ALR782 - Public Affairs and Opinion Formation
Unit details
| Year: | 2020 unit information |
|---|---|
| Important Update: | Classes and seminars in Trimester 2/Semester 2, 2020 will be online. Physical distancing for coronavirus (COVID-19) will affect delivery of other learning experiences in this unit. Please check your unit sites for announcements and updates one week prior to the start of your trimester or semester. Last updated: 2 June 2020 |
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Kristin Demetrious |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | ALR383 |
| 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 2-hour seminar each week (weeks 1 to 11 inclusive) |
| Scheduled learning activities - cloud: | Online independent and collaborative learning activities 1 x 2-hour per week. |
Content
This unit explores ‘public affairs’, a political communication role focused on policy development and public opinion formation in the Australian political context. It provides students with ‘behind the scenes’ insight into how the government works by examining roles played by lobbyists, public affairs practitioners and journalists in the promotion of competing viewpoints.
Canvassing various sectors that have influence in Australian policy development spectrum, it also examines the political communication activities of non-government organisations (NGOs), not for profit and activist groups; as well, special interest groups such as ‘think tanks’ with special emphasis on their donors, funders and affiliations.
The unit enables students to apply their knowledge and understanding of the political process, issue management and the forecasting of trends in relation to opinion formation and policy development.
| These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | ||
| ULO1 | Apply a range of theoretical frameworks to analyse and explain contemporary public affairs practice | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO2 | Analyse and explain public opinion and the relationship to public affairs | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO3 | Research government and political processes and explain how they are influenced by public affairs practice | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO4 | Research and plan a lobbying or advocacy initiative | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO5 | Locate and apply relevant sources to understand the Australian political process for the analysis of public affairs practice and for lobbying and advocacy planning | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO3: Digital literacy GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving GLO6: Self-management |
These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year
Assessment
Trimester 1:| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 (Individual) - Essay | 1500 words or equivalent | 30% | Information not yet available |
| Assessment 2 (Individual) - Online Quiz | 1000 words or equivalent | 20% | Information not yet available |
| Assessment 3 (Individual) - Major Project | 2500 words or equivalent | 50% | Information not yet available |
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: ALR782 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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