Postgraduate Module Descriptor


POLM168: From Oppression to Resistance: Exploring the Intersections of Race, Class and Gender

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Aims

  • To understand how oppression is defined in the academic literature
  • To explore to what extent conceptualisations of oppression chime with the self-understandings and experiences of those subjected to it.
  • To understand how resistance is defined in the academic literature
  • To explore how these conceptualisations fit or not with the self-understandings and experiences of those who enact it.
  • To identify and draw on a range of source material which goes beyond political science and IR and includes sociology, literature, film, art, journalism and interviews with activists.

This module is research led to the extent that it will draw on the lecturer’s primary research into the working of gender/race and class in the context of various left-wing movements. It is student-led to the extent that it will allow you to choose which case studies you want to pursue and therefore to develop your own research agenda and research skills. It will also ask you to take leadership in the classroom and present your work to your fellow students.

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 a comprehensive understanding of the theories and concepts that are deployed at the intersections of race, class and gender.
2. Engage in in-depth empirical analysis of specific cases of oppression and resistance.
3.
Discipline-Specific Skills3. demonstrate effective critical and analytical skills in relation to a complex and varied inter-disciplinary body of literature and to construct arguments in a coherent and reflexive way.
4. select and analyse particular instances of oppressive politics and/or resistance politics.
Personal and Key Skills5. present complex arguments with clarity and concision.
6. design, organise and run seminars.
7. Work independently and in groups under tight time constraints.

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 Outline1 page1-7Written

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
75025

...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
Group presentation 2515 minutes1-7Oral/written
Short Op. Ed.251,500 words1-7Written
Long Essay504,000 words1-7Written

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
Group presentationWritten assessment (2,000 words) 25% 1-7As soon as possible after the presentation date and latest before the end of term 1
Short Op. Ed.Critical opinion piece for newspaper (1,500 words) 25%1-7Term 2 reassessment period
Long EssayLong Essay (4000 words) 50%1-7Term 2 reassessment period