School of Social Sciences

ARTS3810
International Relations: Theory and Practice

Semester 2, 2016

Acknowledgement
UNSW Australias Kensington campus, on which the School of Social Sciences is
housed, is built on the land of the Aboriginal people. We pay our respects to the
Bedegal people of the Eora nation who are the Custodians of this land.
We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First
Australians, whose lands, winds and waters we all now share, and pay respect to
their unique values, and their continuing and enduring cultures which deepen and
enrich the life of our nation and communities.

Table of contents

Acknowledgement.................................................................................................... 2
Staff contact details ................................................................................................. 4
About this course ..................................................................................................... 4
Credit points .................................................................................................................... 4
Summary of the course .................................................................................................. 4

Student responsibilities ........................................................................................... 5

Academic integrity ................................................................................................... 5
Attendance requirements ........................................................................................ 6
Learning outcomes .................................................................................................. 7
Course design and learning activities .................................................................... 7
Course schedule ...................................................................................................... 8
Detailed course schedule and tasks for completion ............................................. 9
Assessment ............................................................................................................ 15
Details of assessment tasks......................................................................................... 15
Submission of assignments ......................................................................................... 19
Return of assignments ................................................................................................. 19
Feedback ....................................................................................................................... 20
Course evaluation and development ........................................................................... 20

ARTS3810
International Relations: Theory and Practice
Staff contact details
Course convenor
Name
Phone
Office location
Email address
Consultation hours

Dr Nicholas Apoifis
(02) 9385 2407
Room 144, Morven Brown Building
n.apoifis@unsw.edu.au
11-12 Friday

About this course

Credit points: 6
Summary of the course: What is theory? What assumptions guide us when we
theorise about events or phenomena in global politics? And what does it mean to
undertake theoretically informed research in the discipline of International Relations?
This course encourages you to consider the broader context of the discipline through
critical, reflective and engaged thinking about contemporary international relations. The
course draws on your previous experience of scholarship, both in IR and in other
disciplines, to engage with contemporary debates and issues. In this course, you will
revisit the theoretical literature of the discipline, examine its methodologies, and discuss
the disciplinary politics of knowledge production through the process of designing a
research project relevant to contemporary debates in IR.
Important information: This is a blended course, which has two hours per week faceto-face seminars and one hour per week online learning activities. Both the face-to-face
and the online components are compulsory, and count towards attendance. There is a
preparatory task that you need to complete before the first seminar in Week 1 (details
below).
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Teaching begins in Week 1 (on 28 July 2016). As this is a seminar-based course,

there is a two-week break in the semester. There is no class in Week 9, nor in the
mid-semester break. Classes then resume in Week 10 and continue through until
Week 13. The final class will be held on 27 October 2016.
Student responsibilities
You must read and adhere to the UNSW Student Code Policy (2016):
https://www.gs.unsw.edu.au/policy/studentcodepolicy.html.
There are five primary student responsibilities under this Code:
1. A condition of enrolment that students inform themselves of the Universitys
rules and policies affecting them, and conduct themselves accordingly.
2. An obligation to act with integrity in academic work, to ensure that all
academic work is conducted ethically and safely.
3. An obligation to observe standards of equity and respect in dealing with every
member of the University community.
4. An obligation to use and care for University resources in a lawful and
appropriate manner
5. An obligation to not diminish the Universitys reputation in the carrying out of
academic and other associated University activities.
(UNSW Student Code Policy, Art. 2)
A related document is the UNSW Student Misconduct Procedure (2016):
https://www.gs.unsw.edu.au/policy/studentmisconductprocedures.html.
All courses in the School of Social Sciences are run in accordance with School, Faculty
and University rules and policies.
You need to make sure that you are familiar with University policies and School
guidelines, https://socialsciences.arts.unsw.edu.au/students/resources/policiesguidelines/, particularly those relating to attendance requirements, extensions
and late submission of assessed work.
Academic integrity
UNSW has an ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of learning informed by
academic integrity. All UNSW staff and students have a responsibility to adhere to this
principle of academic integrity. Plagiarism undermines academic integrity and is not
tolerated at UNSW. Plagiarism at UNSW is defined as using the words or ideas of
others and passing them off as your own. Examples include:

