Module ARA1021 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
ARA1021: Introduction to Persian History and Culture
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Week 1. Introductory – Overview of Iranian History
Week 2. Pre-Islamic Iran
Week 3. The Coming of Islam
Week 4. Iranian local dynasties, Turks and Mongols, and the emergence of New Persian literature
Week 5. The Safavids - literature and history
Week 6. The Fall of the Safavids, Nader Shah and the 18th century Interregnum
Week 7. The Qajars and the Constitutional Revolution
Week 8. The Pahlavis
Week 9. Literature and politics in 20th century Iran
Week 10. The Revolution of 1979
Week 11. Iran since the Revolution
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 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 | 22 | The module will consist of lectures and regular class discussions of assigned reading with a view to monitoring the assimilation of material |
| Guided Independent study | 55 | Students will need to spend time researching in the library while reading the required text |
| Guided Independent study | 20 | Students will need to spend time in the library researching on their term paper |
| Guided Independent study | 53 | Private Study |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
ELE – vle.exeter.ac.uk/
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classroom discussions based on study questions to be answered by small groups of students in class in response to the assigned readings | 30 minutes per class | 1,2,7 | The teacher's response to the students' discussion will initiate a Q&A dialogue between us that allows the student to better digest, understand and critically evaluate the readings, history and historical concepts at play |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 50 | 2 hours | 1-5 | Written feedback |
| Essay | 50 | 2,000 words | 1-8 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 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 assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | Examination (2 hours) | 1-5 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay | Essay (2,000 words) | 1-8 | 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.
Michael Axworthy, Empire of the Mind: A History of Iran (London: Hurst 2007).
Alessandro Bausani, Religion in Iran, trans. J.M. Marchesi (New York: Bibliotheca Persica 2000).
The Cambridge History of Iran. Multiple Editors. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1968-91), 7 volumes.
Richard Foltz, Spirituality in the Land of the Noble: How Iran Shaped the World's Religions (Oxford: Oneworld 2004).
David Morgan, Medieval Persia, 1040-1797 (London: Longman 1988).
