Disasters and their aftermaths can expose physical areas, social processes, and mental worlds that we tend not to see in day-to-day life. This course examines how disasters in the modern world are historicised, memorialised and remembered, and how these processes have influenced understandings of risk, vulnerability, and social and environmental justice. Working across diverse case studies, including nuclear tests, political unrest, and industrial disease, this course considers a diverse range of historical evidence to assess the ways in which understandings of disaster have been shaped and contested through collective memory and memorialisation. Through an examination of museum exhibitions, government inquiries and policies, public ceremony and commemoration, popular culture, and risk assessments, we will examine how the memory and representation of disasters have been debated and transformed. As extreme weather events become more frequent and intense with questions of accountability, mitigation, and adaptation, this course will encourage reflection on the contested meanings of 'disaster' in framing what and who is remembered, and the legacies that are forged in their aftermath.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. demonstrate a knowledge of the remembrance, historicisation, and memorialisation of disasters;
2. identify and analyse the key concepts in the historical study of disasters;
3. critically analyse the representation of the past in a variety of different media; and
4. undertake a research project evaluating the efficacy of a particular representation of a disaster and its aftermath

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
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

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.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction: is any disaster 'natural'?
2	Why study the legacies of disasters?
3	Yellow Fever
4	World War I
5	Great Depression
6	Good Friday Reading Week	Assessment 1 - Friday 29 March
7	Dust Bowl
8	Famine
9	Nuclear Disaster	Assessment 3 - Friday 3 May
10	Settler colonialism
11	Asbestos	Assessment 4 - Friday 24 May
12	Conclusion

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Reflective essay	20 %	29/03/2024	1,2,3
Primary Source Analysis x2	10 %	*	1,2,3
Research Proposal Presentation & Script	20 %	03/05/2024	1,2,3
Research Essay	40 %	24/05/2024	1,2,3,4
General Participation	10 %	*	1,2,3

* 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.

Assessment Task 1

Reflective essay

Drawing on the concepts and themes introduced in Weeks 1 and 2, reflect on their value to understanding the disasters we discuss in subsequent weeks (3, 4 and 5). You should engage with the course readings and discussions to develop your essay argument.

You will be assessed on your understanding of the concepts and themes of the course, the structure of your essay, and the clarity of your discussion. Please follow correct citation format (Chicago Manual of Style), and include a separate bibliography.

Word limit: 1000 words

Assessment Task 2

Primary Source Analysis x2

On two separate occasions, you will select one primary source that is relevant to that week's theme and discussion. You will do this exercise once in the first half of the semester (before mid-semester break, 5%), and once in the second half of the semester (after mid-semester break, 5%).

In the week of your choice, you must post your selected source on the Wattle forum prior to class. Your explanation must be in sentence form, approx. 300 words each. Postings will be visible to all students and instructors.

Primary sources (produced in the period under consideration) may include images, written texts, video or audio.

Don't forget to provide bibliographic information about your source, that is, the source's creator (or author, photographer etc.), where you found it, and when it was produced.

Assessment Task 3

Research Proposal Presentation & Script

Identify a topic for your Research Essay (Assessment Task 4) and develop a research question that you intend to ask about that particular topic.

Include a brief outline of the relevant historiography and wider debates, and explain how your research question speaks to those debates.

Indicate which primary sources you will use to answer your question, and discuss some of the secondary sources that you will use in your essay.

You will be assessed

• on the clarity and coherence of your verbal presentation
• how your proposal develops a research question
• how well the question reflects the historiography and broader issues
• the sources identified to develop the research essay

Word limit: 500 words

Assessment Task 4

Research Essay

Write a research essay on any aspect of disaster and their legacies. You should identify a particular aspect of aftermath and legacy (eg. an exhibition, a controversy, book, film, tv show, monument, novel, newspaper reportage, etc.) and analyse its representation of the past.

Drawing on the historiography of disaster, develop an argument about your understanding of representations of that disaster and its legacies.

Your essay may refer to course readings, but you must also conduct research to incorporate and analyse primary and secondary sources. Secondary sources must be scholarly.

Word count: 4000 words (excluding references) 

Assessment Task 5

General Participation

Participation in weekly seminars is assessed and worth 10% of your grade. Participation includes constructive contributions to class discussion in person as well as via the Wattle forum, and respectful listening and engagement.

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

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 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.

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