Postgraduate Module Descriptor


POLM806: Topics and Texts in Social and Political Thought

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

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

The module will engage with some of the 'foundational texts' covered in the core modules of the relevant MA. It will also involve reading a wider variety of texts in philosophy and social and political theory, exploring the interconnection between different philosophical fields and different philosophical approaches. The selection of texts and topics for the Reading Group meetings will be student-led. Students will also be supervised for the selection of the topic of their dissertation.

A series of two-hour seminars, also with the participation of staff, research students, and students from others MAs, introduced by the students taking the Ma Programmes in Political Theory. A series of preparatory classes to select the topics for presentation and the topic for the final dissertation.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
19131 0

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

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities1510 x 1.5 hour seminars
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities4 Supervision
Guided independent study131Independent study

Online Resources

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

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
Outline of presentation and of final essay To be discussed with module convenor1-11Verbal 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.

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
Presentation2030 minutes1-11Verbal feedback
Essay804,000 words1-11Written feedback
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 assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
PresentationPresentation (30 minutes)1-11Next reassessment period
EssayEssay (4,000 words)1-11Next reassessment period