Copying: Using the same or very similar words to the original text or idea
without acknowledging the source or using quotation marks.
Inappropriate paraphrasing: Changing a few words and phrases while mostly
retaining the original structure and information without acknowledgement. This
also applies in presentations where someone paraphrases anothers ideas or
words without credit.
Collusion: Presenting work as independent work when it has been produced in
whole or part in collusion with other people. Collusion includes students
providing their work to another student before the due date, or for the purpose of
them plagiarising at any time, paying another person to perform an academic
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task and passing it off as your own, stealing or acquiring another persons
academic work and copying it, offering to complete another persons work or
seeking payment for completing academic work.
Inappropriate citation: Citing sources that have not been read, without
acknowledging the 'secondary' source from which knowledge of them has been
obtained.
Self-plagiarism: Self-plagiarism occurs where an author republishes their own
previously written work and presents it as new findings without referencing the
earlier work, either in its entirety or partially. Self-plagiarism is also referred to as
'recycling', 'duplication', or 'multiple submissions of research findings' without
disclosure. In the student context, self-plagiarism includes re-using parts of, or all
of, a body of work that has already been submitted for assessment without
proper citation.

It is not permissible to buy essay/writing services from third parties as the use of such
services constitutes plagiarism because it involves using the words or ideas of others
and passing them off as your own. Further, it is not permissible to sell copies of lecture
or tutorial notes as you do not own the rights to this intellectual property.
If you breach the Student Code with respect to academic integrity the University may
take disciplinary action under the Student Misconduct Procedure (see above).
Attendance requirements
The School of Social Sciences guidelines on attendance are available at
https://socialsciences.arts.unsw.edu.au/students/resources/policies-guidelines/.
The School of Social Sciences expects that students will attend and participate actively
in 100% of learning and teaching activities (henceforth classes, to include lectures,
tutorials, seminars, labs, online activities and so on).
If you attend less than 80% of classes, you may be refused final assessment. This
means that if you do not attend at least 80% of possible classes your final assignment
or exam may receive a mark of zero. You are responsible for keeping track of your
attendance and contacting your course convenor immediately if you are concerned
about your attendance record and its impact on your ability to complete your course
successfully.
For the purpose of attendance monitoring, the final assessment for this course is the
portfolio worth 35% of your overall grade for this course. This is the assessment item
that will be graded at zero if you do not meet the attendance requirement for this
course.
For this course, attendance is calculated as shown in the table below:
Learning activity

Monitoring mechanism

Seminar
Online learning activity

A roll is taken in class

Automatic completion
tracking in Moodle/as
detailed below
6

Minimum attendance
requirement
10/12
10/12

Please note that most of the learning activities in this course are designed around a
group project, and many of the online learning activities are essential preparatory
exercises that will inform class discussion. If you have not completed the online
learning activity that informs the class activity, you may be asked to leave the
class and this will count as an additional absence, because your failure to
prepare will compromise the class experience for the rest of your class/group.
If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, or leave class with more than 15 minutes
remaining, you may be recorded as absent. If such a penalty is imposed, you will be
informed verbally at the end of class and advised in writing within 24 hours. Attempts to
falsify attendance records will be treated as student misconduct under the Student
Misconduct Procedure.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
1.
Identify and outline the contested and diverse character of International
Relations (IR), as a discipline and also as it is practiced at the everyday
levels of global politics.
2.
Describe and discuss a variety of debates and approaches surrounding
action and policy-making in contemporary world politics, informed by a selfreflexive awareness of the reasoned views of others.
3.
Locate, prioritise and apply appropriate information in and to world politics in
a sophisticated and persuasive manner, using clear and effective
independent research skills, critical reasoning, scholarly writing and a variety
of presentation skills (oral and written).
4.
Explain, evaluate and critique advanced literatures and ideas relating to the
theories and practices of International Relations, including a variety of
concepts, theories and categories of analysis.
Course design and learning activities
I see UNSW student learners as participants in the production of knowledge and I
pursue the implementation of a curriculum responsive to each students individual
needs. The course uses what are known as blended learning techniques (a mix of
face-to-face discussion and activities supported by a range of online resources and
activities) and a range of assessment practices in order to ensure that every student,
irrespective of their own learning style, can access the course material readily and in
a productive manner.
The design of this course is motivated by a desire to foster the skills of independent
learning and critical thinking. The course overall is designed to allow you to show
that you have met the learning outcomes of the course, and, relatedly, of the
International Relations major stream.
As a capstone course, there are certain compulsory elements that must be included:
coverage of discipline-specific theoretical and/or methodological approaches;
the ethical and social responsibilities of a graduate from the discipline;
and a reflection on the world of work, including support for career planning.

