Module LAW2015B for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
LAW2015B: The Law of Torts
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Module Aims
The aim of this module is to develop your understanding of the law of torts, including its responsibility bases, the kinds of damage for which it permits a remedy and those for which it does not offer a remedy. Consideration will be given to the aims of tort law and some assessment made of its efficacy in achieving those aims.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. understand and critically reflect upon the operation of the contemporary law of torts within its social context; 2. develop the ability to use relevant information to understand how the law of torts operates and to apply their understanding to a range of different perspectives and concepts relating to tort law; |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. demonstrate knowledge of legal concepts and their contextual, social and political implications; 4. demonstrate the ability to apply legal knowledge to a problem / case study and to discuss it; 5. demonstrate the ability to select and present in a coherent way, orally and in writing, relevant law and legal / theoretical arguments. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 6. demonstrate effective and accurate written communication skills in a manner appropriate to the discipline / different contexts; 7. demonstrate effective and accurate oral communication skills in a manner appropriate to the discipline / different contexts; 8. identify, retrieve and use efficiently a range of library-based and electronic resources with some guidance; 9. demonstrate the ability to interact effectively within a team / learning group and to share information and ideas. 10. demonstrate the ability to work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
It is envisaged that the syllabus will include the following topics in the following order, although precise content and order may vary according to the availability of specialist teaching staff.
Introduction to Tort
Trespass to Person
Trespass to Land
Private Nuisance
Rylands v Fletcher
Public Nuisance
Defamation
Malicious Prosecution
Malicious Falsehood
Privacy
Introduction to Negligence
Duty of Care
Psychiatric Harm
Public Bodies
Omissions
Financial Loss
Breach
Causation of Damage
Remoteness of Damage
Defences
Vicarious Liability
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | 245 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 55 | 22 x 2.5 hour Leminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 88 | Leminar preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | 32 | Formative assessment preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | 62 | Summative assessment preparation |
| Guided Independent study | 63 | Individual reading preparation |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
www.bailii.org
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminars | 22 x 2.5 hours | 1-10 | Immediate feedback from peers and tutors |
| Formative essay | 48 hour turn-around, 2500 words | 1-8, 10 | Individual indicative mark and individual written feedback, with supplementary oral feedback available. General comments given in a lecture or on ELE. |
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 | 60 | 48 hour turnaround, 2,500 words | 1-8, 10 | Individual written feedback, with supplementary oral feedback available |
| Essay 2 | 40 | 2,500 words | 1-8, 10 | Individual written feedback, with supplementary oral feedback available |
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 (48 hour turnaround, 2,500 words) 60% | 1-8, 10 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay 2 | Essay 2,500 words 40% | 1-8, 10 | August/September reassessment period |
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.
(1) J Murphy and C Witting, Street on Torts (13th ed, 2012)
(2) M Lunney and K Oliphant, Tort Law: Text and Materials (5th ed, 2013
