S1 INR3000 Assessment

2019, S1 INR3000 Assessment

Assignment 1

Description	Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date
Assignment 1	100	20%	Consult course specification online

Short essay (1000 words)

For the short essay students are required to write an essay to review an article/chapter listed below. Please select one (1) option only. You should look through all options before making your choice, to make the best decision.

Remember that for the review essay you only have a maximum word length of 1000 words total. This assignment will demand discipline to keep to the word count. Development of such discipline is a critical workplace skill and while this might seem to be difficult, it will also enhance your personal skills.

Use the Harvard AGPS referencing system as outlined in this introductory material. I suggest you also look at the USQ plagiarism website to make sure your work conforms to University guidelines <http://www.usq.edu.au/library/referencing/what -is -plagiarism >.

Review essay options (select one only)

Critically review Wilkins, T 2017, ‘Australia and middle power approaches to Asia Pacific regionalism’, Australian Journal of Political Science, vol. 52, no. 1, pp.110-125. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10361146.2016.1238870
Critically review Ungerer, C 2007, ‘The "middle power" concept in Australian foreign policy’, The Australian Journal of Politics and History, vol. 53, pp. 538-551. (Selected reading 3.1).
Critically review chapter 15, Wesley, M 2011, ‘Australia’s foreign policy machinery’ in Cotton, J. & Ravenhill, J, (eds) in Middle power dreaming: Australia in world affairs 2006 to 2010, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Critically review chapter 14, True, J 2017, ‘Gender and foreign policy’ in Beeson, M. & Hameiri, S, (eds) in Navigating the new international disorder: Australia in world affairs 2011 to 2015, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

Guidelines for the review essay

Points you must consider are:

Describe the content or explain what the source is about. (This should not be more than 20% of the review for each source.)
What does the article tell you about the development of Australia’s foreign relations? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the article?
What contribution has the author made to the study of Australian foreign relations in this article?

(If you use these points as sub-headings do not include them in your word count!)

The major source will be the chapter or article you have been assigned to critically review, but you may include references to other sources. Some of those sources may be other articles in the book of selected readings. This type of assignment may be unusual for some of you but you should enjoy the opportunity to critically examine (and perhaps tear apart?) the work of established scholars in the field. However, do not read the assigned chapter in isolation. Make sure that you read several other articles or chapters in the texts to place your assigned reading in context.

These example of book reviews may help familiarise you with the style of a review. http://intersections.anu.edu.au/issue37/gehrmann_review.htm http://eprints.usq.edu.au/21865/

Note: Students planning to undertake honours or further degree studies could benefit from looking at a much more comprehensive review article that evaluates a wide variety of sources, in order to familiarise himself with this style of review writing. See Sobocinska, A. 2014. ‘Overturning the point: Exploring change in Australian–Asian relations." History Compass, vol. 12, no. 8, pp. 642 – 650. (search online for this under google scholar or under the journal History Compass in the USQ library catalogue. http://library.usq.edu.au/Search/Results?lookfor=history+compass&type =

Marking criteria and feedback for reviews

Discussion of source content (should not be more than 20% of total review)

Of high quality, concise discussion of key points
Adequate, but not wholly inclusive of main points
Inadequate discussion of main points, or much too long

Treatment of Source Content

The source being reviewed was cleverly used to support the analytical commentary
The source being reviewed could be better used to support the analytical commentary
Inadequate use of the source being reviewed to support the thesis and argument

Does the review explain what the source was about? YES/NO

Does the review discuss what the source tells the reader about the YES/NO development of Australian Foreign Relations?

Does the review discuss the strengths of the article? YES/NO

Does the review discuss the weaknesses of the article? YES/NO

Does the review indicate the contribution the author has made to the YES/NO study of Australian Foreign Relation?

