The course aims to introduce students to a cultural study of law, by exposing students to the humanistic intellectual tradition within the liberal arts. The course will be interdisciplinary. The topics and readings will be centred on the theme of the 'Foundations of Law'. The theme bears an allusion to the first-year compulsory course that all law students at the ANU have to take: the 'Foundations of Australian Law'. However, in this elective course, we are interested in a different kind of foundation. We will interrogate not the foundations of any particular legal system, but the foundations of law itself. Whereas the 'Foundations of Australian Law' equips students with the foundational skills of legal reasoning, this elective course invites students to take a step back to consider and interrogate the foundational mythologies of law. We will explore the 'Foundations of Law' through the humanistic disciplines of classics, literature, philosophy and theology: we will read classical plays (e.g. Antigone), contemporary novels (e.g. Lord of the Flies), philosophical works (e.g. Genealogy of Morals), and theological writings (e.g. Genesis and Exodus). These texts present different modes and means of inquiring into the assumptions and aspirations that we ascribe to law.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Critically analyse the relationship between law and the humanities.
2. Research and critically analyse the conceptual foundations of law within the humanistic intellectual tradition.
3. Critically reflect on the assumptions and aspirations of law.
4. Synthesise, critically evaluate and reflect, in written and oral form, on legal materials.
5. Formulate and execute interdisciplinary research in the area of law and the humanities.

Required Resources

1. The Bible (Revised Standard Version, or any translation you prefer)

2. Joshua Neoh, Law, Love and Freedom: From the Sacred to the Secular (Cambridge University Press, 2019)

E-book: https://library.anu.edu.au/record=b5931793

3. Robert Burt, In the Whirlwind: God and Humanity in Conflict (Harvard University Press, 2012)

E-book: https://library.anu.edu.au/record=b7121801

Staff Feedback

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

• Comment on Research Topic Proposal
• Class Discussion
• Student Consultation

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

Extensions late submission and penalties - https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/extensions-late-submission-and-penalties

Deferred examination: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/deferred-examinations

Special consideration: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/special-assessment-consideration

Penalties for excess word length: https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/word-length-and-excess-word-penalties

Distribution of Grades Policy: https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/grading

Further Information about the Course: is available from the course WATTLE page. Students are required to access the WATTLE site regularly throughout the course for details on weekly classes and any announcements relating to the course.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction: Why is the Bible important in Law and the Humanities?
2	Genesis 1-11: Emergence of Law in the State of Nature
3	Genesis 12-50: Suspension of Law in the State of Exception
4	Exodus: From Covenant to Constitution
5	Job: From Obedience to Resistance
6	Mark: A New Deal for a New Order
7	Matthew: Perfecting the Law
8	Luke: Neighbour Principle in the Law of Tort
9	John: Hidden Law
10	Romans: Not Law, But Love
11	Revelation: From Law to Lawlessness
12	Conclusion: Sacred History of Secular Legality

Tutorial Registration

There are no separate tutorials in this course.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Mock Essay Exercise (Optional)	0 %	30/03/2022	30/03/2022	1,2,3,4,5,
Blog Post	20 %	*	27/05/2022	1,3,4,
Research Paper	80 %	02/06/2022	*	1,2,3,4,5

* 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 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

For all courses taught in any mode (whether face to face or online), the ANU College of Law considers participation in the classes offered to be an important part of the educational experience of the program. Students are expected to attend all classes.

If circumstances arise which are beyond a student’s control and they are unable to attend a class, the student should contact the Course Convenor in advance (where possible), so that the convenor can adjust their expectations in relation to numbers for that class. If it is not possible to give advance notice, students should send the convenor an email as soon as possible with evidence to support the reason for failure to attend. 

Assessment Task 1

Mock Essay Exercise (Optional)

Brief Description: In the Week 6 class, we will have a mock essay exercise in class to prepare students for the final research paper.

Nature of Task: This task is optional, and it has no impact on the final mark for the course.

Weighting: 0% of the final mark

Release: In class on 30 March 2022

Due date: In class on 30 March 2022

Estimated return date: In class on 30 March 2022

Assessment Criteria: As this mock essay exercise is a preparation for the final research paper, the assessment criteria are the same as the final research paper, with one difference. The difference is that the final research paper is in written form, while this mock essay exercise will be in oral form.   

Assessment Task 2

Blog Post

Brief Description: Each student will be allocated to contribute a blog post on Wattle in an assigned week. The allocation will be done alphabetically, based on the student’s last name. The list of allocation will be released in Week 1. The blog posts will commence in Week 2 and run till Week 12. In your assigned week, you must upload the blog post by 5pm on the Tuesday of that week. Detailed instructions on the requirements for the blog post will be provided on Wattle.

Nature of Task: Compulsory and non-redeemable. Failure to complete this assessment task will result in a mark of 0 for the task.

Weighting: 20% of the final mark

Release: The list of allocation will be released in Week 1.

Due date: 5pm on the Tuesday of the assigned week. Due to the nature of the task, late submission or extension is not permitted.

Estimated return date: 27 May 2022 through the Wattle Grade Book.

Assessment Criteria: The blog post should demonstrate a thoughtful reflection on the course materials for that week.

• demonstrate critical reflection, synthesising the legal materials provided;
• critically reflect and evaluate on the assumptions and aspirations of law relevant to the content delivered..

Assessment Task 3

Research Paper

Brief Description: The research paper must be an academic essay with a well-defined thesis and argument in response to the essay question.

Nature of Task: Compulsory and non-redeemable. Failure to complete this assessment task will result in a mark of 0 for the task.

Weighting: 80% of the final mark

Word Limit: 4800 words

Release: The essay question will be released on Wattle on 1 May 2022.

Due date: 5pm, 2 June 2022. Late submissions (without an extension) are permitted, but late penalties will apply. 

Return date: Official end of semester results release date via Turnitin. 

Assessment Criteria:

Content

Selection of a relevant and appropriate theoretical framework.

Clear explanation of what the paper is attempting to accomplish.

Ability to evaluate materials critically.

Quality and precision of supporting arguments.

Ability to anticipate and respond to possible objections.

Where necessary, use of appropriately chosen examples.

Structure

Clarity and coherence of structure and argument.

Construction of a sustained argument, including the avoidance of irrelevant discussion and repetition.

Expression

Clarity and precision of use of language.

Conventional spelling, grammar and syntax.

Avoidance of waffle.

Prose easy to read, argument easy to follow.

Compliance with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation.

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

The research paper must be submitted electronically via Turnitin on the course WATTLE site. You will be required to sign an electronic declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your record.

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

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. 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 test or examinations.
• Late submission with an extension. To ensure equity for all students, the 5% penalty per working day for late submission of work does not apply if you have been given an extension. Where an extension is granted, the revised due date and submission time is provided in writing. Please note that the revised due date is calculated by including weekends and public holidays. Regardless of which day of the week the revised due date falls on, students who submit after that date are penalised by 5% of the possible marks available for the assessment task per 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.

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.

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.

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 undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students