Capstone courses include no new material; they are designed to extend and deepen
existing knowledge and allow students to demonstrate disciplinary expertise. I have
designed this course with these elements in mind, hence the focus on demonstrating
capabilities through specific focus on the learning outcomes. This is not a normal
topic specific course.
This course is taught in a weekly seminar format. There are online learning activities
associated with each seminar that require completion before the seminar. These may
be short pieces of writing, annotated readings or small independent research tasks.
Some of these activities will be undertaken individually and others will require group
input.
During the seminars, there will sometimes be a short introductory lecture-style
overview of the weeks topics, with plenty of opportunity to discuss questions and
issues arising from your independent study. The seminars also provide the
opportunity to engage in productive discussion with your peers and to participate in a
range of structured learning activities, including group/pair/individual analytical work,
formal and informal debates, quizzes and mini-projects.
This course is designed to allow plenty of opportunity for giving and receiving
feedback and for practicing valuable skills of research, analysis and engagement with
other academic work.
Course schedule
Classes: Thur 9-11 [Mathews 227]; Thur 2-4 [Mathews 228]; Thur 4-6 [Mathews 228]
DATE
28 July
4 Aug
11 Aug
18 Aug
25 Aug
1 Sept
8 Sept
15 Sept

6 Oct
13 Oct
20 Oct
27 Oct

TOPIC
Week 1: IR Revisited
Week 2: Theories in/of IR
Week 3: Contemporary issues in IR
Week 4: Making a contribution to debates in IR
Week 5: Methods of data collection in IR
Week 6: Methods of data analysis in IR
Week 7: Project design
Week 8: Research ethics
Study break
19 Sept to 3 Oct
Week 10: Careers and professional practice
Week 11: Recognising quality
Week 12: Project pitches
Week 13: Workshop for portfolios

Explanations of absences from classes, or requests for permission to be absent from

forthcoming classes, must be provided by email within one week of the class in
question. All absences must be accounted for with appropriate documentation.
Lateness of more than 15 minutes and/or significant lack of preparation for class may
also result in you being marked as absent.
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Detailed course schedule and tasks for completion

Each week there are preparatory tasks that you need to undertake before you
come to class. These tasks will form the basis of in-class activities. If you do not do
these preparatory tasks you will not be able to participate in the in-class activities
and you may therefore be marked as absent from that class.
You should also keep copies of each of the preparatory tasks as these can provide
a key component of the evidence for the final assessment, as outlined below. As
you proceed through the course, you should gather together all of the evidence you
produce throughout the semester and have produced throughout the classes that
count towards your IR major. Think about how you will organize this evidence (a
ring-binder with dividers is a good idea) and draw on it in the production of your
written statement.
You might also want to keep a separate learning journal (preferably word
processed), where you write a few hundred words after each class discussing your
engagement with the class activities. The learning journal is a form of evidence that
can be included in the final portfolio.
These preparatory tasks will be given either informal or formal feedback (the latter
using rubrics that are available to download on Moodle) and sometimes an
indicative mark out of one hundred to give you a sense of how you are progressing
in the course. Tasks will frequently be peer-evaluated as well. The tasks will not be
included in the calculation of your final grade; all feedback is formative, aimed at
helping you improve your analytical skills and academic writing.
Week 1: IR Revisited
Online/preparatory learning activities: Before class, you must upload a oneminute video to the appropriate section of the Moodle site (on the Week 1 page)
that explains why you selected a major in International Relations and what you think
you have learned about IR so far. Your video must be uploaded by 11.59pm on
Tuesday 26 July. The video is part of the attendance requirement for Week 1.
I will review all the videos before class. Think about how you present yourself, what
you wear, how you communicate, your key ideas/messages, and the
lighting/background for your video, to make sure you make the best possible
impression on your audience.
You should also read through the course outline cover to cover. Find and collate
some of the work that you have undertaken so far in your IR courses. Bring to class
a copy of the essay or assignment that you most enjoyed from one of your IR
classes.
This week I will introduce the course and explain the concept behind it: that on
successful completion of this course, you will have demonstrated your capabilities
across a range of skills and competencies and thus shown that you should be
awarded recognition for having completed a major in IR.

