Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
The concept of 'the West' is comparatively recent. It belongs to a particular time and place. At various times, the communities which now are included in the West have been imagined differently. They have been seen, amongst other things, as the last remnants of the Roman Empire, a sphere of papal influence, an enlightened Republic of Letters, a group of powers committed to colonial expansion, a geo-political unit defined against competing ideologies, and a confederation of nation states committed to liberal democracy. The edges of these various competing understandings never overlap and their boundaries have always been contested. In this course, we consider texts from a diverse set of authors that explore these various understandings and we question why the desire for projecting a conception of Europe or the West has been so important to them and the communities they address. The course also explores texts which examine the future of 'the West' and the possibility of alternative formulations.
We focus on ten works that relate to the emergence of notions of 'Europe' and 'the West'. The course is organised around three stages in this broad process. The first looks at Europe's acquisition of notions of courtliness and republican liberty. These two ideals stood in tension because of their practical implications and because the first was an outgrowth of Europe's feudal systems of power while the latter was an inheritance from the Roman past as projected by Renaissance scholarship. The second stage turns to the 'grand narrative' that Europe provided for itself in the eighteenth century. This narrative depicted a Europe that emerged from barbarism following the fall of Rome, then developed Christian forms of rule and warfare (the latter threatened a return to barbarism), and then enteredﾠa new stage, 'commercial society'. Here we also look at the reception and adaptation of this narrative by non-European intellectuals, a crucial moment in the construction of 'the West' by non-westerners. The course then moves to its longest section, the twentieth century, in which we study western Europe's endless appetite for critical introspection following World War II, and the alterations that have been made to the 'grand narrative' by the rise of Marxism.ﾠ
ﾠ
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
WCIV1100 or 4 units of HUMN courses.
Restrictions
BAdvHum(Hons) and BHum/LLB(Hons) students only. BAdvHum(Hons) students taking this course as an elective please email westernciv@uq.edu.au to enable your enrolment.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
- Familiarise students with important ideas and debates regarding Europe and the West.
- Allow students to read, understand and reflect upon landmark texts.
- Critically discuss concepts relating to Europe and the West.
- Encourage students to engage in debate from a position of knowledge not sentiment.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Appreciate the long intellectual history that precedes the concept of the West.
LO2.
Understand the diversity of opinion about what constitutes the West.
LO3.
Appreciate the ability of creative works to explore questions of political consciousness and intervene in political debates.
LO4.
Be able to evaluate competing interpretations of a text.
LO5.
Recognise and understand the importance of conflict in the development of ideas, texts, and identities.
LO6.
Be able to use evidence to evaluate arguments regardless of your own political beliefs and values.
LO7.
Demonstrate an ability to communicate persuasively in written and oral genres.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Participation/ Student contribution |
Tutorial Preparation and Participation
|
30% (10 x 3%) |
No submission for Week 2 - attendance only. Otherwise submissions due Wednesday 2pm in the week the text is discussed in seminars. |
| Project |
Group Work
|
15% |
See Blackboard for group/text allocations. |
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Dialogue
|
30% |
15/10/2024 12:10 pm |
| Practical/ Demonstration | Oral Assessment | 25% |
4/11/2024 - 5/11/2024 |
Assessment details
Tutorial Preparation and Participation
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 30% (10 x 3%)
- Due date
No submission for Week 2 - attendance only.
Otherwise submissions due Wednesday 2pm in the week the text is discussed in seminars.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Task description
Students are awarded up to 30 marks for participation and preparation. It is possible to be awarded a maximum of 3 marks for each seminar and there are 11 seminars. That is, the 10-best grades will be chosen.
For Week 2 seminars there are no submissions, i.e. 3 marks will be awarded based on attendance alone.
For each of the 10 seminars in which we study texts, students must submit a written analysis that answers the set question and follows the model provided (see Blackboard-Assessment). Students who attend and actively participate will have their submissions graded based on the marking criteria (Blackboard). Non-attendance or inactive participation will result in a 0 being awarded for that week even if you submit the task.
Expectations around summaries will be discussed in Week 2 seminars.
Due date: summaries are due to Turnitin Wednesday 2pm of the week the text is discussed in seminars.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Group Work
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
See Blackboard for group/text allocations.
- Learning outcomes
- L04, L06
Task description
In Week 1, each student will be allocated a week for which they will develop discussion questions for the following week with a group of students from other seminars. This will involve:
1. Producing one comprehension question that can be answered by reading and understanding the text (the question should be neither easy nor perplexing) and one interpretive question that engages the logic of the text's argument/plot;
2. Producing an answer sheet that states the essential elements of a correct answer to the comprehension question (see the Locke template on Blackboard in the Group Work assessment folder);
3. Independently verifying the comprehension answer to show its correctness; and producing a group response to the interpretive question that summarises the Zoom discussion;
4. Submitting a link to a Zoom recording of the group meeting where you discuss the final questions/answers and agree that they were feasible and accurate (see 3) and where the group tries to formulate a collective position on the interpretive question. The recording should also show the group agreeing that the submission is of a good standard, and noting any issues regarding individual contributions. Note: login using your UQ account and select record to the Cloud, then copy this link and include it in your submission.
Help finding the link: https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0067567#:~:text=Sign%20in%20to%20the%20Zoom,the%20meeting%20ID%20or%20topic.
(Alternatively, use dropbox and add a link to your submission.)
