This course broadly examines the historical, cultural and social processes which have formed and transformed Iranian and Persian culture and civilization. Students will be introduced to the history, language, literature, art and society in Iran, ranging from ancient Persia to the arrival of Islam and the spread of Persian civilisation to the Persianate World and moving to modern and contemporary Iran. The course will seek to analyse a range of topics, which includes the legacy of Pre-Islamic Iran as well as the formation of a Persianate Islamic culture and its impact on Iranian literature, and art. It will also provide an analysis of the various social and historical aspects that came to create modern Iran, emphasising the move towards the constitutional revolution in early twentieth century, the consequences of the fifty-year Pahlavi dynasty (1925-1979), the 1979 Iranian Revolution and their impacts on the culture of Iran.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. significant dates, events and legacies in Iranian history and culture;
2. the processes that have created and transformed the nation-state in Iran;
3. the elements in shaping Iranian cultural and political identity; and
4. Iran's regional and international interactions in various historical periods. 

Research-Led Teaching

As an active researcher, I intend to integrate my research outcomes with my teaching strategies and try to provide original findings and tangible inspiration to my students. The two major 2000-word & 3000-word essay will allow students to apply theories, and exercise structuring essay, and to practice their research skills, their critical analysis and their ability to engage with the academic literature associated with the module. This would also enable students to apply a range of key ideas and to examine and re-examine them with multi and interdisciplinary approaches and employ theories to support their views on the selected question.

Field Trips

N/A

Additional Course Costs

N/A

Examination Material or equipment

N/A

Required Resources

N/A

Recommended Resources

N/A

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction and overview to the course: Understanding Iran	Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours of reading andindependent research per week outside of class time, inpreparation for tutorials.
2	Ancient Iranian Dynasties: Land, People, Religion	Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours of reading andindependent research per week outside of class time, inpreparation for tutorials.
3	The Persianate World: Dynasties, Culture	Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours of reading andindependent research per week outside of class time, inpreparation for tutorials.
4	The Emergence of Modern Iran: The Safavid Empire.	Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours of reading andindependent research per week outside of class time, inpreparation for tutorials.
5	The Qajar Dynasty, Constitutional Revolution & the World War I.	Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours of reading andindependent research per week outside of class time, inpreparation for tutorials.
6	The Pahlavi Era: Reza Shah, Modernisation & Nation-State Building.	Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours of reading andindependent research per week outside of class time, inpreparation for tutorials.
7	Mohammad Reza Shah: Reform and Dissent.	Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours of reading andindependent research per week outside of class time, inpreparation for tutorials.
8	The 1979 Iranian Revolution: Causes and Implications.	Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours of reading andindependent research per week outside of class time, inpreparation for tutorials.
9	The Islamic Republic	Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours of reading andindependent research per week outside of class time, inpreparation for tutorials.
10	Iran: Nationalism & Ethno-Religious Minorities.	Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours of reading andindependent research per week outside of class time, inpreparation for tutorials.
11	Classical Persian Literature	Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours of reading andindependent research per week outside of class time, inpreparation for tutorials.
12	Contemporary Persian Literature	Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours of reading andindependent research per week outside of class time, inpreparation for tutorials.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Tutorial participation	10 %	*	1,2,3,4
Essay 2000 words	40 %	14/09/2024	1,2,3,4
Essay 3000 words	50 %	08/11/2024	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Tutorial participation

Tutorial assessment will be based on performance and participation in discussions during the tutorial sessions and has the value of 10% of students’ total grade. Tutorial performance will be based on three types of in-class activities:

- individual participation in the free-for-all discussion;

- small group work on problem resolution.

Tutorial attendance is not assessable per se but is highly desirable as there are no alternatives to the activities outlined above. The tutorial mark will be made available on June 1 and is not open to appraisal by a second examiner. Specific guidance to all assessment components will be provided on the course’s Wattle site and at tutorials.

Assessment Task 2

Essay 2000 words

Essay 2000 words due by 14 September 2024. 40%:

Details of task: In the essay, you should explore one of the topics related to Iranian history and culture from a critical perspective. You are encouraged to examine critically historical events and elements that have shaped Iranian cultural and political identity. Essay topics will be provided by the course convenor, but you are also encouraged to think of your own topic in line with what interest you in the history, culture and society of Iran and then discuss it with the course convenor to approve it.

Assessment Task 3

Essay 3000 words

Essay 3000 words due by 08 November 2024. 50%

Details of task: In the essay, you should explore one of the topics related to Iranian history and culture from a critical perspective. You are encouraged to examine critically historical events and elements that have shaped Iranian cultural and political identity. Essay topics will be provided by the course convenor, but you are also encouraged to think of your own topic in line with what interest you in the history, culture and society of Iran and then discuss it with the course convenor to approve it.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

Essay #1 will be returned on October. 8

Essay #2 will be returned on November 30

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

There are no provisions for resubmission of essays in this course.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students