This course is designed to allow you to show me that you have attained these
outcomes during your period of study here at UNSW.
Week 2: Theories in/of IR
Online/preparatory learning activities: Drawing on the work you have already
done in your IR classes, write a 300-400 word statement on the theoretical
approach to IR that you find most persuasive. Make sure that you explain why you
find it persuasive, and include references where appropriate. (The course outlines
for ARTS1810 and ARTS1811 should provide you with inspiration if you have
forgotten where to start locating yourself in relation to IR theory.)
Your paper must be uploaded to Moodle by 11.59pm on Monday 1 August.
You will then be allocated someone elses paper to peer-review using the
rubric provided in Moodle. The peer review must be completed by 11.59pm on
Wednesday 3 August. The paper and peer review are part of the attendance
requirement for Week 2.
This week we will focus on the different theoretical approaches to the study of
global politics and the strengths and weaknesses of each of these approaches. We
will divide into groups based on the theoretical approach that you find most
persuasive, and each group will develop their common theoretical approaches into
a reasonable research framework. We will consider meta-theoretical issues of
validity and rigour in research.
Week 3: Contemporary issues in IR
Online/preparatory learning activities: Produce a draft of your first assignment (it
can be partly in bullet-point/note form but should be substantial enough to enable
useful feedback).
Your draft must be uploaded to Moodle by 11.59pm on Monday 8 August. You
will then be allocated someone elses paper to peer-review using the rubric
provided in Moodle. The peer review must be completed by 11.59pm on
Wednesday 10 August. The paper and peer review are part of the attendance
requirement for Week 3.
This week we will focus on contemporary issues in International Relations and
discuss contemporary research in various issue areas. We will divide into groups
based on thematic/topic of the article you have chosen to focus on in the
preparatory task. We will consider whether theoretical compatibility or issue area
convergence is most important when planning a group research project. At the end
of this week, you will have formed a group in which to work on a group project of
project design; you will have decided a topic and agreed a theoretical framework.
NB You are not going to actually do the project you design, the design process in
itself is the learning activity. You will also give your group a team name.
Week 4: Making a contribution to debates in IR

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Online/preparatory learning activities: You will need to work with your group on
this task. Work together to identify key pieces of scholarship (books or journal
articles) relevant to the project you want to design. As a group, you should conduct
a review of this literature. In total, your group should review at least 20 pieces of
scholarly work relevant to your topic.
Each individual must upload an annotated bibliography of 5 academic
sources relevant to the topic the group is working on. Your annotated
bibliography must be uploaded to Moodle by 11.59pm on Wednesday 17
August. The annotated bibliography is part of the attendance requirement for
Week 4.
In class this week you will prepare a short group presentation on the background to
your topic: what has been written about it so far? Where are the key gaps in the
literature? What do the current debates focus on? You will present to the rest of the
class and the presentation will be peer-evaluated.
Week 5: Methods of data collection in IR
Online/preparatory learning activities: Review the short videos provided on
Moodle on the Week 5 page. Consider the questions related to each video and
bring your notes to class to inform class discussion.
Moodle automatically tracks completion. Viewing the videos is part of the
attendance requirement for Week 5. Showing evidence in class of having
prepared notes related to the questions is also part of the attendance
requirement for Week 5.
The pieces listed below will also provide useful background (they are all available
on Moodle). You might want to prepare notes on each. In class, you should be
ready to discuss the ways in which you might collect data in your group project and
why these methods are particularly useful.
Readings:
Furlong, P. and D. Marsh (2010) A Skin not a Sweater: Ontology and Epistemology in
Political Science, 184-211 in D. Marsh and G. Stoker (eds) Theory and Methods
in Political Science, 3rd edn, Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Grix, J. (2010) The Foundations of Research, 2nd edn, Basingstoke: Palgrave. Chapter
7 (117-138).
Jackson, P.T. (2011) The Conduct of Inquiry in International Relations, London:
Routledge. Chapter 1.
I will give a lecture this week on methods of data collection in global politics and
explain how methodology (thinking about methods) is related to epistemology
(thinking about knowledge). You will then decide in your group which method(s) of
data collection would be most appropriate for your group project. You will evaluate
the discussion of data collection in a number of other project proposals and use this
exercise as the basis for planning your own written statement of data collection
methods for your project design.

