Ideas in Politics explores some of the central ideas and debates in politics today, including claims regarding the nature of freedom, democracy, power, and the state. An understanding of these ideas and debates is essential for coming to terms with the key ideological clashes that shape politics today and for making effective interventions into these contests. 

Learning Outcomes

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

1. understand the key concepts used in political theory;
2. identify some of the divergent aims for which these concepts are mobilised;
3. demonstrate theoretical familiarity with some of the major thinkers in the canon of western political thought, including Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Mill, and Marx;
4. theorise politics in the manner of contemporary political theory;
5. produce powerful written arguments; and
6. produce persuasive verbal accounts of politics.

Required Resources

Andrew Bailey et al. editors, The Broadview Anthology of Social and Political Thought: Essential Readings, Ancient, Modern and Contemporary Texts (Broadview Press, Canada 2012).

Recommended Resources

Recommended resources will be available on Wattle.

Staff Feedback

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

• written comments on individual assignments
• oral comments on individual and group class discussion
• feedback to the whole class
• feedback to interested groups

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 and overview
2	Machiavelli's The Prince and Discourses on Livy
3	Hobbes's Leviathan (Part 1: 'Of Man')
4	Hobbes's Leviathan (Part 2: 'Of Commonwealth')
5	Locke's Second Treatise	Short Paper Due (March 29)
6	Rousseau's Discourse on Inequality
7	Rousseau's The Social Contract
8	Hamilton and Madison's The Federalist Papers
9	Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France
10	Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman	Long Paper Due (May 17)
11	Marx's Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts and Communist Manifesto
12	Concluding review and examination preparation

Tutorial Registration

Tutorial enrolment will open on Wattle on Monday, February 11 at 11:10am

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Short Paper	20 %	29/03/2019	01/01/9999	1,2
Long Paper	40 %	17/05/2019	01/01/9999	1,2,3
Participation	10 %	01/01/9999	01/01/9999	1,2,3
Final Exam	30 %	01/01/9999	01/01/9999	1,2,4

* 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 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.

Assessment Task 1

Short Paper

The short (1000-word) paper is on Hobbes's argument in Leviathan. You will be asked both to demonstrate comprehension of Hobbes's social contract theory and to assess how vulnerable that theory is to critiques we will cover in class. A detailed assignment prompt and rubric will be posted to Wattle.

Assessment Task 2

Long Paper

The long (3000-word) paper will ask you to critically evaluate the ideas of one or more of our thinkers. This will require reading and citing a variety of secondary sources. A list of detailed questions from which you might choose will be posted to Wattle along with a rubric. Pending approval of the course convenor, you will also have the option of setting your own question.

Assessment Task 3

Participation

Your participation mark will depend partly on your productive involvement in tutorial discussions and partly on your reading notes. Students will be asked to write a paragraph of no more than 300-words precisely summarising that week's reading to each and every tutorial session.

Assessment Task 4

Final Exam

For the final exam, students will be asked to answer three essay questions from a longer list. Students will be able to bring the course textbook into the exam.

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

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) as 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

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

Details will be shared on 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

Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) a submission must be through Turnitin.

Online Submission: Assignments are submitted using Turnitin in the course Wattle site. 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.

Hard Copy 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). Please state how the students submit such assignments to you via, for example, the physical assignment box. The cover sheet must use the assignment cover sheet template. If your course does not require hard copy submission, delete this sub-section. Assignments must include the cover sheet available here. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.\

Resubmission

Only available in extraordinary circumstances through the permission of the course convenor.

Privacy Notice

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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