AIP107 - Introduction to Politics
Unit details
| Year: | 2021 unit information |
|---|---|
| Important Update: | Unit delivery will continue to be provided in line with the most current COVIDSafe health guidelines. This may include a mix of on-campus and online activities. To find out how you are impacted, please check your unit sites for announcements and updates. Unit sites open one week prior to the start of each Trimester/Semester. Thank you for your flexibility and commitment to studying with Deakin in 2021. Last updated: 4 June 2021 |
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Cloud (online), CBD* |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Peter Ferguson |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
| Scheduled learning activities - campus: | 1 x 1-hour class per week, 1 x 1-hour seminar per week |
| Scheduled learning activities - cloud: | 1 x 1-hour class per week (recordings provided), 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week |
Note:*CBD refers to the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation (NIKERI) Institute; Community Based Delivery | |
Content
Introduction to Politics familiarises students with some of the main elements of politics and political analysis by examining the key components of contemporary political systems. These are state and civil society actors and institutions, the main ideas that shape them, and the way these actors, institutions and ideas manage key contemporary political issues, such as human rights, gender, race, the environment and welfare provision. The unit develops four threshold concepts that will both deepen students’ understanding of politics and provide them with the analytical tools to pursue further study in the politics and policy studies discipline. These threshold concepts are: first, that the allocation of resources in society and the values people hold are the product of the interaction between actors, institutions and ideas at different levels from the local to the global. Second, these interactions are shaped by issues of power, justice, order, conflict, legitimacy, accountability, sovereignty, governance and decision-making. Third, the understanding and practice of politics is shaped by competing political ideologies. Fourth, knowledge and truth are contested, partial and subjective and look very different from the perspective of different actors, thus leading to political contestation and conflict.
| ULO | These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Identify key political actors, institutions and ideas | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication |
| ULO2 | Discuss key contemporary political issues | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication |
| ULO3 | Compare how key issues are dealt with in different contemporary political systems | GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO4 | Explain key contemporary political issues from different ideological perspectives | GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO5 | Reflect on the capacity of contemporary political actors, institutions and ideas to address key political problems | GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year.
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 - Research and Writing Exercise | 500 words or equivalent | 15% | Week 3 |
| Assessment 2 - Essay | 2000 words or equivalent | 50% | Week 8 |
| Assessment 3 - Report | 1500 words or equivalent | 35% | Examination period |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning Resource
The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: AIP107 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
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