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Week 6: Methods of data analysis in IR

Online/preparatory learning activities: There are a number of datasets provided
on Moodle. You need to review these datasets and think about the following
questions:
- Why might these datasets have been collected?
- What kinds of questions can these datasets help you answer?
- What else would you need to know about each dataset in order to use it in
research?
Moodle automatically tracks completion. Viewing the datasets is part of the
attendance requirement for Week 6. Showing evidence in class of having
prepared notes related to the questions is also part of the attendance
requirement for Week 6.
This week we will discuss the relationship between data collection and data
analysis. There will be a group activity based on planning methods of data analysis
and the opportunity to do a small amount of data analysis in class. You will then
decide in your group which method of data analysis would be most appropriate for
your group project and use this exercise as the basis for planning your own written
statement of data analysis for your project design.
Week 7: Project design
Online/preparatory learning activities: Each group has to produce a 1000-word
statement on the methods of data collection and data analysis they intend to
employ in the group project. You will need to work with your group to divide up
responsibilities.
Each individual must upload a copy of the groups methods statement. Your
methods statement must be uploaded to Moodle by 11.59pm on Wednesday 7
September. The methods statement is part of the attendance requirement for
Week 7.
This week the group project plans will begin to formalize. We will discuss the
importance of good project planning and the presentation of a project plan. In your
group, you will sketch out the design of your project, including research question,
background, objectives, methods of data collection and data analysis, budget and
ethical considerations. During class you will agree on these elements and produce
a working timeline for your project.
Week 8: Research ethics
Online/preparatory learning activities: Each group has to produce EITHER A) a
draft application for approval by the UNSW Human Research Ethics Committee OR
B) a statement on the ethical dimensions of the research you are planning. If you
are proposing to do field research, you will do exercise A. If you are proposing to do
desk-based research only, you will do exercise B.
Detailed advice on both exercises is provided on Moodle.
12

Each individual must upload a copy of the groups ethics exercise. Your
ethics exercise must be uploaded to Moodle by 11.59pm on Wednesday 14
September. The ethics exercise is part of the attendance requirement for
Week 8.
The pieces listed below will also provide useful background (they are all available
on Moodle). You might want to prepare notes on each. In class, you should be
ready to discuss how you will manage the ethical dilemmas that may arise in the
course of your research and how your position as a researcher has an impact on
your research process.
Readings:
Ackerly, B. and J. True (2008) Reflexivity in Practice: Power and Ethics in Feminist
Research on International Relations, International Studies Review, 10(4):
693-707.
England, K. V. L. (1994) Getting Personal: Reflexivity, Positionality, and Feminist
Research, The Professional Geographer, 46:1, 80-89.
Jarvis, L. (2013) Conclusion: The Process, Practice and Ethics of Research, 236247 in L. J. Shepherd (ed.) Critical Approaches to Security: An Introduction to
Theories and Methods, London and New York, NY: Routledge.
This week we will discuss the politics of knowledge production in International
Relations. We will unpack the issue of privilege in research and talk about the
concepts of reflexivity and positionality. We will talk about ethics in social research
and how to uphold ethical practice in the study of global politics.
Week 10: Careers and professional practice
Online/preparatory learning activities: You need to prepare a CV (or update your
existing one) and upload it to Moodle.
Your CV must be uploaded to Moodle by 11.59pm on Monday 3 October. You
will then be allocated someone elses CV to peer-review using the rubric
provided in Moodle. The CV must be completed by 11.59pm on Wednesday 5
October. The CV and peer review are part of the attendance requirement for
Week 10.
You also need to undertake some preparatory reading:
Barrick, M., B. Swider and G. Stewart, G. (2010) Initial Evaluations in the Interview:
Relationships with subsequent interviewer evaluations and employment offers
Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(6), 1163-1172.
Perrone, L. and M.H. Vickers (2003) Life after graduation as a very uncomfortable
world: An Australian case study Education & Training, 45(2), 69-78.
Week 11: Recognising quality
Online/preparatory learning activities: Each group has to produce a draft 5 page
project proposal (PP). The PP must be word-processed, printed in Times New
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Roman 12pt font with a minimum 2cm margins on each side of the page. The 5
page limit must include a reference list. The PP must have the sub-headings listed
below:
Research question (must be in the form of a question or questions)
Background (topic)
Objectives (what do you hope the study will achieve)
Methods of data collection and data analysis
Ethical considerations
Budget
You will need to work with your group to divide up responsibilities.
Each individual must upload a copy of the groups draft project proposal.
Your draft project proposal must be uploaded to Moodle by 11.59pm on
Wednesday 12 October. The draft project proposal is part of the attendance
requirement for Week 11.
The draft project proposals will be peer-evaluated in class using the rubric provided.
Groups will swap drafts and evaluate each others using the rubrics provided.
Groups will then share feedback with each other. There will be opportunity for group
discussion to decide how to use the feedback you have been given in order to
improve your draft. We will also talk about the mechanics of giving feedback, and
how reflexivity and metacognition are important skills in the post-university world.
Week 12: Communicating research in IR
Online/preparatory learning activities: You must upload a one-minute video to
the appropriate section of the Moodle site (on the Week 12 page) that gives
feedback on the group process (including project design and presentation). Think
about how well you worked as a group, how easy it was to resolve problems (or
not), and whether everyone participated equally (be honest about your own
contribution as well). Your video must be uploaded by 11.59pm on Monday 17
October. The video is part of the attendance requirement for Week 12.
Also, each group should revise their project proposal and use it as the basis for
preparing a presentation on their project. Groups must be ready to present their
project in class. Each presentation should use PowerPoint, Prezi or similar, and
must run for no longer than 8 minutes. I will stop you after 8 minutes so make sure
you have timed your presentation before delivery.
The presentations will be peer-evaluated in class using a rubric. The whole class
will vote on the best presentation (you cant vote for your own group!) and there will
be a small prize awarded to the winner.
You will also need to submit in the final version of your groups Project Proposal this
week. Dont forget to read the submission guidelines carefully.
Week 13: Workshop for the portfolio
Online/preparatory learning activities: There are two written statements available
on Moodle that were produced by students in previous years. Read both
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statements, and explain the quality differential: why do you think that one received a
much higher grade than the other? Produce a 300-400 word statement explaining
the differences as you see them and think about how this can help you improve
your own submission.
Your evaluation must be uploaded to Moodle by 11.59pm on Wednesday 26
October. The evaluation is the attendance requirement for Week 13.
The face-to-face class this week is a portfolio workshop. You should bring with you
to class a draft of your written statement (up to 2000 words) and the evidence that
you have collected so far.
Your written statement should include a short introduction and MUST crossreference your evidence. You must also include a full reference list (bibliography) at
the end of your portfolio.
Assessment
TASK
1

