Module LAW1012B for 2018/9
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
LAW1012B: Introduction to Law
This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.
Module Aims
There is set reading. For each topic, there are multiple choice questions. These aim to consolidate your knowledge of the subject. They also reinforce the need for precision, as legal concepts are delineated by fine definitions and distinctions. For each topic, there are also questions for reflection. For each one, you will produce an outline essay plan. These aim to prompt you to think critically about the law as it currently stands, and creatively about how it might be reformed.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
---|---|
Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the law on the topics covered by the module, using appropriate concepts, interpretative techniques and terminology; 2. Identify and analyse (with guidance) some general legal concepts and principles, together with related theories and academic commentary; 3. Research a legal question and demonstrate competence in applying general legal principles in order to formulate and evaluate a response to it; 4. Demonstrate competent understanding of some of the relevant legal practice, social, economic, political, historical, philosophical, ethical and cultural contexts within which the law operates; |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 5. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of legal rules, concepts, values and principles, and the capacity to explain and discuss the relationships among them; 6. Make an informed judgement about the merits and relevance of particular information and make reasoned choices between alternative solutions or arguments; 7. Communicate technical legal information and argument effectively and concisely, in a manner appropriate to the discipline; |
Personal and Key Skills | 8. Take responsibility for own learning (with support); 9. Identify, retrieve and use efficiently a range of resources with some guidance; 10. Manage time efficiently in preparing for learning activities and to work independently within a limited timeframe to complete a specified task. |
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:
- Understanding case reports
- Some basic constitutional principles
- Case law
- Legislation
- Criminal trials
- Civil trials
- Some basic ideas about justice
- Problem questions
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
0 | 150 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Guided independent study | 131 | Reading |
Guided independent study | 3 | Multiple choice questions |
Guided independent study | 16 | Questions for reflection |
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Multiple choice questions | Around 30 questions | 1-10 | Written feedback (correct answered revealed) |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Take home assessment | 100 | Around 30 questions | 1-10 | Written feedback (correct answer revealed) |
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Take home assessment | Multiple choice questions | 1-10 | Any time before term begins |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
The prescribed textbook is:
Elliott and Quinn, English Legal System (Harlow: Pearson, 18th edn 2017) (and subsequent editions)
Other recommended reading includes:
Barnard et al, What About Law? (Oxford: Hart, 2007)
McBride, Letters to a Law Student (Harlow: Pearson, 2014)
Holland and Webb, Learning Legal Rules (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 9th edn 2016)