Module LAWM097 for 2017/8
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
LAWM097: The International Law of Armed Conflict
This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.
Module Aims
The aim of this course is to provide you with a detailed understanding of the core concepts, principles and rules of the law of armed conflict, in particular those governing land warfare, and to introduce you to some of its contemporary challenges. In doing so, the course attempts to shed light on how the law of armed conflict seeks to balance considerations of military necessity and the inevitability of war on the one hand with humanitarian values and the need to limit human suffering on the other hand.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the core concepts, principles and rules of the law of armed conflict with a particular emphasis on the rules applicable to land warfare; 2. Demonstrate critical understanding of the practical and conceptual challenges arising in the implementation of the law of armed conflict; |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. Demonstrate flexible and innovative ability to develop, apply and critically assess international legal arguments, using a wide range of appropriate primary materials and advanced scholarship; 4. Select, integrate, evaluate and present relevant law and complex legal arguments, clearly, autonomously and competently, orally and in writing; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 5. Manage relevant learning resources and complex information confidently and independently, and to develop own arguments and opinions at a very high level; 6. Communicate and engage in debate effectively and accurately. 7. Work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar paper forming the basis of a presentation to the group | 1,000 words | 1-6 | Individual and collective oral feedback from the module convenor and the seminar group |
| Individual oral seminar presentation to the seminar group on the basis of the seminar paper | 15 - 30 minutes (depending on number of presentations) | 1-6 | Individual and collective oral feedback from the module convenor and the seminar group |
| Individual and group work forming part of a simulated command post exercise | 1,000 words | 1-6 | Individual and collective oral feedback from the exercise participants |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
...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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written essay | 50 | 3,000 words | 1-6 | Written with percentage grade |
| Examination | 50 | 2 hours | 1-7 | Written with percentage grade |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written essay | Written essay (3,000 words) | 1-6 | August/September assessment period |
| Examination | Examination (2 hours) | 1-7 | August/September assessment period |
