POL2000 Political and Economic Ideas

POL	2000	63374	1, 2007	ONC	Political and Economic Ideas	1.00	Fraser Coast
Subject	Cat-nbr	Class	Term	Mode	Description	Units	Campus

Academic group:	FOBUS
Academic org:	FOB002
Student contribution band:	1
ASCED code:	090101

Staffing
Other requisites
Synopsis
Objectives
Topics
Texts
Reference materials
Student workload
Assessment details
Important assessment information
Assessment notes
Other requirements
Production date
PDF version

STAFFING

Examiner: Geoff Cockfield
Moderator: Cassandra Star

OTHER REQUISITES

Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to USQConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/current/busgeninfo.html

SYNOPSIS

This course is an introduction to the study of politics. It deals with some of the key concepts that are commonly used to think about political and economic processes and institutions. The course is designed to appeal to students from a range of disciplines and does not require prior knowledge of politics. It is a course for students interested in political and economic debates who wish to develop a capacity for critical analysis.

OBJECTIVES

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. The assessment item/s that may be used to assess student achievement of an objective is/are shown in parentheses after each objective. On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

be able to present an argument as appropriate for the discipline of politics (Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Examination)
be able to examine major political ideas (Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Examination)
understand the influence of major political ideas on the development of political and economic systems (Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Examination)
have developed critical skills in reading and analysing political texts (Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Examination)
have developed the skills needed to present an argument in written form (Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Examination).

TOPICS

	Description	Weighting (%)
1.	Introduction to the discipline of politics and its methods	10.00
2.	The state and the citizen	15.00
3.	Political obligation	10.00
4.	Liberty	20.00
5.	Rights	15.00
6.	Equality	20.00
7.	Reviewing the influences of political and economic ideas	10.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Jones, T 2004, Modern political thinkers and ideas: an historical introduction, Routledge, New York.

Summers, J & Smith, B 2006, Communication skills handbook: how to succeed in written and oral communication, 2nd edn, John Wiley & Sons, Milton, Queensland.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Heywood, A 2003, Political ideologies: an introduction, 3rd edn, Palgrave MacMillan, New York.

Lipson, L 1997, The great issues of politics: an introduction to political science, 10th edn, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

Sabine, GH 1973, A history of political theory, 4th edn, Dryden Press, Hinsdale, Illinois.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Assessment	10.00
Lectures	28.00
Private Study	99.00
Tutorials	28.00

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description	Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date
ASSIGNMENT 1	20.00	20.00	10 Apr 2007
ASSIGNMENT 2	40.00	40.00	28 May 2007
2 HOUR EXAMINATION	40.00	40.00	END S1	(see note 1)

NOTES

1.: The examination is scheduled to be held in the end-of-semester examination period. Students will be advised of the official examination date after the timetable has been finalised.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Attendance requirements:
It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)
Penalties for late submission of required work:
If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval then a penalty of 20% of the total marks available for the assignment will apply for each working day late.
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must submit all of the assessment items and achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
Examination information:
This is a restricted examination. Candidates are allowed access to specific materials during the examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are English translation dictionaries (but not technical dictionaries).
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.
University Regulations:
Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm. Students should also read the Faculty of Business Guide to Policies and Procedures of the Faculty which can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/current/buspolproc.html.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

1.	Assignments: (i) The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the examiner. (ii) Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This MUST be produced within 24 hours if required by the examiner. An electronic copy of assessment items may be requested. (iii) In accordance with university policy, the examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances. (iv) The examiner will normally only accept assessments that have been written, typed or printed on paper-based media. (v) The examiner will not accept submission of assignments by facsimile. (vi) Students who do not have regular access to postal services or who are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special consideration. They should contact the examiner to negotiate such special arrangements. (vii) In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area, such as a show holiday, the due date for the assignment will be the next day. Students are to note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for the examiner's convenience.
2.	Course weightings: Course weightings of topics should not be interpreted as applying to the number of marks allocated to questions testing those topics in an examination paper.
3.	Make-up work: Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in a course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of a course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded the temporary grade: IM (Incomplete - Make up). An IM grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non directed personal study.
4.	Deferred work: Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or to sit for an examination at the scheduled time may apply to defer an assessment in a course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded: IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination); IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Learning resources: Prescribed texts and materials (see above); recommended reference materials (see above); printed Introductory Book* and Study Book*; and course Website accessible via USQConnect. *part of the study package available from the USQ Bookshop
Internet access: Students will require access to the Internet or a library of academic standard for this course.

This version produced 20 Dec 2007.