Language, Cultures and Communication (9485.4)

Required texts

Recommended texts:

Mooney, A., & Evans, B. (2015). Language, society and power: An introduction. 4^th Ed. London: Routledge. [E-book available via Canvas; 5^th Ed. available for purchase from The School Locker]

Holmes, J., & Wilson, N. (2017). An introduction to sociolinguistics. 5^th Ed. London: Routledge. [E-book available via Canvas]

Meyerhoff, M. (2011). Introducing sociolinguistics, 2^nd Ed. London: Routledge. [E-book available via Canvas]

Coulmas, F. (2013) Sociolinguistics: The study of speakers' choices. 2^nd Ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Available through the UC Library) 

Additional resources will be made available via the unit Canvas site.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

All assessment items required to be submitted online must be submitted via the appropriate Canvas drop box. It is the student's responsibility to upload the correct and corresponding draft or assessment item to the right submission section. Assignments must be submitted in a format accessible to the assessor(s), as stated on the relevant canvas site. If the unit convener and/or tutor are unable to access a submission, a standard late penalty of 5% of the total marks possible for the task may be applied per day until the assignment is made accessible.

Approval of extenuating circumstances will be dependent upon the production of supporting documentation and at the discretion of the unit convener.

Special assessment requirements

Assessment format requirements

• Font: Times New Roman
• Size: 12 size font
• Spacing: 1.5 or double
• Referencing style: APA Style
• Use page numbering
• Check your work carefully for spelling and grammatical errors.
• Use standard margins
• References should be listed on a separate page, be attached to the end of your assignment (but before any appendices), and consist of several references. Please note that only references appearing in the assignment text should be listed on your page of references.

Additional unit information

1. Students must complete every assessment item in order to pass the unit. An aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the unit.
2. Students should keep a copy of any assessment item that has been submitted.
3. Moderation of assignments is used in the unit to ensure consistency and transparency in marking. Sample assignments reflecting the range of grades in each assignment will be moderated. When the work of a student is awarded a mark or grade that leads to a fail grade in a unit, the work will be reassessed by a colleague in the discipline.
4. Special consideration: In the case of illness, misadventure or unavoidable commitments, participants should contact the Unit Convener as soon as possible.
5. If there is any doubt with regard to the requirements of any particular assignments or assessment procedure, the onus for clarifying the issue rests with the student who should contact the unit convenor about the matter.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

The University supported text matching software is URKUND, which is now available to all units via Canvas. For further information, please see the description of how to use the URKUND tool in the UCLearn (Canvas) Staff Support site.

All allegations of student misconduct will be referred to the ADE for investigation as a prescribed authority. Where plagiarism or fraudulent documentation is suspected, the assignment will be referred to the Associate Dean Education who will determine penalties. These may include failing the assessment item or failing the unit or suspension and/or exclusion from the University.

Learner engagement

Below are estimates of the number of hours students enrolled in the unit can expect to spend on various activities:                                                                                     

Lectures and tutorials: 40 hours                                      

Reading and reviewing materials: 50 hours

Preparation, data collection, library research, writing for assessment items: 60 hours

Total: 150 hours

Participation requirements

Your participation in both class and online activities will enhance your understanding of the unit content and therefore the quality of your assessment responses. Lack of participation may result in your inability to satisfactorily pass assessment items.

Required IT skills

Microsoft Word, Email, Internet, Canvas (reading announcements, submitting assignments, discussion posts, accessing lectures), virtual room/Blackboard Collaborate, the library catalogue and research databases.

In-unit costs

You can purchase the main textbook (Mooney, A., & Evans, B. [2019]) via the School locker. The book is also available as an E-book via Canvas.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

Provision of information to the group

Notifications through the Canvas Announcements Forum or the Canvas Discussion Forums are deemed to be made to the whole class.  It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they check for announcements on the Unit's Canvas website (forum messages are also emailed to student email addresses only).  Students should ensure they check their student email regularly.  The Canvas discussion forums will be checked by staff regularly.

Use of student email account

The University Email policy states that "students wishing to contact the University via email regarding administrative or academic matters need to send the email from the University account for identity verification purposes".  Therefore all unit enquiries should be emailed using a student university email account. Students should contact ServiceDesk@canberra.edu.au if they have any issues accessing their university email account.

• Semester 2, 2020, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (195815)
• Semester 2, 2019, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (191861)