Postgraduate Module Descriptor


PHLM006: Contemporary Ethics

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Practical and theoretical themes relating to current problems.  

The role of human nature arguments in current practical ethics such as interspecies ethics, violence, and responsibility in relation to oneself, others and global ethics on the one hand the importance of meaning, rules and normativity on the other. 

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
282720

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

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities2211 x 2 hour taught sessions: 30-minute lectures and 1.5 hour seminar discussion of readings for each 2-hour session
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities63 x 2-hour facilitated tutorial with student presentations
Guided Independent Study20Analyse one course reading and write a succinct summary of the key arguments of the text
Guided Independent Study92Reading of the module texts for each week
Guided Independent Study40Prepare an oral presentation with presentation slides on the topic for your final essay
Guided Independent Study120Writing independent research essay. Conduct guided and independent research on a theme from the course; write a scholarly essay to be submitted after the end of term

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
Discussion of essay plan, 1:1 meeting 1000 words, 15 minutes1-4, 6, 8Oral

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
10000

...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
Essay706,000 words1-6, 8Written
1 x Reading Review10800 words1-4, 6, 8Written
Presentation of essay plan with slides2010 minutes1-4, 6, 7Oral

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
EssayEssay (6,000 words)1-6, 8August/September reassessment period
Reading ReviewReading Summary (800 words)1-4, 6, 8August/September reassessment period
Presentation of essay planMini essay (1,500 words)1-6, 8August/September reassessment period

Re-assessment notes

The forms of re-assessment have the same credit percentage as their original form of assessment.