Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ANT3037: Actor-Network-Theory

This module descriptor refers to the 2016/7 academic year.

Module Aims

The aims of this module are to introduce to ANT, and to explore the development of ANT, its central topics and issues, different research agendas and theoretical orientations. With the use of specific examples, the module will examine key issues of current social life and how the view of ANT offers a novel understanding of the social and society.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate knowledge of different approaches to the study of Actor-Networks 2. Demonstrate an ability to analyse and evaluate key issues in the field of ANT in relation specific themes, studies and findings
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. Demonstrate the capacity to select relevant material and structure it in order to present coherent arguments 4. Demonstrate some ability to acquire detailed and comprehensive knowledge of debates in the field 5. Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the well-established principles of ANT, and of the way in which those principles have developed 6. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of key aspects of ANT, including acquisition of coherent and detailed knowledge, at least some of which is at or informed by, the forefront of defined aspects of ANT.
Personal and Key Skills	7. Demonstrate the ability to undertake independent study and group work 8. Prepare focused and comprehensive written and oral presentations

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Origins of ANT
• Experience and Social Facts
• Strong programme, Edinburgh School
• Laboratory Studies
• Sociology of Objects and Technology
• Illness
• Disability
• Human/Animals
• A new Sociology?

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching	22	Eleven 2-hour lectures, involving presentations, group discussion, film presentations and media analysis
Guided independent study	18	Preparing seminar-presentation individually and as a group
Guided independent study	80	Reading for assignments
Guided independent study	30	Essay preparation: conducting research, analysing data, and writing the finished product

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Course materials (including lecture slides and tutorial topics/questions) will be provided on ELE prior to each lecture/tutorial.

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Class Presentation primarily oral although power point, other media and handouts may be used	15-20 minutes	1-8	Oral

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
80	0	20

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Research Essay	80	3,500 words	1-8	Written
Session presentation of readings and leading session discussion	20	Each Session, including group work, 20-30 minutes, moderation of each session, and handing in discussion notes where required, after presentation (on ELE); including in class presentation of essay topic and related literature, 5-10 minutes	1-8	Oral and written
	0
	0
	0
	0

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Seminar presentation of readings and leading seminar discussion	1,500 word essay	1-8	August/September assessment period
Research Essay	3,500 word essay	1-8	August/September assessment period

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Basic reading:

Latour, B. (2015) Re-Assembling the Social. AN Introduction to ANT. Oxford: OUP
Law, J. (1991) (ed.) A Sociology of Monsters. Essays on Power, Technology and Power. London: Routledge.
Law, J. & Hassard, J. (1999) Actor Network Theory and After. Sociological Review Monographs/Oxford: Blackwell.
Mol, A. (2002) The Body Multiple: Ontology in Medical Practice. Durham/London: Duke University Press.
Schillmeier, M. (2010) Rethinking Disability. Bodies, Senses and Things. London: Routledge