Media article/blog

LENGTH/
DURATION
800 words

WEIGHT

DUE DATE

30%

19 August
2016
21 October
2016
28 October
2016

Project proposal

5 pages

35%

Portfolio
Written statement of
capabilities
Evidence

Written statement:
2000 words;
Evidence: no limit

35%

The final assessment for this course is the portfolio, worth 35% of your overall grade
for this course.
Details of assessment tasks
1. The first assessment for this course is the media article/blog. The standards
against which this assessment will be evaluated are in the rubric, available on
Moodle.
The aim of this exercise is to begin thinking about different forms of writing, and to
practice writing short, succinct commentaries on contemporary global issues. You
should familiarize yourself with the kinds of media outlets and blogs that IR scholars
write for, e.g. The Conversation, The Drum, the Comment is Free section of The
Guardian, and blogs such as The Disorder of Things, Duck of Minerva, Lawyers,
Guns and Money, and The Monkeycage.
Your submission should explicitly target one of these outlets, and address a
contemporary global issue in a format that might be published on your platform of
choice. You have free choice of topic. You must note at the top of the page which
outlet you are targeting. Your argument should be referenced, but with hyperlinks
instead of footnotes/in-text references, and must be written in simple, accessible,
but above all engaging language. I will work with the authors of the best two
15

