SOCI 2011EX - Consumption, Work and the Self II

External - Semester 2 - 2018

The contemporary focus on the individual as distinct from society is one of the hallmarks of post-industrial western societies. The ways in which young people are increasingly invited to imagine and construct their identity through consumption as opposed to other aspects of the self, such as work, community relations or ethical beliefs is a particular concern of the course. This is an applied course which examines new and emerging theories, practices and experiences of consumption, work and identity and how they relate to current debates around citizenship in the broader context. Students will focus on examples drawn from advertising and the rhetoric of capitalism, personal self-presentation and development, lifestyle marketing, financial aspirations, regulation of work, the music industry and urban living. Students will be required to undertake a textual or discourse analysis as part of the applied component of the course. They will also be required to undertake a critical reflection of their own experiences of work and consumption.

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Course Details

Course Code	SOCI 2011EX
Course	Consumption, Work and the Self II
Coordinating Unit	Sociology, Criminology and Gender Studies
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	External
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week online
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Prerequisites	At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study
Incompatible	GWSI 2002, GWSI 3002, GWSI 2100/EX, GSSA 2100/EX, GSSA 3003/EX, SOCI 2011, SOCI 3009/EX
Assessment	Research exercise (1000 word) 25%, Research project (2000 word) 45%, Class attendance and participation 15%, Online quizzes based on lectures 15%

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Dee Michell

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

1	Recognise key socioliological theorists, concepts, debates and social research methods used to explore ideas and practices around consumption, work and identity.
2	Locate, analyse and critique academic literature in relation to consumption and work
3	Evaluate media representations of consumption and work in relation to academic literature
4	Work collaboratively in small groups to examine and appraise contemporary consumption and work practices
5	Plan and conduct a research project.
6	Write logical, sustained and coherent arguments based on evidence and considering a range of sociological perspectives

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Deep discipline knowledge informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1 accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)	1,2
Critical thinking and problem solving steeped in research methods and rigor based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment	2,3,4
Teamwork and communication skills developed from, with, and via the SGDE honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning	4
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	3,4,5,6
Intercultural and ethical competency adept at operating in other cultures comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges	1,6
Self-awareness and emotional intelligence a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate	3,4,5

Learning Resources

Required Resources

A Course Reader will be available to purchase from the Image & Copy Centre (Level 1, Hughes Building). The Course Reader will also be made available electronically via MyUni.

Recommended Resources

A variety of resources to assist in assignment preparation will be made available via MyUni throughout the semester.

Online Learning

All course related material will be available via MyUni.

Learning & Teaching Modes

Throughout the semester students will be required to listen to a 1 hour recorded lecture each week. They will also be required to participate in an online Discussion Board and work in small groups to design and develop Wikis. The lectures will introduce key terms, relevant theorists and diverse ways of exploring the subject matter. For the non-lecture component of the course, students will be required to participate in small group discussions and structured activities designed to cover required reading, consolidate concepts and employ critical thinking skills, examine case studies, and work towards completing their research project.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

6 hours reading per week	72 hours per semester
2 hours research per week	24 hours per semester
2 hours assignment preparation per week	24 hours per semester
	TOTAL = 156 hours per semester

Learning Activities Summary

1	Introduction to the course
2	Identity, Subjectivity, Performativity
3	Learning to Consume
4	Cultural Omnivores and Taste Cultures
5	Online Identities and Quantifying the Self
6	Aesthetic and Emotional Labour
7	Examining Workplaces
8	Invisible work
9	Work/Life Collision and the Work/Spend Cycle
10	Consumption and Class: From Bogans to hipsters
11	Sustainability and Anti-Consumption Movements
12	Where to from here

Specific Course Requirements

Nil

Small Group Discovery Experience

N/A

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Weighting	Course Learning Outcome
1000 word research exercise	Formative & summative	25%	1,2,3,6
2000 word research project	Summative	45%	1,2,5,6
Class attendance & participation	Formative & summative	10%	1,4
Online Quizz based on Lectures	Summative	15%	1

Assessment Related Requirements

Students are required to complete all assessment tasks to be eligible to pass this course.

Assessment Detail

1000 word research exercise: This assignment will require students to locate and gather evidence from a variety of sources, for example, current television series, print and online media articles, academic literature, reputable sources of statistical information & lecture material. Further instructions will be available on MyUni.

2000 word research project: This assignment will require students to gather data throughout the semester about their own consumption practices, and use this data as part of a larger research project about contemporary consumption practices. Further evidence will need to be sourced from lectures, academic literature (including that provided in the Reader), and other reputable sources. More detailed instructions will be available on MyUni.

Class attendance & participation. Assessment for this assignment will include attendance and engagement with weekly reading and structured activities.

Two Online Quizzes based on Lectures: These assignments will require students to review the lecture content twice during semester and demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts and debates, and a familiarity with interdisciplinary theorists discussed throughout the semester.

Submission

Submission via MyUni

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator