & Student Diary
• Student Rights and Responsibilities
• Explore RMIT ( an orientation to the university and its services)
• Orientation to RMIT Libraries (library tour & on line catalogue introduction)
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
TEXTS AND EQUIPMENT
There are no set texts in this course, but it is recommended that you bring:
• English-English dictionary (we ask that you do not use a translation dictionary)
• Thesaurus
• Display folder with plastic sleeves
• Highlighter pens
• Notebook or loose leaf paper
• Headphones (use your own or they can be purchased from the Carlton Library very cheaply)
• USB (Memory stick/flash drive)
Overview of Assessment
You must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of the competencies in order to be deemed competent. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks. You may be assessed by
group research project
report writing
evidence of note taking and research skills
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program manager or the Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.
The Student Charter www.rmit.edu.au/about/our-education/supporting-learning-and-teaching/student-charter/ summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT University student as well as the responsibilities of the university.
Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which can be found on the RMIT University website at: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qwxbqbg739rl1
Assessment Tasks
Assessment tasks:
Summative assessments:
Assessment Task 2 -Australian law Guest Speaker & Oral Presentation Response
This is a task which focuses on listening skills, note taking and oral presentation skill.. It involves listening to the guest speaker, taking notes, and planning and preparing a short oral presentation about an Australian Law area.. It involves listening, note taking, summarising, vocabulary and grammar development oral presentation skill.. Students will take notes whilst listening to the guest speaker and participate in small group discussion and expressing opinions with evidence and examples. Students will also evaluate their participation in the discussion and identify areas for improvement.
Assessment Task 3 - Oral Presentation "Sport"
This task utilises the research from a report completed within another cluster of the program and involves planning and presenting a formal group oral presentation using PowerPoint of 15-20 minutes. The task also provides opportunities for peer assessment and self evaluation.
Assessment Task 7- Rights & Responsibilities of Police
Police Guest Speaker Talk - This task involves listening & note taking from a guest speaker presentation. It also involves vocabulary and grammar development. Students will take notes whilst listening, and participate in small group discussion and express opinions with evidence and examples. Students will also evaluate their participation in the discussion and identify areas for improvement.
Assessment Task 8 - Australian Law - The Magistrates Court
This task involves researching skills, listening skills, discussion. Students will start the task by reading and doing online research of the court system in Australia and exploring the virtual tour. They then listen and take notes in a court room through an excursion to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. The task involves computer skills assisting online research, reading, analysing, note taking, vocabulary development, grammar development and referencing
Formative assessments: ongoing observations, summaries and review of student work
Please note:
Assessments tasks will include other courses (Units of competency) from the program.
All Assessment tasks should be submitted by the deadline. If an extension is required you must ask your teacher for one before the due date.
Assessment Matrix
Assessment Matrix
Each assessment cover sheet clearly outlines the competencies being addressed in the task in relation to performance criteria. The sum of assessment tasks will cover all units and their elements over a range of occasions. You will be given opportunities to demonstrate competency in a variety of ways throughout the program. To sucessfully complete this unit you will need to demonstrate that you are competent in each element of the unit/subject on at least two occasions.
You are encouraged to discuss any problems or concerns with your teacher or student co-ordinator. An assessment matrix will be available on myRMIT
Other Information
Attendance
Your course involves participating in face to face classes. It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to successfully complete this course.
Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential.
Student program policy www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academicprogress
You will be asked to attend mid-semester and end of semester interviews with relevant teachers and Program Co-ordinator. The interviews are an important part of giving you feedback and supporting you through your program by monitoring your academic progress
Special consideration policy (Late submissions)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension. Extension www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension
Special consideration is an assessment adjustment for unexpected circumstances that are outside your control, which:
• have a significant adverse impact on your performance in assessment or
• prevent you from attempting or submitting the assessment. Special Consideration www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the Academic Integrity and Plagiarism policy
www.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity
Course Overview: Access Course Overview