submissions to try and get them published as a blog or op-ed through a relevant
outlet.
You must submit your media article/blog to TurnItIn in Moodle by 11.59pm on
19 August 2016. I will not accept submissions by email.
The Faculty late penalty is 5% of the total possible marks for the task for each day
or part day that the work is late. Lateness includes weekends and public holidays.
The media article/blog will be marked /100 and will constitute 30% of your grade for
this course.
2. The second assessment for this course is the project proposal (PP). The
standards against which this assessment will be evaluated are in the rubric,
available on Moodle.
This is a group assessment. Each group has to produce a 5 page project proposal
(PP). The PP must be word-processed, printed in Times New Roman 12pt font with
a minimum 2cm margins on each side of the page. The 5 page limit must include a
reference list. The PP must have the sub-headings listed below:
Research question (must be in the form of a question or questions)
Background (topic/problem statement)
Objectives (what do you hope the study will achieve)
Methods of data collection and data analysis
Ethical considerations
Budget
Reference list (may be 10pt font)
If your PP is not exactly 5 pages long you will lose 3 marks. Your PP should have a
cover sheet showing the group name and the group members.
The 5 page PP will be peer-evaluated in class using a rubric in Week 11 (13
October). Groups will swap PPs in class and evaluate each others using the rubrics
provided (available on Moodle). Groups will then share feedback with each other.
There will be opportunity for group discussion to decide how to use the feedback
you have been given in order to improve your PP.
The final project proposal will be submitted to TurnItIn on Moodle in Week 12.
One copy of the project proposal per group must be submitted by 11.59pm on
Friday 21 October 2016. I will not accept submissions by email.
Your project proposal must include a list of group members.
This is a group task. All students in the group will receive the same grade for the
assignment. You will be asked to rate your fellow group members' participation and
contribution on a scale of 1-10. If any group member's participation and contribution
is rated lower than 7 then their grade will be moderated accordingly by the course
convenor. More information about peer evaluation of participation and contribution
will be provided in class.
The Faculty late penalty is 5% of the total possible marks for the task for each day
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or part day that the work is late. Lateness includes weekends and public holidays.
To recap, your Project Proposal must:
Contain all the elements listed above;
Have a separate cover sheet showing the group name and listing the group
members;
Be submitted by the 11.59pm on 21 October 2016.
The project proposal will be marked /100 and will constitute 35% of your grade for
this course.
3. The final assessment for this course is a written statement of capabilities
supported by a portfolio of evidence. The standards against which this
assessment will be evaluated are in the rubric, available on Moodle.
Your written statement must demonstrate, using the evidence that you have
compiled, how you have met the learning outcomes for the course. The learning
outcomess for the course are as follows:
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
1.
Identify and outline the contested and diverse character of International
Relations (IR), as a discipline and also as it is practiced at the everyday
levels of global politics.
2.
Describe and discuss a variety of debates and approaches surrounding
action and policy-making in contemporary world politics, informed by a selfreflexive awareness of the reasoned views of others.
3.
Locate, prioritise and apply appropriate information in and to world politics in
a sophisticated and persuasive manner, using clear and effective
independent research skills, critical reasoning, scholarly writing and a variety
of presentation skills (oral and written).
4.
Explain, evaluate and critique advanced literatures and ideas relating to the
theories and practices of International Relations, including a variety of
concepts, theories and categories of analysis.
I expect you to explain to me, in your written statement, how you have met these
learning outcomes, and draw on the evidence from your portfolio to support your
claims.
There are lots of possible forms of evidence:
work you have submitted for other classes;
preparatory tasks you have done for this class (for the group tasks it is fine to
all submit the same document);
a learning journal if you have kept one;
copies of feedback you have been given in this and other classes;
other notes, readings, media artefacts and so on.
You should keep copies of each of the preparatory tasks that you do for this course
as these will provide a key component of the evidence. As you proceed through the
course, you should gather together all of the evidence you produce throughout the
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semester and have produced throughout the classes that count towards your IR
stream.
Think about how you will organize this evidence (a ring-binder with dividers is a
good idea) and draw on it in the production of your written statement. In the section
on the first learning outcome (LO), for example, you could explain how your choice
of article in Week 2 shows that you are engaged in observation of global events,
and you could support this further by referencing news media articles on this topic
and so on.
I do not expect you to be able to address every element of every LO in great detail.
You must decide for yourself which to prioritise, bearing in mind that analytical
skills, independent and team motivation and excellent communication skills are
sought after in the academy and in the world of work.
Your written statement should include a short introduction and MUST crossreference your evidence. You must also include a full reference list (bibliography) at
the end of your portfolio.
There is no word limit for the portfolio of evidence. The written statement must be
2000 words, with a 10% margin of error (i.e. 1800-2200 words). If your statement is
longer or shorter than that you will lose 3 marks.
Your written statement must also be uploaded to Turnitin on Moodle. You must
include a Turnitin report in your portfolio when you submit. You must include the full
report, not just proof of submission.
Your portfolio must be submitted with a signed Assessment Cover Sheet (required
for all assignments). Please ensure that you read the Assessment Cover Sheet
carefully, particularly the section related to the originality of the submission.
Assessment Cover Sheets are available from outside the School Office, near the
assignment submission boxes, and are available to download from the School
website: https://socialsciences.arts.unsw.edu.au/students/resources/forms/.
If you do not complete your Assessment Cover Sheet accurately and in full, a
penalty of 5% will be applied to your grade.
The portfolio must be submitted between 2pm and 4pm on Friday 28 October 2016
to my office, Room 144 Morven Brown. Your portfolio must be submitted by 4pm
to avoid a late penalty. Do not leave submission to the last minute. The deadline is
4.00pm. Submission at 4.01pm is late.
The Faculty late penalty is 5% of the total possible marks for the task for each day
or part day that the work is late. Lateness includes weekends and public holidays.
The Portfolio will be marked /100 and will constitute 35% of your grade for this
course.