Depth of Source Analysis

Shows in-depth analysis of the source being reviewed covering all assignment criteria
Shows adequate analysis of source covering some of the assignment criteria _⃞Inadequate or limited analysis of source being reviewed

Conclusion

Draws the analytical commentary together, strong linkage to the source being reviewed
Draws most strands together, but lacks connection to the source being reviewed
Not present or not adequate

Language and writing style

Fluent and literate
Adequate, but needs improvement
Of low standard

Proof-reading (including spell-checking, double-spacing, pagination, punctuation, grammar, etc.)

No errors
Minimal errors remain
Many errors remain

GENERAL COMMENTS:

Marker:____________________________ Date______________ Mark = /

Assignment 2

Description	Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date
Assignment 2	100	40%	Refer to course specification

Major essay & annotated bibliography

Length: 2000 words (bibliography and annotated bibliography not included in word count)

Essay - In your essay develop an argument in your introduction, which your essay should support. Your introduction will establish for the examiner what pathway you will take, and your essay will be judged on this basis. When you choose your topic, consider the resources available. For this assignment you will need at least eight to ten sources. Online sources should be used with caution, unless you are using electronic versions of journals or books, such as those available via the USQ Library database or Google scholar. Reference your work correctly. Please use the Harvard AGPS system of referencing, and make sure you use page numbers for both direct and indirect quotes.

For some contemporary topics you might use information gained from recently published sources in major newspapers (such as The Australian or Sydney Morning Herald) and journals. If you live in a remote area or have limited access to information, you would be well advised to consider the issue of availability of sources when choosing an assignment topic.

At the conclusion of your assignment bibliography, you must also include an annotated bibliography (See below).

Annotated Bibliography – for each of your 8-10 sources, you will need to write a 2 to 4 sentence summary of each source. This annotated bibliography must be included as the final component of your assignment, immediately following your standard bibliography. This is not included in the assignment word count.

Topics

Choose one of the following topics:

At a time when China and Russia are rejecting the prevailing rules-based global order and when United States policy is tarnished by tweets and indecision, are traditionalism, seclusion and internationalism (Wesley and Warren 2000) appropriate currents of thought in Australian foreign policy?
Are traditionalism, seclusion and internationalism (Wesley and Warren 2000) appropriate currents of thought in Australian foreign policy in this decade of domestic instability, minority governments, plus excessive influence by minor parties and independents?

Assessment 6

Marking criteria and feedback for essay

	HD (85–100)	A (75 to 84)	B (65 to 74)	C (50 to 64)	F (<49%)
Annotated Bibliography Sources/ research (8–10 required)	You have demonstrated wide scholarly reading through the use of numerous and varied sources of a high scholarly quality. You have clearly employed these sources in your argument and demonstrated sound understanding of, and critical engagement with, these sources. Your sources include many current and up-to-date references.	You have used a good number of scholarly sources and demonstrated how your understanding of these sources has informed your argument. A greater variety of sources may have benefited your essay. Some of your sources may have been improved, perhaps in currency.	You have used sufficient sources to demonstrate some informed knowledge of the area; you may have lacked sources for some points that would have been improved by support or your essay may have benefited from a greater variety of sources. Perhaps some sources are not appropriate for scholarly work.	You have used the minimum number of sources; some of your sources may not be appropriate to scholarly work. You may have some points that require sources to support them and you have not provided any.	You have not employed enough sources or your sources may be unreliable or unacceptable in scholarly work.
Structure introduction main body conclusion	Your essay structure is clear, flows logically and has no superfluous material.	Very good work. Your essay structure is logical and well balanced.	Your essay structure is good, but you can do more to improve this.	Your argument structure is present, but not well defined. The structure could be improved.	Your essay needs a clear structure, with introduction, body and conclusion
Analysis/ Argument	Excellent examples to advance your discussion. Your analysis was clearly integrated into your argument structure, with high-quality arguments and well supported conclusions.	You have used very good arguments that draw on evidence to support your conclusions.	You have developed a good argument was well explained and connected to the course themes	Your argument could have been more effective, but you have made a sound attempt.	Difficult to understand. Unconnected ideas. Lack of support for conclusions
Facts / Topic knowledge	A very advanced knowledge of topic content with significant originality	Advanced knowledge of topic content with some originality	Good knowledge of topic content	Sound knowledge of the relevant topic	Did not demonstrate knowledge of topic
Expression grammar spelling writing	Your writing clearly and powerfully represents your ideas with elegant and concise phrasing and no errors of spelling or grammar.	Your writing clearly expresses your ideas in a concise and effective manner; you may have few errors of grammar or spelling.	Your writing communicates your ideas, but expression may be improved, it may be too wordy or awkward. You may have some grammatical and spelling errors.	What you are trying to say is generally clear; however you may have clumsy expression and several grammatical and spelling errors.	What you are trying to say is not always clear; you may have numerous grammatical and spelling errors.
Referencing	You have references that are clear and well executed in the correct Harvard format with no (or almost no) errors.	You have references that are clear and well executed in the correct Harvard format with minimal errors.	Your referencing is mostly present, but may have errors. You may have applied a system of referencing other than Harvard.	Your referencing is poorly executed, and needs work. <http://www.usq.e du.au/library/help/ referencing/harvar d >	Referencing is not present in you essay.

