Politics - Unit 2
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this unit.
Course Description
In this unit, students investigate the key principles of democracy and assess the degree to which these principles are expressed, experienced and challenged, in Australia and internationally. They consider democratic principles in the Australian context and complete an in-depth study of a political issue or crisis that inherently challenges basic democratic ideas or practice. Students also investigate the degree to which global political actors and trends can challenge, inhibit or undermine democracy, and evaluate the political significance of these challenges. Each area of study focuses on concepts that form essential disciplinary knowledge, and which allow students to gradually build on their understanding of what it is to think politically.
Areas of Study
Issues for Australia’s democracy
- The operation of Australian democracy, democratic institutions and processes, and the political significance of challenges to democratic principles.
- The principles, values and features that nurture Australian democracy.
- The political issues facing Australian democracy today.
- The extent to which Australia has a democratic culture.
Power and global political actors
- The challenges to the legitimacy and spread of democracy globally.
- The political significance of global challenges to democracy.
- The extent to which democracy contributes to global stability and/or opportunities for change.
Assessment
|
Outcomes
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Assessment Tasks |
| (school-assessed coursework) |
| Analyse at least one Australian political issue and evaluate the extent to which Australian democracy and democratic principles are upheld |
Selected from:
- a political inquiry
- analysis and evaluation of sources
- a multimedia presentation
- a political debate
- a political simulation
- a political brief
- extended responses
- short-answer questions
|
| Analyse at least one global challenge to the legitimacy and spread of democracy and evaluate the political significance of this challenge to democratic principles. |
As above
|
Overall Final Assessment
End of Semester Examination – 1.5 hours.
Information can be obtained from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, Victoria, Australia: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au
