POLITICS 315 : The Practice of Politics

Arts

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores the skills and knowledge needed for students to practice politics effectively, considering the range of jobs available in the political arena, the professional skills needed to succeed in political positions, lessons that can be learnt from political science literature about how to practice politics both effectively and ethically, and individual development of employability attributes.

Course Overview

The Practice of Politics aims to develop the skills and knowledge needed for students to practice politics effectively. The course will explore:
  • Working in politics: The ideal of practising politics; political jobs; political practitioners; and the highs and lows of working in politics including job satisfaction & suitability.
  • Effective Political Practice: Practical skill training - workplace writing. 
  • Ethical Political Practice: Ethical awareness, supporting diversity, dilemmas of being a government adviser and the art of the possible/achieving change.
This course is 100% focused on employability and gives students the opportunity to develop skills such as:
  • Professional attributes and self-management: open to learning new skills, ability to work independently, able to follow rules, good time management, able to meet deadlines, able to take responsibility for own work and performance, responsive to feedback, self-reflective, understanding of government and the political workplace.
  • Workplace writing skills: short reports, memo writing, report-style presentation.
  • Values and ethical awareness: supportive of diversity, ethical behaviour, possessing integrity and principles.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Political Studies or Politics and International Relations Restriction: POLITICS 206

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Professional attributes and self-management open to learning new skills, ability to work independently, able to follow rules, good time management, able to meet deadlines, able to take responsibility for own work and performance, responsive to feedback, self-reflective, understanding of government and the political workplace. (Capability 5.1 and 5.2)
  2. Workplace writing skills short reports, memo writing, report-style presentation. (Capability 4.2)
  3. Ethical awareness supportive of diversity, ethical behaviour, possessing integrity and principles. (Capability 5.1 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Report 1 Working in politics 35% Individual Coursework
Report 2 Effective Political Practice 30% Individual Coursework
Report 3 Ethical Political Practice 35% Individual Coursework

Next offered

2022

Learning Resources

https://www.coursebuilder.cad.auckland.ac.nz/flexiblelearning/practice-of-politics/

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, there is a 3 hour workshop each week as well as workshop preparation and further reading, thinking and writing for the report.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

All materials are on the online resource https://www.coursebuilder.cad.auckland.ac.nz/flexiblelearning/practice-of-politics/

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

See final syllabus and online resource centre for specific policies for this course.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Please see final syllabus and online resource centre for specific policies for this course.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Please see online resource centre for the latest information and canvas for announcements.

Published on 12/12/2019 12:18 p.m.