Marker comments.

Assessment 7

Examination 40%

The exam will consist of three parts, with the unseen Part A being multiple choice questions drawn from across the range of the study modules. Part B will consist of five questions chosen from the ten questions listed below, with students answering two essay questions in the exam. Part C will be a short essay written on your major assignment topic. Part A – 25 marks, Part B – 50 marks, Part C – 25 marks.

Start making notes regarding any of these questions early, rather than waiting until the end of semester to begin exam revision. NOTE - In the actual exam, there will be 5 (not 10) questions in Part B, from which you will choose 2 to write about.

Part B _{This section is worth 50 marks} Answer two of the following questions (350-550 words for each essay). Each answer is worth 25 marks. Please write the question number (and a brief version of the question – i.e. ‘Assess Australia’s involvement in ...’ at the top of each of your answered questions.

It is expected that you will allocate at least 30 minutes for each of these questions.

Assess Australia’s involvement in the US led actions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. How have these interventions advantaged and disadvantaged us in terms of our overall foreign policy? Consider both the positive and negatives.
Has the War on Terror provided Australia with new opportunities to develop positive foreign relations in Asia? Consider case studies such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan.
Explain the middle power concept in Australian foreign policy.
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) has governed Australia during several periods of intense diplomatic activity. Critically assess the contribution to Australian foreign policy made by one ALP Australian foreign minister. (Students might assess the strengths and weakness of ministers such as Evatt, Willessee, Cairns, Hayden, Evans, Rudd or Carr.)
Assess the defence and economic links between Australia and Japan in the last two decades.
Julie Bishop was Australia’s first female foreign minister. What were her policy successes and failures?
Does Australia best engage with Asia as one entity, or as a series of bilateral relationships?
‘Trade is the most important factor in determining the course of Australian foreign relations’. Discuss.
Should Australia continue to contribute troops to international peacekeeping and reconstruction? Why?
Should China be seen as an opportunity or a threat? Discuss.

Part C This section is worth 25 marks.

Answer ONE of the following questions in 350-550 words. These are the same as your major assignment questions but you should not include references in your exam essay. Please write the question number (and brief version of the question) at the top of your answered questions.

At a time when China and Russia are rejecting the prevailing rules-based global order and when United States policy is tarnished by tweets and indecision, are traditionalism, seclusion and internationalism (Wesley and Warren 2000) appropriate currents of thought in Australian foreign policy?
Are traditionalism, seclusion and internationalism (Wesley and Warren 2000) appropriate currents of thought in Australian foreign policy in this decade of domestic instability, minority governments, plus excessive influence by minor parties and independents?

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