52670 Self and Society
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 54050 Self and Society AND 58122 Introduction to Social Inquiry
Description
How are we shaped by the societies in which we live? This subject introduces students to key ideas in social and political thought which enable us to understand social life. It focuses on concepts such as class, race and gender and explores how these structures shape society and the life-paths of individuals and groups. As a core activity of the subject, students learn how to conduct a life history interview, in order to build their own social analysis of one individual's life story. A close examination of an individual life history enables students to understand how self and society are powerfully intertwined.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| a. | Explain key concepts of the social sciences |
|---|---|
| b. | Appreciate different standpoints, viewpoints and frameworks for understanding the social world |
| c. | Organise and present information from scholarly literature and empirical data |
| d. | Apply theory and mobilise empirical data for social analysis |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
- Apply theoretically informed understandings of communication industries to independent and collaborative projects across a range of media (1.2)
- Employ appropriate research and inquiry skills to independently gather, organise and analyse information across diverse platforms (2.1)
- Analyse and act ethically in the personal, political and professional contexts of civil society (5.1)
- Exemplify effective and appropriate communication in different communication industry contexts (6.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
The subject consists of lectures, tutorials and large collaborative studios, with independent student reading the basis for active, collaborative learning supported by online resources. Face-to-face classes incorporate a range of teaching and learning strategies including short presentations, videos, discussion of readings and case studies and student group work. Tutorials and assignments provide opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge through critical analysis, creative, self-directed, and collaborative inquiry, library and digital research, and through giving and receiving constructive feedback. Formative feedback is provided during the first half of the session, via informal class quizzes and other activities. Tutorials and assignments enhance students’ capacity to apply their knowledge and to advocate and intervene ethically in public debates and global civil society, by developing professional skills in communication, responsible leadership and teamwork, project management, and problem solving.
Content (topics)
The subject comprises two main parts:
Part 1 (Weeks 1-6) introduces students to some key theoretical frameworks and concepts central to social sciences, including gender, race, and social class.
Part 2 (Weeks 7-12) examines major social institutions (family, religion, education and more) and explores the ways in which these shape our lives, as well as looking at how class, race and gender intersect to shape the lives of both individuals and groups within society. Lectures also address interviewing skills and qualitative data analysis, key social science skills necessary for qualitative research and the major assignment for this subject.
In Part 2 students are asked to consider familiar institutions and common lifetime experiences which are influenced by all three concepts: gender, race AND class – as well, perhaps, as other pressures. This is often identified as a condition of ‘intersectionality’, in which not one factor (or position) but an interaction of factors shape the experiences of people or the workings of institutions.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Online Quiz
| Objective(s): | a and b | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 25% | ||||||||
| Length: | 50 minutes | ||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Interview analysis presentation
| Objective(s): | b and c | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 35% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | A full transcription of a 60-min interview, fully coded. Word count will vary based on interview style. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Essay
| Objective(s): | a, b, c and d | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 40% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 2,000 words (including references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
Attendance at classes is essential in this subject. Classes are based on a collaborative approach that involves essential work-shopping and interchange of ideas with other students and the tutor. A roll will be taken at each class. Students who have more than two absences from class will be refused final assessment (see Rule 3.8). Attendance at lectures is strongly encouraged.
Students must pass all assessment tasks to pass this subject, as each task assesses unique subject learning objectives.
Students must retain an audio recording of their interview and be able to provide it to their tutor or subject coordinator if requested.
Required texts
Details of the weekly required readings are provided on Canvas.
Recommended texts
There is no text book for this subject. Readings for each week are listed on Canvas and available through the UTS Library.