Module POLM651 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
POLM651: State and Society in the Middle East
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
This module explores concepts, themes, ideologies and issues which are key to the study of politics and society in the Middle East. The aim of this module is to enable you to understand the patterns of state-society interaction, the bases upon which social and political forces are constituted, and the forms of power deployed in the interplay between state and societal actors. The module has three main objectives: examine the analytical and conceptual tools used to understand and explain state-society relations; familiarise you with the different perspectives and debates within the field of Middle East politics; expand your empirical knowledge of the region by examining specific case studies during the seminars.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate familiarity with concepts and analytical tools applied to study politics and society in the Middle East. 2. Show familiarity with the forms of societal organisations and modes of social and political action. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. Critically analyse primary and secondary source material. 4. Understand and use social theory. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 5. Work effectively in a group and independently. 6. Conduct critical analyses and evaluation of the subject topics in writing and oral presentations. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar presentation (group presentation) | 20-25 minutes | 1-6 | Oral feedback |
| In-class discussions of topics covered during the lecture | 15-20 minutes | 1-5 | Oral 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.
| 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 | 3,500 words | 1-6 | Written feedback |
| Essay 2 | 50 | 3,500 words | 1-6 | Written feedback |
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 (3,500 words) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay 2 | Essay (3,500 words) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
