BHS2490

The Self and Others: Identity and the Experience of Difference in the 21st Century ( 6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Peter Kelly

Offered:
Caulfield Second semester 2006 (Day)
Clayton Second semester 2006 (Day)

Synopsis: In the 21st century our sense of Self, and our relationships to others, are constructed out of a multitude of interactions - some face-to-face, some more abstract. Our experience of difference can be destructive and/or empowering - at the levels of personal relationships, public relationships in spaces such as schools and workplaces, through to the so-called clash of civilisations. This Unit will explore socio-cultural approaches to understanding: the character of human relationships at the start of the 21st century: the consequences that these relationships have for a sense of Self and Others and: how we can understand the variety of behaviours that are shaped by these relationships.

Objectives: At the completion of this unit students will: 1.Have developed a detailed and extensive knowledge of a variety of socio-cultural perspectives on the nature of human relationships at the start of the 21st century 2.Have developed a detailed and extensive knowledge of the socio-cultural concept of Identity 3.Have developed a detailed and extensive knowledge of the ways in which the experience of difference influences the relationships between the Self and Others, and to demonstrate a capacity to work with these understandings of difference in a group work assessment context 4.Have developed an ability to identify, explore and make judgements on the research literature related to these concepts 5.Have developed an ability to critically use this literature to communicate, orally and in a written form, in a logical, coherent and analytical manner about these concepts

Assessment: 1.Scripted dialogue (2000 words): 40%; 2.Concept Map Presentation (1750 words): 45%; 3.1 x 2 hour test (750 words):15% 4.Additional comment 1. Scripted dialogue will be a group assignment completed in pairs. Dialogue will be theoretically informed, with all scholarly conventions (research, analysis, referencing) to be evident and assessable 2.Concept map will be a theoretically informed analysis mapping various relationships in relation to an identified topic/issue. Weighting reflects individual piece of work that requires additional work/thought on presentation elements of concept map. 3. 2 hour exam will require short essay writing. The time allocation is to enable students to think critically and produce well structured written work in an exam context.

Contact Hours: 2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

Prerequisites: One of BHS1711, BHS1712, SCY1100, SCY1200, WMN1010, GSC1711, GSC1712, BHS 1320, BHS 1340

Prohibitions: BHS3490