Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL3074: The Politics of Climate Change

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

Module Aims

This module aims to examine why the issue of climate change is so difficult to address. While being rooted in concepts from political science, it aims to provide a platform through which the climate change problematique can be analysed from different disciplinary and theoretical perspectives. Through a mixture of role play, discussions, seminar presentations and group work it seeks to facilitate student learning around key aspects of climate change governance.

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 understanding of the role and perspectives of different actors involved in climate policy
2. show detailed knowledge of the complexities of addressing climate change across different policy sectors and governance scales
3. evaluate critically policy initiatives to tackle climate change
Discipline-Specific Skills4. think critically, analyse debates and present coherent arguments from a political science perspective
5. evaluate critically the effectiveness of policy
6. demonstrate in-depth understand of the reasons for and barriers to policy intervention
Personal and Key Skills7. produce high quality written and visual material;
8. evaluate effectively ideas and debates;
9. interact and work with fellow students effectively, and in a cooperative manner;
10. reflect critically on own learning and practice;

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
Case study plan1000 words1-8Written convener feedback and oral peer feedback
Sample learning diary450 words1-8, 10Written from lecturer and from peers

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
85015

...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
Role play group presentation and participation15The role play will take place over two seminars. In total each group with formally present for 20 minutes.1, 2, 6 and 9written feedback at the end of the module
Poster15A31-8Written and oral feedback
Analytical Case Study303,000 words1-8Written feedback
Reflexive learning diary term 120Students reflect on their seminar learning approximately 150 words a week (total: 1500 words)1-8, 10Written feedback
Reflexive learning diary term 220Students reflect on their seminar learning approximately 150 words a week (total: 1500 words)1-8, 10Written feedback
0
0

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
Role play group presentation and participationOral viva (10 minutes)1,2,6 & 9Term 3
PosterPoster (A3)1-8August/September Re-assessment period
Analytical Case StudyAnalytical Case-Study (3,000 words)1-8August/September Re-assessment period
Reflexive learning diary term 1Literature review (1,500 words)1-8, 10Term 2/Term 3
Reflexive learning diary term 2Literature review (1,500 words)1-8, 10August/September Re-assessment period