This course examines what Sociology has to offer to the study of resistance. The popular concept of resistance has been used to describe a vast array of activities, from participation in mass social movements to the wearing of 'non-conformist' fashion. But what exactly is 'resistance'? What do protest movements and more everyday acts of resistance have in common and what sets them apart? Does resistance necessarily entail resistance against something? We explore such questions through a variety of contemporary case studies drawn from contemporary culture and students' lives.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. analyse sociological writings and other theories relating to the theme of resistance;
2. evaluate the contribution that sociology makes to the study of resistance;
3. identify different forms of resistance and evaluate their effectiveness;
4. produce an argument and marshal evidence for it; and
5. reflect on learning relating to the sociology of resistance.

Research-Led Teaching

The analysis of resistance undertaken in the course is informed by my expertise in the areas of micropolitics, affect, biopolitics, social theory and artistic practice. It draws insights and empirical instances from my work on art and research on anti-racism, anti-globalisation politics and humour.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Feedback to the whole class

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

The information provided is a preliminary Class Outline. A finalised version will be available on Wattle and will be accessible after enrolling in this course. All updates, changes and further information will be uploaded on the course Wattle site and will not be updated on Programs and Courses throughout the semester. Any questions or concerns should be directed to the Course Convenor.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	'Introduction' (or 'Resisting the Call to Order')
2	'Reading Collectives' (or 'The Collective We Already Are')
3	'The Problem of Resistance' (or 'The Blackmail of the Solution')
4	'Movements and Occupations' (or 'Inhuman Vectors of Power')
5	'No More Heroes' (or 'How to Decolonise Resistance')
6	'The Politics of Civility' (or 'Swearing When You're Angry')
7	'Not the Cold War' (or 'Ideology and Affect')
8	'Resisting Life' (or 'How to Rebel Against Extinction')
9	'Resistant Spaces' (or 'Urban Tactics and Neurodiverse Spaces')
10	'Resistant Times' (or 'Slowing and Accelerating')
11	'Fugitive Planning' (or 'Escaping Captivity')
12	Conclusion (or 'Further Study')

Tutorial Registration

via wattle

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Short Paper	20 %	25/03/2022	08/04/2022	1,3,4
Major Essay	40 %	04/05/2022	18/05/2022	1,2,3,4
Synoptic Essay	30 %	08/06/2022	22/06/2022	1,2,3,4
Participation Grade	10 %	*	*	5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

The tutorial mark assesses your participation in the course. Participation involves demonstrating that you are reading and thinking about the material and that you are prepared to contribute to discussion in the light of your reading and engagement with lectures.

Assessment Task 1

Short Paper

This 1000 word paper is worth 20% of your total grade. The Short Paper is intended to give you an opportunity to explore problems and questions relating to the theme of resistance, drawing on ideas covered in the workshops and discovered through your own research. The exercise will involve you choosing from one of the advertising slogans that I will make available on wattle and analysing it in relation to the theme of resistance. In your analysis you should:

• Cut and paste the image of the advertisement you are analysing into your document
• Discuss what you think the advertisement is appealing to - how is it meant to work? (approx. 200 words)
• Analyse the slogan more deeply and in relation to contemporary reality, and specifically the problem of resistance. This may involve a more theoretical discussion of what issues you think this slogan raises for the question of resistance and/or a discussion of specific forms of resistance that you find relevant (approx. 800 words)

We will talk in some depth early in the course about ways you might approach this exercise as it will be easiest to discuss through examples and as a group. I will also provide an example on Wattle to give you a sense of the kind of things you will be thinking about and covering for this assessment task (we can discuss this example in class). You would be expected to draw on approximately 5 sources to inform your discussion.

The mini-research paper addresses Learning Outcomes 1, 3 and 4. Consequently, you will be assessed on your ability to analyse the slogan you have chosen and its implications in a coherent fashion (Learning Outcome 4), while demonstrating evidence of your understanding of, and engagement with, the resources you draw upon (Learning Outcome 1) and any empirical examples of resistance to which you refer (Learning Outcome 3). For a more general sense of the grades that will be applied in marking this piece, please also see the Guide to Grades and Their Meaning on wattle.

Assessment Task 2

Major Essay

This 2500 word essay is worth 40% of your final grade. Questions for the Major Essay will be made available mid-way through the course (a selection of questions will be provided, from which you should choose one). Alternatively, you may devise your own topic or question, given that you check it with me at least three weeks before the due date. It is a research essay, which means that it should demonstrate that you have formed a reasoned argument, informed by extensive reading.

The research essay addresses Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4. In line with Learning Outcomes 1- 4, you will be assessed on your ability to research a chosen topic, to synthesize your research materials and to present a sustained argument. You will also be assessed on your capacity to express and organise your ideas, to enable them to come across as clearly as possible. Apart from presenting an informed and polished paper, you are encouraged to do some hard thinking; you will be rewarded for working hard with the ideas and extending yourself! You are not expected to sort all the issues out, but you can raise provocative or original questions and you can offer new ways of thinking about the issues you are considering. For a more general sense of the grades that will be used in assessing your work, please also see the Guide to Grades and Their Meaning on wattle.

For general assistance with assignment writing and completion, you are encouraged to access the services provided by the Academic Skills and Learning Centre.

Assessment Task 3

Synoptic Essay

This 1500 word synoptic essay is worth 30% of your final grade. The purpose of this exercise is to assess your participation in the course as a whole - the level of engagement throughout the semester in lectures, tutorials and with the reading matter provided. You will choose one question from a choice of three, which will be given out in the last lecture. I will use the last lecture to refresh your memory about some of the different ideas we have covered in this unit. Students are encouraged to contribute to this discussion as much as possible and to raise any questions they may have; they will then have two weeks to complete the paper. The paper should be presented as a polished paper, with a necessarily brief introduction, body and conclusion.

 

In your response to the set question, you should draw on the material from the course (rather than conducting your own research) to demonstrate that you have participated in the course throughout the semester. Where possible, site lecture material as well as readings – in both cases you must provide references (lectures should be referenced by lecturer and date). 

Assessment Task 4

Participation Grade

This constitutes 10% of your total grade. Students are required to attend a minimum of 10 out of the 12 tutorials in order to participate in the course (or, in exceptional cases, to demonstrate an equivalent level of commitment through online participation).

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

No hardcopy submission of assessment tasks in this unit

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Via wattle

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission of assignments will not be allowed except in exceptional circumstances

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students