ATS2699: Parties and Power

10% Quiz
50% Major Essay
40% Final exam
Note that the original assessments included a class test in place of the quiz, and, for me, this unit was delivered online due to COVID-19, so mileage may vary.

This unit is a good continuation of the content learned in ATS1945 Australian government and politics. The content is more advanced, but you should be fine if you do all of the readings. The lecturer is clearly very knowledgeable, and he had many stories to tell during each lecture. This was probably the only class where I actually looked forward to each lecture. Although the actual slides are plain and dull, Economou does a great job of making everything exciting, even online. I haven't completed it yet, but my understanding is that the exam will be 10 prompts, each one based on the content of each week, and essays need to be written for 3 of them. This was the same format as the ATS1945 exam. Also, the prompts for the major essay (50%) are available on the unit guide, so I would pick one before the semester begins, and make sure that you focus when the relevant week rolls around. I believe the unit is required for the politics major, and an elective for the minor. If you had the choice, I'd choose this unit if you were interested in party politics and electoral politics. The content really gets into the weeds on the structures of some of the major political parties, and the theory behind electoral politics. Overall a very good unit (although I wish it was face-to-face for me!).

Nick Economou

No, and no sample exam.

4/5

Yes, with screen capture.

The textbook requirement is Narelle Miragliotta, Anika Gauja and Rodney Smith (eds) Contemporary Australian Political Party Organisations Monash University Publishing, Melbourne 2015.

I did buy it, but it is also completely available online via the Monash Library, so you shouldn't need to. A chapter from the textbook will usually feature in each week's required reading, and the rest of the readings will be provided online.

1 x 2 hour lecture
1 x 1 hour tutorial

2020 Sem 1

75 D