Module POL3172 for 2016/7
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL3172: Political Participation
This module descriptor refers to the 2016/7 academic year.
Module Aims
In many of the longest-established democracies, voter turnout and party membership are in decline, particularly among the young. Many people distrust and disdain politicians and the political process in general. With a focus on seeking explanations for such current problems of representative democracy, the module provides an introduction to the international literature on political participation. Among other things, it explores the significance of political knowledge, generational differences in political participation, the motives for ‘extreme’ forms of political participation such as revolution and revolt, and the extent to which new forms of political participation may have taken the place of the old.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
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Module-Specific Skills | 1. List, describe and demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts associated with political participation 2. Identify appropriate empirical evidence that can be used to test claims about political participation Made by theorists, politicians and political commentators |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. Identify and discuss the major political concepts and deploy them in appropriate circumstances. 4. Engage in sympathetic interpretation and reasoned criticism of theorie 5. List, describe and evaluate different interpretations in the light of appropriate evidence 6. Use logic and reasoning to evaluate arguments 7. Apply abstract theoretical ideas and concepts to actual events and outcomes 8. Construct well-structured rigorous arguments based on logical deduction |
Personal and Key Skills | 9. The ability to study independently and in groups deliver presentations to peers, communicate Effectively in speech and writing 10. communicate orally and appropriately use ICT 11. research & critically valuate information and apply techniques and theories in appropriate contexts 12. design and run presentations and demonstrate reliability and commitment to the ongoing process of class discussion |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
1 Introduction
2 Valuing Participation
3 Theories of Participation
4 Voter Turnout
5 Participation in Parties
6 Movements, Revolutions and Revolts
7 The Internet
8 Political Knowledge
9 Referendums
10 Deliberative Democracy
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 |
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22 | 128 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 150 | Teaching is conducted through introductory lectures, followed by student-led seminars. The main emphasis is on weekly seminar presentations, for which all students are expected to read background materials to make possible their active participation in discussion. |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).