ALR782 - Public Affairs and Opinion Formation

Unit details

Year:

2024 unit information

Enrolment modes:Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: Deirdre Quinn-Allan
Corequisite:Nil
Incompatible with: ALR383
Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

1 x 2-hour seminar each week (weeks 1 to 11 inclusive)

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment:

Online independent and collaborative learning activities 1 x 2-hour per week.

Content

This unit explores ‘public affairs’, a political communication role focused on policy development and public opinion formation in the Australian political context. It provides students with ‘behind the scenes’ insight into how the government works by examining roles played by lobbyists, public affairs practitioners and journalists in the promotion of competing viewpoints.

Canvassing various sectors that have influence in Australian policy development spectrum, it also examines the political communication activities of non-government organisations (NGOs), not for profit and activist groups; as well, special interest groups such as ‘think tanks’ with special emphasis on their donors, funders and affiliations.

The unit enables students to apply their knowledge and understanding of the political process, issue management and the forecasting of trends in relation to opinion formation and policy development.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1

Apply a range of theoretical frameworks to analyse and explain contemporary public affairs practice

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO2

Analyse and explain public opinion and the relationship to public affairs

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO3

Research government and political processes and explain how they are influenced by public affairs practice

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO4

Research and plan a lobbying or advocacy initiative

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO5: Problem solving

ULO5

Locate and apply relevant sources to understand the Australian political process for the analysis of public affairs practice and for lobbying and advocacy planning

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO3: Digital literacy

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO5: Problem solving

GLO6: Self-management

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1 - Essay 1500 words or equivalent 30% Information not yet available
Assessment 2 - Online Quiz 1000 words or equivalent 20% Information not yet available
Assessment 3 - Major Project 2500 words or equivalent 50% Information not yet available

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via ALR782
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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