Module ARAM235 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
ARAM235: Contemporary History and Politics of the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
The main objective of the module is to provide you with specialised knowledge and critical understanding of the main themes and dynamics in the contemporary history and politics of the Gulf monarchies and Yemen, at the domestic, regional and global levels. This module aims particularly at developing an understanding of processes of political and economic changes in these countries, and of the way these processes have shaped the existing political and economic realities of the broader Middle East. The course will thus equip you to analyse and make informed and critical evaluation of the contemporary politics and economy of the Arabian Peninsula.
A further aim of the course is to develop your analytical thinking skills as independent researchers and to develop intellectual ability to place issues discussed in a wider context, beyond common knowledge immediately available in the media, or conventional readings of the region’s politics and history.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Identify and critically assess the main themes and dynamics in the contemporary history, politics and economy of the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, including the historical foundations of power and economic structures; the political and economic impact of oil; and the narratives of power and resistance. 2. Demonstrate an ability to use different analytical approaches and concepts towards the study of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula's contemporary history, and political and social systems. 3. Demonstrate an ability to locate, appraise and use main sources of information and data relating to the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. Demonstrate an ability to draw from broader concepts in contemporary history, politics and political economy and to compare the Arabian Peninsula with other regions of the world. 5. Demonstrate an ability to connect political and economic factors and dynamics in their domestic-international linkages. 6. Demonstrate an ability to embrace a multi-disciplinary approach in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 7. Demonstrate an ability to analyse and assess academic texts and prevailing notions critically. 8. Demonstrate skills of reasoned and supported argumentation in writing. 9. Demonstrate skills of finding, analysing and synthesising information from a range of sources. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class discussions | Weekly, during class | 1-7; 9 | Direct verbal feedback in seminar |
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 | 50 | 4,000 words | 1-9 | Written feedback (and verbal feedback during office hours, if needed) |
| Reaction notes | 50 | 5 x 700 words | 1-9 | Written and verbal 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 assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (4,000 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
| Reaction notes | Reaction notes (5 x 700 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
