SOCIOL 101/101G : Understanding Aotearoa New Zealand

Arts

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Provides an introduction to the sociological analysis of New Zealand society. Looks at familiar events, institutions, social processes from a sociological point of view and offers ways to understand them in new and different ways. Focuses on the structure of New Zealand society and on social and political changes which affect the lives of New Zealanders and shape their society.

Course Overview

This course provides an introduction to the sociological analysis of New Zealand society. We look at familiar events, institutions, social processes from a sociological point of view and offer new and different ways to understand them. The course focuses on the structure of New Zealand society and on social and political changes that affect the lives of New Zealanders and shape their society.

This course invites you to think sociologically about life in Aotearoa New Zealand, asking you to think in possibly new and different ways about what it means to live here today. In particular, you will have an opportunity to explore the way in which your life and the lives of your family and friends are shaped by major axes of difference such as:
  • Class
  • Race
  • Ethnicity
  • Gender
  • Sexuality
Additionally, you will get to explore a number of current social debates relevant to Aotearoa. We will use both written texts and audiovisual material to examine these matters.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Be able to define and apply a range of sociological concepts to the study of Aotearoa New Zealand society (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
  2. Be able to explain the sociological imagination and apply it to a range of social justice issues related to inequality and sustainability (Capability 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  3. Have a foundational sociological understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand society as a settler-state. (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
  4. Have a foundational sociological understanding of New Zealand cultural diversity (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 5)
  5. Be able to effectively communicate an argument in academic English (Capability 3, 6 and 8)
  6. Have developed skills in analysing sociological readings (Capability 3 and 4)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Weekly Quizzes 20% Individual Test
Autobiographical Essay 15% Individual Coursework
Major Essay 25% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination

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, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 2-3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4-5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to successfully complete components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Tutorials will not be recorded. 

The course will not include live online events including tutorials. 

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Student feedback received during and following this course will be used to improve the learning experience. Attention will be paid to the communication of information about assignments.

Learning 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.

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.

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 feedback received during and following this course will be used to improve the learning experience. Attention will be paid to the communication of information about assignments.

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 for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

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 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.

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.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.