These notes, plus additional information, are posted at
http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/classes/
Brian Martin, room 19.2059
Mailing address: STS, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522
Phone: 4228 7860 (home), 4221 3763 (work)
Fax 4221 3452
Email: brian_martin@uow.edu.au
Web http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/
Sometimes you can find me in my office, especially in the afternoons. You are also welcome to contact me by phone (at home after 8am and before 9pm, please), fax or email, to discuss any issue or make an appointment.
At the end of this subject, students should have demonstrated, on the basis of written work, oral presentations and other contributions to tutorials, that they:
1. have a substantive knowledge and understanding of a number of risk and health and safety issues, and of the contending viewpoints and claims on these issues;
2. can identify and characterise different theoretical approaches in explaining the social treatment of hazards, and identify advantages, problems and implications of these approaches;
3. can apply some of these theoretical approaches, and appropriate social concepts, to examples of hazards issues;
4. can critically examine and evaluate contributions to debates on hazards issues; and
5. can describe qualitatively some risk analysis procedures and techniques;
6. will have developed their skills
in finding and using arguments and information; in summarising and critically evaluating such material;
in particular, in finding and interpreting statistical information; and
in essay writing and seminar presentation.
Mondays, 3.30-6.30pm, room 19.2061
Classes will include guest lecturers, student-designed activities and other activities to be decided.
Weeks 2 and 3: reports on information about one theory in the risk literature (look up risk assessment, risk management, risk perception, risk communication, etc.) and one social theory not specifically oriented to risk (such as sociology of scientific knowledge, neoclassical economics, political economy, representative democracy, participatory democracy, bureaucracy, feminism, marxism, fascism, or theories about social movements, communication theories, psychological theories, etc.).
Weeks 5 to 8: class facilitations
STS235/335 (8 credit points)
Participation, 15%
Class facilitation, 20%
Write-up of class facilitation, 15%
Draft of essay, 10%
Essay, 30%
Extra 10% to be given the highest of the three marks obtained for class facilitation, write-up and essay.
STS376 (6 credit points)
By agreement with me.
(Similar to STS335 but with omission of one quarter of the assessment.)
STS931 (12 credit points)
By agreement with me.
A passing mark normally will require attendance at 80% or more of class time, exempting classes for which a suitable certificate is provided. Class facilitators are expected to encourage everyone’s participation.
Students can work individually or in a group to run a class on an agreed topic. Normally the topic will cover both a case study and a theory. The class can be run as a presentation, debate, game, quiz, small group exercises or any other activity that helps others to learn. Facilitators do not have to stand and talk, but are welcome to use one or more activities. Consider using overheads, handouts, tapes and videos. You should include some method to evaluate how well the class has understood what you are trying to get across.
Each student will have at least 30 minutes for their facilitation (though using all this time is not required). A group of two students will have at least 60 minutes, etc.
Class activities will be assessed using these criteria
• knowledge of subject matter
• audience involvement
• aids (handouts, overheads, posters, videos, etc.)
• design (fitting together of activities&endash;role plays, debates, quizzes … whatever&endash;with subject matter, to make an effective learning experience)
• method of evaluating how well the class has understood your message.
You should write an account of the topic covered in your class facilitation, including a discussion of what happened in class.
Length: 750 words.
Due date: noon Thursday 13 September
Where: under the door to my office (19.2059) or in my mail box in room 19.2054. Alternatively, mail the report to me by express post no later than noon of the due date.
Facilitation write-ups will be assessed using these criteria
• understanding of the topic (case study and theory)
• insights about the case study drawn from the theory
• insights from the class activity
• argument (starting from clearly articulated premises; mobilising evidence and logic towards a conclusion; recognising assumptions made and limitations)
• quality of expression (organisation of material, clarity, grammar, spelling, etc.)
Additional expectation for STS335/376 students: discuss insights about the theory derived from applying it to the case study.
Pick a topic involving the social aspects of risk, with my agreement. Gather information about the topic through several different sources, such as books, articles, newspapers, internet, TV, interviews, surveys, observations and personal participation.
Choose two theories, one specific to the risk literature and one outside it. Analyse the topic using the two theories, comparing insights provided by them.
You are welcome to work in a group on the investigation. You can write either an individual report or a group report (for up to three students).
You should submit a full-length draft. I will give detailed comments. (For more comprehensive comments, please supply a cassette tape.) You then make revisions. The final revised essay will be marked externally.
Length: 2000 words.
Due date for draft: 3.30pm Monday 29 October
Due date for final version: noon Monday 12 November
Where: under the door to my office (19.2059) or in my mail box in room 19.2054. Alternatively, mail the report to me by express post no later than noon of the due date.
Essay drafts, received on time and if full length, will receive the same mark as the essay.
Essays will be assessed using these criteria
• understanding of the case study
• use of sources of information
• understanding of the theories
• application of the theories to the case study
• argument (starting from clearly articulated premises; mobilising evidence and logic towards a conclusion; recognising assumptions made and limitations)
• quality of expression (organisation of material, clarity, grammar, spelling, etc.)
Additional expectation for STS335/376 students: discuss insights about the theories derived from applying them to the case study.
Oral examinations I reserve the option to request any student to undergo an additional oral examination on any work that they have performed.