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Assessments should be referenced in accordance with the School of Social

Sciences Referencing Guide, available at
https://socialsciences.arts.unsw.edu.au/students/resources/policies-guidelines/.
Submission of assignments
The first two assessments must be submitted electronically only, through the
relevant assessment TurnItIn portal in Moodle. There is no hard copy submission
required. Please ensure that your name and student ID number are on every
page of your submission. You are not required to attach a cover sheet to
assessments that are only submitted electronically.
When you submit an assessment at UNSW, you are acknowledging that you have
understood and abided by the University requirements in the preparation of that
assessment item, in respect of student academic misconduct outlined in the
Student Code Policy and Student Misconduct Procedures, both of which are
available at: https://student.unsw.edu.au/conduct.
You are also declaring that the assessment item is your own work, except
where acknowledged, and has not been submitted for academic credit
previously in whole or in part.
In addition, you submit the assessment in the knowledge that:
1) the course convenor may provide a copy of the assignment to another staff
for the purposes of assessment or evaluation; and
2) a copy of this assessment item will be retained in the TurnItIn database and
may be used in evaluations of originality.
UNSW provides support for students in using TurnItIn at
https://student.unsw.edu.au/turnitin-support. This webpage includes information on
how to generate and interpret originality reports in TurnItIn. Support is also available
from the central TurnItIn Help Center at http://turnitin.com/en_us/support/helpcenter.
It is your responsibility to keep a copy of your work in case of loss of an assignment.
You are also responsible for checking that your submission is complete and
accurate. For information about Special Consideration and Extensions and Late
Submission of Work, please refer to the Schools Policies and Guidelines
available at https://socialsciences.arts.unsw.edu.au/students/resources/policiesguidelines/.
The final assignment, the portfolio, must be submitted in hard copy and the written
statement should also be submitted through TurnItIn on Moodle as outlined above.
Return of assignments
Electronic submissions will be returned via the TurnItIn portal on Moodle with electronic
feedback within three weeks of submission.
If you would like written comments on your portfolio as well as feedback using the
rubrics please indicate this by writing I would like to received written feedback as
well as a numerical mark in the header of your submission.
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If you want me to post your feedback back to you, please attach a self-addressed
postage-paid envelope to your assignment (if the postage is insufficient to cover
the delivery of the assignment, it will not be posted).
Alternatively, you can come and collect your assignments from my office on Friday
18 November, between 10 and 4pm.
If you do not come to collect your assignment on Friday 18 November, it will not be
available for collection until the start of Semester 1 2017.

Feedback
UNSW provides support for students in using TurnItIn to receive feedback at
https://student.unsw.edu.au/how-use-turnitin-within-moodle. Please access this page to
learn how to retrieve grades and comments on your assignment.
ASSESSMENT TASK
Media article/blog

FEEDBACK MECHANISM
Written feedback/ rubric

FEEDBACK DATE
2 Sept 2016

Project proposal

Written feedback/ rubric

11 Nov 2016

Portfolio
Written statement of
capabilities
Evidence

Written feedback/ rubric

18 Nov 2016

Course evaluation and development

In 2015, student feedback suggested that the course might benefit from using the
time differently, as 3-hour seminars were not always wholly productive. This year, I
have used new learning technology to blend a mixture of face-to-face and online
learning activities and scheduled 2-hour classes.
The other significant piece of feedback was the desire to split the weighting of the
assessment so that there would be an assessed piece of work early on in the course
to take some of the pressure off the final assignments, which were previously both
due at the end of the course and were worth 50% each. I have therefore introduced
the media article/blog worth 30% as an individual assignment early in the course.

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