Social scientists are concerned not just with identifying and describing social issues, but with engaging in research and policy action which seek to improve the conditions under which we live.  Participation in the process of social policy development provides the mechanism through which change can occur. But such change is hardly straight forward or rational. While countless people make daily demands on the public purse for social change, some interests are progressed over others.  How can this be so? This course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to effectively analyse and participate in the policy process.

Learning Outcomes

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

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

1. Define major conceptual frameworks for social policy.
2. Identify the interest groups and processes involved in the development of social policy.
3. Identify and critique policy and governance frameworks relevant to critical arenas of social policy
4. Interpret the role and limitations of public policy in social change.
   

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

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

• Verbal
• Written

We will also seek active feedback on how the course is going throughout the semester.

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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

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.

Consultation times are by appointment - contact the lecturer to arrange a consultation.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction: What is social policy?
2	Social Policy Principles 1: Values
3	Social Policy Principles 2: Formal & Informal Social Protection
4	Social Policy Principles 3: Interpretive Policy Analysis	Assessment 1: Class Presentation / Debate in tutorial time
5	Social Policy Principles 4: Participatory Engagement
6	Social Policy Principles 5: Community Sector Advocacy	Assessment 2: Class Presentations in tutorial (mandatory but not assessed)
7	Applications of Social Policy 1: Gender	Assessment 2: Reports due this week
8	Applications of Social Policy 2: Environment
9	Applications of Social Policy 3: LGBTIQ+
10	Application of Social Policy 4: Health
11	Applications of Social Policy 5: Indigenous
12	Placing Sociology in Social Policy Careers	Assessment 3: due next week.

Tutorial Registration

Required.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Participation in class presentation	20 %	*	*	1,3,4
Three-minute class presentation and written report (1,500w)	25 %	15/04/2024	08/05/2024	2,3
Essay (2,500 words)	45 %	28/05/2024	14/06/2024	1,3,4
Tutorial participation	10 %	*	*	1,2,3,4

* 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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

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 Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

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

Participation in the tutorials is a critical part of SOCY 2101. As such, attendance is encouraged. Students are expected to attend lectures and participate during the in class small group activities and / or discussions. Lectures will be provided in-person, but will be also recorded and made available on Echo360 later in the day of the lecture

Assessment Task 1

Participation in class presentation

The class presentations will take place in the tutorial groups. In the first tutorial (week 2) you will be randomly allocated into one of the three debate groups. Each group will have an affirmative side and a negative side to assist in presenting the complexity of the allocated issue. You will be required to research your topic and participate fully in the presentation. The presentation will be recorded and each group will have 10 minutes in total to complete the debate. Debate topics will be released on Wattle in Week One of the course. Debate teams will be asked to submit a list of references used in the debate preparation or presentation to Wattle. Thee references will be collated and made available to the whole student cohort as a reference library to assist with Assessment 2.

Assessment Task 2

Three-minute class presentation and written report (1,500w)

You are required to prepare a three-minute class presentation for the tutorial in Week 6, and then submit a short written report (1,500w). The presentation will be a casual discussion, and is mandatory to do but the presentation itself will not be assessed. The purpose of the presentation is to give students the opportunity to present their ideas and receive feedback in advance of submitting their written report. The task will require students to choose one of the social policy issues explored in the debates, and then choose a local, State/Territory or Federal level in Australia to make recommendations of how policy makers should address this issue. Further details will be posted on Wattle.

Assessment Task 3

Essay (2,500 words)

You are required to write a research essay, addressing one question and making direct reference to / utilising a social policy area as a case study. You will be expected to engage with academic debate on the issue, utilise academic resources, and to conduct your own research into the social policy area. The essay questions, alongside the marking rubric, will be posted on Wattle.

Assessment Task 4

Tutorial participation

Participation in the tutorials is a critical part of SOCY2101, providing time to discuss lecture content, weekly readings, and participate in / work toward the three other assessment items throughout the course. As such, attendance is encouraged. In tutorials, students are expected to have done the readings and be active participants in group work and / or discussions. Your participation mark will be released after the last tutorial at the end of Semester. You will be marked on your attendance, preparation and engagement with class activities.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

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

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

Work will be returned to students via Wattle. 

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted 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

There is no resubmission of assignments.

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 Access 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 all ANU students