Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POC3105: Negotiating Postcoloniality: History and Politics of Independent India

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Please note that this module is only delivered on the Penryn Campus.

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to enable you to develop a critical perspective of the postcolonial Indian nation-state, understand its multiple realities, complexities and the responses to it from different interest groups, both within and beyond. The module will widen the understanding of contemporary India, its history and post-Independence growth, socio-political and cultural evolution, and foreign policy from locally situated regional knowledges.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Demonstrate in-depth regional knowledge about the social, political and economic realities of India through oral presentations and writing assignments.
2. Demonstrate analytical skills and critical awareness of the Indian model of democracy, secularism and multiculturalism and distinguish it from more dominant Western models.
Discipline-Specific Skills3. Understand the multifaceted and inter-disciplinary nature of Area Studies and critically engage with various interdisciplinary approaches including politics and international relations, sociology, history, culture studies, anthropology, film studies etc.
4. Apply empirical evidence to theoretical approaches in the form of written and oral presentations.
Personal and Key Skills5. Develop flexibility in thinking and researching about contexts, local knowledge, cultures and societies.
6. Communicate political arguments comprehensively and effectively

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
Seminar ParticipationThe instructor will start an India Studies Blog online and students are expected to make blog entries every week on specific topics discussed. These will be discussed in the seminars.1-6Verbal

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
90010

...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
Essay151000 words1-6Written and Verbal
Individual Presentations (Students will present the major arguments made in their Essays)1010 minutes1-6Verbal
Term Paper753000 words1-6Written

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
Essay Essay (1000 words)1-6August/September reassessment period
PresentationPresentation (10 minutes)1-6August/September reassessment period
Term PaperTerm Paper (3000 words)1-6August/September reassessment period