Please note - Swinburne University of Technology

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AS413 Applied Social Planning
Subject aims and description
In this subject the role of the social scientist in the social
planning process is examined. While emphasizing the
important role of the social scientist in critically examining
the values and assumptions underpinning the planning
process, this subject is predominantly skills oriented. Particular
attention is paid to the techniques of needs surveys,
evaluation, secondary data analysis, and social impact
analysis.
~5465 Urban and Regional Economics
Subject aims and description
This subject is designed to introduce students to the
principles of economic analysis as they apply to the city.
Particular attention is given to techniques of economic
analysis such as cost benefit analysis, program budgeting,
investment analysis and demand forecasting. Topics to which
these principles and techniques are applied include housing,
transport, and local government.
ATI 16 Linguistics 1
No. of hours per week: three hours
Prerequisite: nil
Assessment: continuous
Subject aims and description
In this subject, basic linguistic concepts are introduced which
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are necessary to the undentanding of the mechanics of
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language. The topics studied include sound systems of
human speech, the combination of sounds into words, the
rules for combining words into sentences, the study of
meaning, the role of discourse, and language usage within a
social system.
Although most of the examples are taken from the English
language, their applicability to Japanese, Korean, Italian and
other languages is also explained. Students undertaking
foreign language majors are highly recommended to include
this subject in their course. It is also available to students not
studying languages.
Textbook
Fromkin, V. et a/. An Introduction to Language. 2nd Australian ed.
Sydney: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1990
ATI 17 Philosophy of Mind
No. of hours per week: three hours
Prerequisites: nil
Assessment: continuous
This subject is offered as an elective for psychophysiology comajor
students.
This subject introduces students to a range of philosophical
issues associated with the study of mind, brain and
cognition. It draws upon problems and issues arising from
recent developments in computer technology, especially in
artificial intelligence research, expert systems and neural nets,
to show the contemporary relevance of many traditional
approaches to the philosophy of mind, and to explore some
of the new questions which have emerged from these
advanced technologies.
Text books
Consult the lecturer in charge
References
Allman, W. Apprentices of Wonder: Inside the Neural Network
Revolution. Bantam Books, 1989
Penrose, R. The Emperor's New Mind. Oxford University Press, 1990
AT1 18 Aboriginal Issues
No. of hours per week: three hours
Prerequisites: nil
Assessment: continuous
Subject aims and description
This subject is designed to allow examination of a wide
range of contemporary Aboriginal issues. It is expected that
students will become aware of the social and historical
antecedents and recognise relationships that exist between
them.
The central theme of the subject is the relationship between
land and culture, from dispossession and demoralisation to
the contemporary land rights movement as an attempt to reestablish
a satisfactory cultural identity. Issues covered will
include land rights, the search for identity, community
development, health, employment, art and music.
References
To be advised
AT1 19 Academic Communication Skills
No, of hours per week: four hours
Prerequisite: nil
This subject is strongly recommended for all first
year international students
Assessment: continuous, and will be based on
classwork, a journal and essay
Subject aims and description
This subject is designed specifically for international students.
It seeks to explicitly teach techniques in academic skills
which aid in the transition to Australian tertiary academic
life. The course incorporates classes in advanced reading,
research techniques, essay writing, discussion skills analysis
and criticism.
These skills are taught within a framework of English as a
second language. It is taught through several themes which
examine cultural issues and values in the Australian setting.
As well it seeks to orient students to different disciplinary
thinking by viewing these themes from different subject
perspectives.
It incorporates guest lecturers, language support and a
forum for problem solving for students new to the
Australian academic expectations.
References
Swan, M. Practical English Usage. 22nd ed, Oxford University Press,
1991
AT1 20 Writing Fiction
No. of hours per week: three hours
Prerequisites: nil
Assessment: continuous
Subject aims and description
This subject will introduce students to the range of skills
required of the professional writer of fiction. A series of
workshop exercises will develop skills in creating character,
dialogue and dramatic tension. Point of view, voice, form,
style, plot, tone, and description and their place in building a
story will be explored. The importance of revision, listening
to criticism and developing a self-critical stance will be
stressed, together with techniques for developing these
personal skills.
An introduction to techniques of critical and creative
thinking will be provided; e,g. plugging into both rational
and irrational processes; the role of conjectural thinking,
intuition and luck; the use of analogies, metaphor, and
associative thinking; perceiving and creating relationships.
Emphasis is placed on the participant as writer and critic.