5. Submitting 1-4 as a single document to Turnitin before Tuesday 2pm of the week the text is discussed in seminars. (For example, Castiglione is the Week 3 Lecture and Week 4 Seminar, hence the Q&A submission is due Tuesday 2pm of Week 4.) Only one person from the group needs to submit, using the group's name.
In Week 2 seminars we will discuss this article and formulate norms that will aid each group to perform well in this task: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/magazine/what-google-learned-from-its-quest-to-build-the-perfect-team.html
NB: If a member of your group is non-responsive or does not participate professionally and competently, then please bring this to my attention immediately. Individual grades will be adjusted where this occurs as noted in the marking criteria (Blackboard).
Submission guidelines
Submit a single document to Turnitin before Tuesday 2pm of the week the text is discussed in seminars. Only one person from the group needs to submit, using the group's name.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Late penalties applied to entire group.
Dialogue
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
15/10/2024 12:10 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L06, L07
Task description
Students will choose two thinkers from any one part of the course (i.e. Republics & Courts, Grand Narrative, Self-Doubts, excl. Leone). They must then write a 450-500w dialogue in which the two thinkers debate some aspect of Christendom/Europe/the West. See the marking criteria, model and instructions on Blackboard.
Students are to submit the final production in two forms. One as a Word doc (submitted via Turnitin) and one as an MP3/MP4/MPA file emailed to the Coordinator, where the text has been read aloud with their dialogue partner. This can usually be done with the voice memo application on your phone. (Note: partners are allocated in Week 2 seminars; partners are "voice actors" only, i.e. the assessment is the product of a single student's labour.) Students are expected to schedule a recording time at least one week before the assessment is due to guard against the usual catastrophes, i.e. illness, work, life. Late penalties apply to both submission forms. (The recordings will be played to the class in Week 12.)
This assessment task evaluates students’ abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin and as recording - see task description.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Oral Assessment
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
4/11/2024 - 5/11/2024
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L04, L06, L07
Task description
Students will be allocated an approximate time to meet with the coordinator (between 4 November 10am and 5 November 4pm). At the beginning of the oral assessment, the student will nominate two segments of the course (i.e. Courts & Republics/Grand Narrative/Self Doubts) and then be asked the question: 'How have the West's anxieties changed across these two periods?'. The student should speak in answer for 5-6 minutes (an alarm will sound at 5.30). Two follow-up questions will then be asked that will be intended to allow the student to amplify/clarify their answer and demonstrate their mastery of the texts for those segments (answers should be approx. 2 minutes each). None of the questions will be intended to trick or intimidate, and your grade can only improve through the Q&A (i.e. your speech will set a floor and the final grade will then be higher or the same, not lower).
We will build oral skills and confidence throughout the tutorials, including a chance for an informal practice of the assessment with a peer in seminars towards the end of semester. See Blackboard for the marking criteria.
This assessment task evaluates students’ abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24.99 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Grade 1, Serious Fail (0-24.99%), is generally awarded in cases where some work has been submitted, but of wholly unsatisfactory standard or quantity. In work submitted, however, there is no demonstrated evidence of understanding of the concepts of the field of study or basic requirements of the course. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44.99 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Grade 2, Fail (25-44.99%), is generally awarded to work that exhibits deficiencies in understanding and applying the fundamental concepts of the course and field of study, and as such, does not satisfy the basic requirements of the course. Often, one or more major items of assessment will not have been completed. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Grade 3, Marginal Fail (45-49.99%), is generally awarded if a student has submitted work that attempts to meet the knowledge and skill requirements of the course, but is only able to demonstrate a superficial understanding of the fundamental concepts of the course. Students will usually have attempted all major pieces of assessment and show that they have an identifiable, emerging ability to apply basic knowledge and skills. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Grade 4, Pass (50-64.99%), is generally awarded where all major items of assessment have been submitted. An adequate knowledge of the fundamental concepts of the course and field of study should be demonstrated and a functional skill level achieved. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Grade 5, Credit (65-74.99%), is generally awarded where all items of assessment have been completed and a substantial understanding of the fundamental concepts of the course and field of study have been demonstrated. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Grade 6, Distinction (75-84.99%), is generally awarded where all items of assessment have been completed and substantial knowledge of the deeper and more complex aspects of the course and field of study have been demonstrated. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Grade 7, High Distinction (85-100%), is generally awarded where all items of assessment have been completed and there is evidence that the deeper and more complex aspects of the course and field of study have been mastered. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Own copy required
You'll need to have your own copy of the following reading resources. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Book |
Caliban and the witch: women, the body and primitive accumulation
by Federici; Silvia - 2004 Publisher: Autonomedia; Pluto ISBN: 9781570270598; 9780241532539 |
| Book |
1984
by Orwell; George - 1949-2021 ISBN: 9781784876555; 9780143566496; 9780141036144; 9781473581579 |
Additional learning resources information
Student Services
Student services offer a variety of short courses during the semester which will help you improve your study, research and writing skills.
The team also offers a wide range of professional and confidential services.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Lecture |
Introduction |
|
Seminar |
Skills Development Learning outcomes: L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Machiavelli Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Seminar |
Machiavelli Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Castiglione Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Seminar |
Castiglione Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Gibbon Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Seminar |
Gibbon Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Macaulay Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Seminar |
Macaulay Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Tahtawi Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Seminar |
Tahtawi Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Fukuzawa Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Seminar |
Fukuzawa Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Borges Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Seminar |
Borges Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Orwell Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Seminar |
Orwell Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Federici Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Seminar |
Federici Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Leone Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Seminar |
Leone Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Conclusion to the Course |
|
Not Timetabled |
Exam Preparation Week - No Classes |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.