Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM021: Power and Society

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Aims

This module involves interpreting important texts in political philosophy but also applying this knowledge to contemporary politics. It is designed to improve your critical thinking skills, and to develop your ability to critically interrogate the assumptions inherent in modern liberal regimes. Foucault in particular is one of the most cited scholars in both the humanities and the social sciences, and familiarity with his work is valuable for students with a broad range of interests.

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 a systematic understanding of the ideas of philosophical thinkers on power and society and how these ideas relate. 2. Evaluate critically current research and advanced knowledge in the study of power and society and demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge.
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. Demonstrate an advanced capability to analyse arguments and critically evaluate current research in political theory and politics more generally. 4. Introduce texts, write well-argued essays and question received ideas in political theory.
Personal and Key Skills	5. Construct and evaluate ideas 6. Communicate effectively in speech and writing.

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
Introducing Discussions	15 minutes	1-6	Verbal

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
100	0	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
Essay 1	50	4000 words	1-6	Written
Essay 2	50	4000 words	1-6	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
Essay 1	Essay 1 (4000 words)	1-6	August/September reassessment period
Essay 2	Essay 2 (4000 words)	1-6	August/September reassessment 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: Nietzsche, Beyond Good & Evil and other selected works.

Foucault, The Subject and Power, Truth and Power, Discipline and Punishment, and other selected works.