GEND 2016 - Encountering Human Rights: Global Citizenship II

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2020

Since the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, a global human rights industry has emerged, making human rights abuses ever more visible, yet global injustices and abuses are arguably as common and entrenched as ever. This course will take a critical approach both to human rights violations, and to the human rights discourses and campaigns that seek to remedy them. We will look at case studies involving rights issues in globalised contexts, for instance refugees, human trafficking, international women's rights campaigns and global Indigenous movements. We will explore the ways in which universal rights have been embraced, problematised and reconfigured as they travel the globe. We will also look at different ways of presenting rights issues - through reports, campaigns, and visual documentary - seeking the most effective ways of presenting rights issues to global publics. Considering these questions we will explore our own reactions to human rights imagery and victims' testimonies, and discuss the most productive ways to respond to the ways in which we are positioned as global citizens with a responsibility for responding to rights issues. The course will offer the opportunity to pursue individual interest in a particular rights issue, and is suitable for those who want to take their interest in social justice into advocacy, campaign or development work, for those who want to cover human rights issues in creative or media work, and for those who simply want to think about how to be ethical and engaged global citizens.

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Course Details

Course Code	GEND 2016
Course	Encountering Human Rights: Global Citizenship II
Coordinating Unit	Sociology, Criminology and Gender Studies
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Prerequisites	At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study
Incompatible	GEND 3016/EX, GSSA 2019/EX, GSSA 3002/EX
Assessment	Short essay (500 word) 30%, Group presentation 20%, Research essay (2,000 word) 40%, Tutorial participation 10%

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Anna Szorenyi

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

1 Participate in informed discussions on human rights issues in a variety of local and global contexts
2 Show leadership in arguing for the importance of protecting human rights in their various dimensions
3 Articulate both benefits and limitations of conceiving of social justice issues in terms of human rights
4 Identify and discuss the major rights issues currently evolving under 21st Century globalisation
5 Conduct informed, independent research on particular human rights issues, paying attention to local context, and report findings to a professional standard
6 Evaluate specific human rights campaigns in terms of social justice, ethics, and empowerment
7 Identify and/or develop innovative and effective ways of presenting rights issues to various publics and stakeholders
8 Engage respectfully and enthusiastically in cross-cultural contexts and debates
9 Construct a clear, coherent and independent argument which responds to a particular question and is supported by appropriate scholarly evidence, within identified timeframes.
10 Demonstrate interpersonal, leadership and teamwork skills in group activities

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Deep discipline knowledge informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1 accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)	1-4
Critical thinking and problem solving steeped in research methods and rigor based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment	1,2,3,4.6.9
Teamwork and communication skills developed from, with, and via the SGDE honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning	10
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	1,2,4,5,7,8,9,10
Intercultural and ethical competency adept at operating in other cultures comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges	1,3,5,6,8
Self-awareness and emotional intelligence a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate	8, 10

Learning Resources

Required Resources

MyUni, including set readings, lecture recordings and online discussion.

Recommended Resources

An extensive list of further resources will be provided during semester. These include:

A list of further readings on each topic

Resource guides on Harvard referencing and essay writing

Assistance with finding library research materials

Online Learning

MyUni course site including announcements, discussion board, recorded lectures, assignment submission and further resources.

Students wishing to study the course entirely online should enrol in the Online course GEND 2016 OL.
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes

Face to face:
Lectures - Critical overview of course material and introduction to key concepts. Opportunities for interaction included.

Seminars - extended group and self-guided learning, via discussion, case studies, peer research, collaborative problem-solving, independent and group projects and activities

Online: Discussion board, sharing resources.

Independent:
Reading of scholarly texts and research reports
Independent library and internet research on a chosen topic
Designing and writing an independent research project

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

You are expected to spend 12 hours per week on this course during each week of semester.
1 hour lecture
2 hour workshop
9 hours independents study, including:
2-4 hours on weekly set readings
5-7 hours on further research, reading and assignment preparation

Learning Activities Summary
The following topics will be covered during semester:
- Introduction and history of the concept of human rights
- What's wrong with rights? Critiques of human rights
- Alternatives and possibilities: What could rights become?
- Mediating wrongs: Rights and representation
- Reaching audiences: Inspiration vs. denial
- State terror: Arbitrary imprisonment, torture and genocide
- Gender and Human Rights
- Moving rights: forced migration, migrant labour and trafficking
- Human rights and Indigenous sovereignties
- New rights issues: Corporations, environment and genetics
Small Group Discovery Experience

Group Presentation/SGDE:
Students will work in groups of 5-6 members to choose and research a human rights issue over the second half of semester, culminating in a presentation to the class. Students will be expected to find and share materials on their chosen topic, and seminar time will be provided for them to discuss their topic, plan, and prepare presentation materials. The aim is not only to inform the class about the issue, but also to carefully consider options for presenting the issue to an audience in the light of critical views on the ethics of human rights texts, as covered in the course. The teacher will be available to provide advice and guidance during seminars as well as give feedback on the final presentation. Students will be asked to evaluate their own performance in the team and also to comment on the group process.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Due	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Short critical paper	Formative & summative	Mid semester	1000 words, 30%	1,2,3
Group research presentation	Formative and Summative	To be scheduled, second half of semester	20%	1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
Research essay/report	Summative	End of semester	2500 words, 40%	1-10, especially 5,9
Workshop participation	Formative & summative	Weekly in class	10%	1,2,3,4,6,8,10

Modified arrangements have been made to assessments and the details provided here reflect recent updates.
1. Group research presentation - now research presentation - still 20% weighting
2. Workshop participation - now online participation - still 10% weighting

Assessment Related Requirements

Attendance at workshops is compulsory. Students may miss two workshops during semester without penalty (other than the missed opportunity for learning). Absences beyond this will be required to be made up with extra work.

Assessment Detail

1000 word Short Critical Paper
You will write an essay outlining your understanding of a key theoretical issue in human rights. Specific topics will be provided during semester. 30%

Group Presentation
You will work with a group to select a human rights issue, research it, discuss and develop the best way to present it, and upload your findings for the rest of the class to view. (Note this assignment will contain components of peer and self-assessment). 20%

2500 word Research Essay
You will write an argumentative essay on a given topic. 40%

Workshop Participation
You will be assessed on your contribution to the learning atmosphere of your workshop class, including evidence of preparation, verbal and non-verbal participation, level of comprehension, engagement in group and class exercises, and respect for and consideration of other students. 10%

Submission

Assignments will be submitted online, and checked for plagiarism using Turnitin.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator