Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ARA1013: Elementary Persian

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

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Introduction to Persian Language, Literature, Culture and Civilization (lecture)

Basic structure of the Persian Language (text-based study)

Elementary Persian Grammar (text-based study)

Mid-term exam

Intermediate Persian Grammar (text-based study)

Review of entire class

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
44	106

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

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity	44	Teaching varies between lectures and commentary on the main textbook (Thackston), in-class readings, translation and discussion of Persian texts; translation (Persian->English) exercises done collectively by the whole class; regular vocabulary reviews; the reading of poetic and prose texts aloud together. Handouts are provided regularly, including sheets that discuss difficult points of grammar, and literary texts (prose and poetry) to illustrate aspects of Persian language.
Guided Independent study	106	Homework assignments, library, research etc.

Online Resources

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

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

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
Discussions in tutorials	Weekly	1,2	Verbal feedback

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
15	50	35

...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
Homework assignments.	15	2 assignments per term	1-4	Written feedback
Midterm quiz	15	1.5 hours	All	Written feedback
Oral Examination and questions	20	15 minutes	4-5	Written and verbal feedback
Examination	50	2 hours	1-2	Written feedback
	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
Homework assignments.	Homework assignments.	1-4	Rescheduled during term time
Midterm quiz	1.5 hours	All	Rescheduled during term time
Oral Examination and questions	15 minutes	4-5	Rescheduled during term time
Examination	Examination	1-2	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.

Wheeler Thackston, An Introduction to Persian(Ibex Publishers)

Anne Lambton, Persian Grammar (Cambridge U. Press)

L. Elwell-Sutton, Elementary Persian Grammar (Cambridge U. Press)