AUSTRALIAN POLITICS: GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY
POL1AUP
2016
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
This subject introduces students to the political ideas and institutions that are central to Australian politics. The first half of the subject focuses on key political ideas such as individual freedom, freedom of speech, democracy, and inequality, and it explores their relevance to recent debates in Australian Politics. In the second half of the semester, the focus shifts onto Australia's major political institutions, including the Parliament, the Prime Minister, the High Court and the Constitution, and to key players such as political parties and the media. The subject examines the interaction between these institutions and actors, and it analyses the way the design of the political system affects law, policy and democracy in Australia.
School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Bec Strating
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 1 - UG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: N/A
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: N/A
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: Core subject at first-year level for a Politics major in the Bachelor of Arts degree (ABA).
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Australian Political Institutions. | Recommended | Singleton, G. Aitkin, D. Jinks, B. and Warhurst, J. | 10TH ED., PEARSON, 2013. |
| Readings | Government and Politics in Australia | Recommended | Fenna, A., Robbins, J. and Summers, J. | 10TH EDN, PEARSON 2014 |
| Readings | The Australian Political System in Action. | Recommended | Miragliotta, N., Errington, W., Barry, N. | 2ND ED. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2013 |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Complete written work that demonstrates a broad evaluation of diverse positions/arguments regarding relevant topics in Australian Politics
- Activities:
- Annotated Bibliography, Major essay; on-going LMS exercises
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
- Writing(Writing)
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
02. Produce a sustained complex written argument in Australian Politics.
- Activities:
- Essay Introduction and Plan; Major essay
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Writing(Writing)
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
03. Produce critical reviews that demonstrate a broad and critical knowledge of the multiple sources and perspectives available for studying Australian politics.
- Activities:
- Annotated Bibliography; Major essay, ongoing LMS activities
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Writing(Writing)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
Melbourne, 2016, Semester 1, Blended
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Nicholas Barry
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
TutorialWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.0 hours tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major essay - 1700 | 45 | 01, 02, 03 | |
| On-going LMS/tutorial activities (equivalent to 1300 words) | 30 | 01, 03 | |
| Annotated bibliography (400 words) | 10 | 01, 02 | |
| Essay Introduction and Plan (equiv. 600 words) | 15 | 02 |