Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL2042: Philosophical Frontiers

This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.

Module Aims

  • You will critically engage with work on the frontiers of philosophy through reading a recently published or forthcoming monograph.
  • You will learn research skills in both self-motivated and group contexts.
  • You will develop core philosophical skills such as critical reflection, argumentation and clarity of expression.
  • Examining a cutting-edge monograph will help you cover new research methods and trends; understand the importance of sustaining a philosophical project beyond the journal-article format; and about situating philosophical work within disciplinary context.

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 Skills1. Demonstrate familiarity with a cutting-edge philosophical monograph.
2. Understand how to consider new philosophical work in context.
Discipline-Specific Skills3. Understand and engage with philosophical arguments.
4. Develop your own philosophical ideas.
Personal and Key Skills5. Provide clear and concise written and oral communication skills.
6. Demonstrate comprehension of complex ideas and writing.
7. Show creativity, enabling lateral thinking, new ideas and problem-solving skills.

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 assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay plan100 words1, 3, 4, 7Written

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.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
80020

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

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay702500 words1- 7Written
Seminar presentation & either PowerPoint slides or handout.2010 minutes, 10 PowerPoint slides or 2-sided handout1, 2, 5, 6Written
Reading reports (The mark will be an overall mark for the set: you will have 8 chances to submit a reading report, and if you submit at least 5 reports over the semester, you’ll get the full 10% (each report is worth 2%, up to a total of 10%).105 reports x 25 words3, 5, 6You will get feedback on these assignments in three ways: (1) reading reports will form the basis of tutorial discussion, so you will receive (and offer) feedback from your peers during class; (2) convenor provides general feedback during classes; (3) you can receive individual feedback on request.
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 assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Essay2500 word essay1-7August/September reassessment period
Seminar Presentation1-1 presentation1, 2, 5, 6August/September reassessment period
Reading Reports750 word paper summary3, 5, 6August/September reassessment period