Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ANT2016: Anthropology of the State

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

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:

  • Three Perspectives on the State (Conservative, Marxist, and Libertarian)
  • The Problem of Defining the Boundaries of the State
  • Archaeological Approaches to the State
  • Statelessness as a Choice
  • Statelessness as an Imposition
  • The Welfare State
  • The Carceral State
  • The Islamic State
  • Divine Kingship
  • The Theatre State and the Galactic Polity

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
221280

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity1111 x 1 Hour Lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity1111 x 1 Hour Seminars
Guided Independent Study12Research Paper Proposal
Guided Independent Study56Weekly Reading for seminars
Guided Independent Study20Weekly Discussion Posts
Guided Independent Study40Research Paper

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

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
Research Paper Proposal750 words1-9Written and Oral

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
10000

...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
Research Paper702,500 words1-9Written
Portfolio of Discussion Posts301,000 words1-8Written

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
Research PaperResearch Paper (2,500 words)1-9August/September reassessment period
Portfolio of Discussion PostsPortfolio of Discussion Posts (1,000 words)1-8August/September reassessment period