MAJOR ESSAY (2,000 WORDS) (35%)
The major essay provides students with the opportunity to explore a topic in depth. Students should develop a considered answer to a specific question based on reading a range of sources. You mustread and refer to a minimum of 10 sources, at least 6 of which should be high quality academic sources. This means peer reviewed journal articles. Web based material (excluding journals, newspapers, government websites) should be kept to a minimum.
Astrong essay is one which draws on a range of high-quality evidence to support a well organised argument in response to the set question. Remember, there is not necessarily a ‘right’ answer to the questions. Rather, there are arguments that have different levels of merit. Consider whether the arguments you make are logical and provide convincing evidence.
Essays must be submitted through safeassign. Follow the link below for information about submitting through safeassign.
You are strongly urged to use the draft facility to check for that all quotations are properly identified or that you are using your own words (with appropriate attribution)
Theessay is due by 5.00 pm Tuesday 7 October(worth 35%).
Marks will be deducted for assignments that exceed the word limit by more than 10%, at the rate of 10% of available marks for every 100 words or part thereof over the limit.
Major Essay Questions (choose 1 only)
- “[D]emocratic citizens habitually suspect political rhetoric as being either deceitfully empty or dangerously subversive” (Kane & Patapan). Discuss.
- Focussing on at least 2 cases, discuss the role of state broadcasters in the politics of a nation/s. Your analysis may consider some of the following issues: media concentration, media freedom, propaganda, authoritarianism, the political reporting of events such as war.
- While the role social media played in the promotion of democracy during the Arab Spring has been widely praised, details are slowly emerging of the way states are using information from social media sites to track and monitor their citizens. Discuss the ways in which social media supports and hinders freedom across the globe.
- Over the past sixty years, the nature of media has changed dramatically. Evaluate the impact of this change on election campaigns.
- “The sideshow syndrome is eroding public faith in democratic politics. As political coverage gets sillier, politicians are forced to get sillier to get coverage. The antics, hyperbole, and spin that have eventuated now alienate many voters” (Lindsay Tanner). Discuss.
Alternative questions will be considered if you have something specific you would like to focus on and it is approved by the course convenor.
ESSAYS: PRESENTATION & REQUIREMENTS
Written assignments must conform to the standards specified below:
* Completed assignment cover sheet
*A title page with your name, student number, title of essay/submission and word length must be included.
* The font size must be read comfortably (11 or 12 point).
* Line spacing is either double or 1½.
*Both margins (left and right) are at least 3 cm.
* Pages are numbered.
*References cited in the text conform to the Harvard reference style. If a reference is taken from a particular page, or pages, within the article or book, then the page number(s) must be included. The format should include the author, date of publication, and page number.
*When words are taken directly from other sources (books, articles and web sites) and reproduced in an essay/submission quotation marks must be used.
*A reference list is attached and the entries are in alphabetical order by author.
*The assignment has been proof read.
Submission
Students may be asked to submit their notes and drafts of written work before a final mark for the item can be awarded.
Students are expected to retain copies of all assessment items submitted until a final
grade for the course has been awarded. Creating a backup of all files is highly recommended.
Extensions
Essays and other assessable materials must be submitted by the due date and time. Extensions may be granted in exceptional circumstances. Applications for an extension need to be made to the course convenor before the due date/time. Standard penalties may be imposed for lateness.
Referencing
You should use the Harvard referencing system to acknowledge sources referred to in your essays. The Harvard system is similar to the APA system except that you are required to provide page numbers both for direct quotes and when you paraphrase the ideas of other authors. Please consult the GBS Resources Bank, available through Learning@Griffith or the referencing tool on the library website for assistance with referencing or discuss with a member of the teaching team.
You should note that where an essay is incorrectly or insufficiently referenced according to standard styles, it will be penalised or returned without marking.
Plagiarism
All work submitted for this course must be original work for this course alone.When plagiarism is detected, university policy provides for a range of penalties which can be imposed. Plagiarism includes:
*Word for word copying from another source without an appropriate reference
*Closely paraphrasing material from other sources without acknowledging the origin
of the material
*Using another person's ideas without acknowledgment
*Submitting work which has been produced by someone else
The University Plagiarism / Academic Misconduct Policy states that:
Students must conduct their studies at the University honestly, ethically and in accordance with accepted standards of academic conduct. Any form of academic conduct which is contrary to these standards is academic misconduct for which the University may penalise a student. Failing to acknowledge sources when preparing written assignments, or plagiarism, constitutes academic misconduct.
In the School of Government and International Relations failure to acknowledge sources in accordance with the Harvard referencing system constitutes plagiarism. Work or parts of work submitted in other courses will not be accepted for assessment in this course.
Penalties for academic misconduct:
On determination that academic misconduct has taken place, the penalty which may be imposed on the student is one or more of the following:
a.a reduced or nil result for the assessment item affected by the academic misconduct;
b.a fail grade for the course in which academic misconduct occurred;
c.exclusion from enrolment in the program for a specified period;
d.exclusion from the program; readmission to the program is at the discretion of the Faculty based on consideration of the student's case for readmission.
Where a student has been found guilty of academic misconduct on more than one occasion and has previously been penalised as set out in above a. - c., the penalty shall normally be exclusion from the program as set out in d., unless in the opinion of the relevant Assessment Board there are mitigating circumstances.
Academic Committee Resolution 2/2001
University Expectations
Students enrolling in an on-campus course are expected to have the capacity and commitment to attend all lectures and tutorials. They should be prepared to commit approximately 10 hours per week for each course. These 10 hours include lecture and tutorial attendance, undertaking weekly readings, reading newspapers, miscellaneous study activities and assignment preparation and completion.