This course explores the human past – both recent and distant – of the Asia-Pacific region through a transdisciplinary lens. The Asia-Pacific is renowned for its incredible cultural, social and linguistic diversity, and this course explores the processes of continuity and transformation over time that have shaped today’s diversity. How are contemporary languages, cultures and societies windows onto past lives? Does evidence from historical linguistics, archaeology, population genetics, history, anthropology, and oral traditions tell similar or different stories about how people lived in the past? How are multiple perspectives, knowledges and disciplines brought together to investigate ‘big picture’ questions of the human past? These questions are explored through case studies from across Asia and the Pacific, such as the social and technological drivers of the expansions of large language families like Austronesian, Sino-Tibetan and Austroasiatic, the linguistic, social and cultural identities and interactions that shaped the settlement of the New Guinea and the Pacific, the social and political networks underpinning connections across South Asia and the Wallacea region. These models and narratives are key to understanding the Asia-Pacific past, and the dynamics of language and society across time and space are essential to understanding the contemporary Asia-Pacific world.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Understand the contemporary social, cultural and linguistic diversity of the Asia-Pacific region through transdisciplinary models of change over time. 
2. Critically evaluate theoretical frameworks and current methodologies used to reconstruct the human past. 
3. Investigate the social, cultural and linguistic past through sources and knowledges from different academic and indigenous perspectives. 
4. Construct narratives of the Asia-Pacific past that draw on multiple perspectives. 
5. Critically evaluate approaches to recovering the human past through a transdisciplinary lens.

Recommended Resources

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:

• Written comments on individual assessment items
• Verbal comments in classes to the whole class, small group and individuals

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.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Exploring the Asia-Pacific past	weeks 1-2
2	Communities and identities	weeks 3-5
3	Mobility and migration	weeks 6-8
4	Human~environment interactions	weeks 9-11
5	Exploring the Asia-Pacific past	week 12

Tutorial Registration

n/a

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Online quizzes	5 %	*	*	1, 2, 5
Analytical essay	20 %	12/03/2026	20/03/2026	2, 5
Project: Discussion pieces	30 %	*	*	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Project: poster presentation	20 %	25/05/2026	29/05/2026	1, 3, 4, 5
Project: essay	25 %	11/06/2026	02/07/2026	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 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

Students are expected to participate in classes, the content of which are aimed at preparing them for the different assessment items.

Examination(s)

This course does not have an exam.

Assessment Task 1

Online quizzes

Students are expected to complete a short online quiz each week that relates to the week's topic introduction and reading. Quizzes are to be completed before the class each week.

Assessment Task 2

Analytical essay

For the 1,200-word analytical essay, students explore in some depth a key methodological or theoretical challenge in transdisciplinary approaches to understanding the human past drawing on class content and readings and developed further through individual research.

The ANU College of Asia and the Pacific’s Word Length and Excess Word Penalty Guidelines applies to this assessment item and can be found here:

https://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/cap-word-limit-and-penalty-guidelines .

Assessment Task 3

Project: Discussion pieces

For the Research Project, students work collaboratively on a ‘big picture’ question by drawing together different perspectives and knowledges to develop a narrative history and an understanding of its relevance for current and past challenges. Students will work on the Research Project both in and outside of classes, and it will be assessed in several parts: (a) three short discussion pieces that are completed individually; (b) a group poster presentation; and (c) an essay that is completed individually.

Students write three individual discussion pieces that draw on a particular week’s course materials and class content to explore aspects of their project. Students write one discussion piece for each of the three course themes and can choose which week and topic within a theme to focus on. Each discussion piece is 500 words and the deadline is the week of the relevant topic within each theme. The discussion pieces are worth 30%; 10% of the course mark for each piece.

The ANU College of Asia and the Pacific’s Word Length and Excess Word Penalty Guidelines applies to this assessment item and can be found here:

https://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/cap-word-limit-and-penalty-guidelines .

Assessment Task 4

Project: poster presentation

As a group students create a poster on their project which is presented as a conference-like poster session in class.

Assessment Task 5

Project: essay

The final part of the Research Project is an individual essay in which students build on their work on the project across the semester by presenting an aspect of their research and reflecting on the nature and value of transdisciplinary problem-solving for their project. The individual essay is 1,500 words.

The ANU College of Asia and the Pacific’s Word Length and Excess Word Penalty Guidelines applies to this assessment item and can be found here:

https://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/cap-word-limit-and-penalty-guidelines.

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. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

All assessment items for this course are to be submitted electronically. Please keep a copy of your assessment items for your records.

Hardcopy Submission

None of the assessment for this course is to be submitted as hard copies.

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.

Extensions must be requested in writing with appropriate supporting documentation 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.

Late submission is not accepted for the online quizzes.

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

For online quizzes, marks and feedback are provided online after the quiz deadline, and further feedback is provided verbally in the associated class. For all other assessment items marks and feedback are provided through Canvas, and additional verbal feedback may be given in associated classes.

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 assessment items is not accepted.

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